| The goats produce two very important products in | | | | formula until they can be weaned; this is after they |
| goat farming - the milk and the meat. In most of the | | | | reach five to seven weeks of age. This is the time |
| large goat farms the goats are treated much like | | | | when the goats are then milked. |
| dairy cows as their accommodations are indoors and | | | | In a goat farm the females are given a two month |
| they are milked twice a day. Large farmers have | | | | period before giving birth, they need this time so that |
| more than 400-500 goats in their farms. | | | | they could give nutrition to their kids after birth. As |
| The breeding season for goats in farms is from | | | | far as milking goats in diary farms is concerned, goats |
| August to March. The goat's pregnancy lasts for four | | | | are milked twice a day, usually in intervals of 12 |
| months and they are generally bred once a year, so | | | | hours. The milk can be extracted by machine or by |
| their kids are born between January and August. The | | | | hand depending on the kind of techniques and work |
| female goats give birth to one to five kids and twins | | | | force the goat farm has. Another thing which makes |
| are to be expected. | | | | breeding goats and cows similar is that the both use |
| A female goat in a farm can start mating after the | | | | up to date diary production which should meet |
| age of seven to nine months while it can be milked | | | | certain hygienic requirements. |
| when the goat reaches a year. Goats give birth | | | | If the farmer is interested more in meat production, |
| easily, so no special help is needed. However, the | | | | then the kids of the goats should be nursed from |
| farmers need to make sure that the kids nurse from | | | | eight to ten weeks. After that they are to be fed |
| their mother, if they don't, they should be fed from a | | | | hay, grain and pasture until they gain enough weight, |
| bottle. This should be done right after the kid is born | | | | which can vary from 35 to 90 pounds. |
| as this is when it receives the critical first milk which | | | | When a farmer is breeding goats for their meat, he |
| is called colostrum. After it is fed with colostrum | | | | should consider the goats' breed and then decide |
| containing minerals, vitamins and antibodies for a few | | | | what optimal weight the goats should reach. Different |
| days, the kid could be fed with milk formula or could | | | | breeds of goat reach different weight. Goat farming |
| nurse from its mother. | | | | might not be the first thing you considered when |
| Breeding goats in a farm is quite similar to breeding | | | | talking about farming, but it is a profitable and |
| cows. The kids of goats should be given a milk | | | | enjoyable business activity. |