Revised for presentation in North Dakota

1. THINGS
THAT EVERY GOAT PRODUCER SHOULD DO
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
sschoen@umd.edu
www.sheepandgoat.com
www.wormx.info

2. 10 THINGS EVERY GOAT PRODUCER
SHOULD DO
1. Establish goals and objectives
2. Build good fence
3. Have a marketing plan
4. Learn to feed goats
5. Enroll in the mandatory scrapie eradication program
6. Develop a veterinary-client-relationship
7. Have a biosecurity plan
8. Keep good records
9. Educate yourself
10.Join a goat association

3. D E T E R M I N E Y O U R G O A L S A N D O B J E C T I V E S
F O R R A I S I N G G O AT S

4. THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO RAISE GOATS.
WHY ARE YOU?
Reason(s) $$$
COMMERCIAL
(meat, dairy, fiber)
FOR PROFIT
Land
management
For profit or not
Hobby Not-for-profit
4-H/FFA project Seldom for profit
Pets and companions for other
livestock

5. GOATS PRODUCE MANY PRODUCTS.
WHICH ONE(S) DO YOU (PLAN TO) PRODUCE?
• Meat
• Dairy
• Fiber
• Grazing
• Skins
• Show
• Packing/hikin
g
• Agro-tourism
• Biotech
• Pets
• Other (?)

6. SETTING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
• Establish your reason(s) for raising
goats.
• Your goals and objectives will affect
every decision you make regarding
your goat enterprise: breeds,
facilities, labor, nutrition,
reproduction, and marketing.
• A mission statement is important part
of a business plan.
• It says what the business does and
what your values are.
Sample Mission Statement
Antietam Goat Farm is going to produce and
sell performance-tested Kiko goats to the
commercial meat goat industry in the Mid-
Atlantic. We will specifically focus on
developing genetics that are more resistant to
gastro-intestinal parasites. Our goal is to
supplement our retirement income and
network with other performance-minded
meat goat producers.

7. WHAT MAKES YOU A COMMERCIAL
GOAT PRODUCER?
• Meet your county’s definition of a farm
• Do a business plan
• File a schedule F with your taxes
– 2 out of 5 years tax rule
– 9 factors that determine profit motive
• Operate your goat enterprise like a
business; decision-making on the basis of
economics, e.g. least cost feeding,
performance evaluation.
• There’s nothing wrong with raising goats
as a hobby.

8. B U I L D G O O D F E N C E S

9. “IF IT WON’T HOLD WATER,
IT WON’T HOLD GOATS!”
“GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS.”

10. YOU NEED TO BUILD GOOD FENCES TO
PROTECT AND CONTAIN YOUR GOATS.
• Goats are clever, athletic, and smart.
• Fences that contain other livestock won’t
necessarily contain goats.
• More strands of electric wire are needed,
wires must be spaced closer, gates cannot
have wide gaps, and there cannot be gaps
under fences.
• Goats are more likely to crawl under than
jump over a fence; you need to get rid of
crawlers and jumpers!
• You also need to protect goats from
predators; predators dig under or go
through openings or gaps in fence.

11. FENCING OPTIONS FOR GOATS
PERIMETER OR BOUNDARY FENCES
• Woven wire (field fence) provides a
physical barrier whereas high tensile
electric is more of a psychological
barrier.
– Animals should be trained to electric.
– Goats can sense when electric is off.
– You may need a physical barrier during
rut.
• HT electric is more economical to build
than woven wire, but you need to keep
fence lines clean (labor).
• 10-12 strands of tightly strung barbed
wire can effectively keep goats in and
predators out, but there is some risk of
36 to 48 inch high fences generally recommended
(need varies by breed).

12. PERIMETER FENCES FOR GOATS
WOVEN
• Smaller openings (2x4, 2x6, 4x4) are better
for predator control, keeping goats from
getting their heads stuck, and keeping kids
from getting out.
• Larger openings (6x12, 6x24) help goats get
horns out, but are less effective at deterring
predators, and keeping kids in.
• An electric off set wire will keep goats away
from fence (prolongs life of fence, too).
• Electric wire on top will prevent fence
jumping.
• Fence can also be topped with several
strands of barbed wire.
HIGH TENSILE ELECTRIC
• 12.5 gauge, smooth, HT wire
• 4-6 wires, spaced closer at bottom than top
(example spacing: 6-6-6-6-8-10).
• Less wires for interior fences (?)
• Electrify all wires except under very dry,
frozen, or sandy conditions.
• At least 4000 to 5000 volts on fence.
• Keys: strong corners + proper grounding
• Can rejuvenate or “goat-proof” existing
fences by adding electric wires.

13. H AV E A M A R K E T I N G P L A N

14. THERE IS AN UNMET DEMAND FOR
GOAT MEAT IN THE UNITED STATES.
• There is a strong demand for goat meat in
the United States.
– Shift in demographics towards more
Hispanics, Asians, and Muslims.
– Increase in foreign born population
13.5% of population in 2015
• The US only produces about half of the
goat meat consumed domestically.
• The other half is imported, mostly from
Australia, and mostly from feral goats.
• There is also potential to market goat
meat to health conscience consumers.

15. WHO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS?
• Goat meat is
consumed almost
entirely by ethnic
markets.
• Ethnic market is a
generic term. It is
composed of many
different markets,
each with different
preferences as to the
type of goat they
want, how, and
when.
• While lamb is more
the meat of religion,
the demand for goat
is also affected by
https://www.sheepandgoat.com/ethniccalendar

16. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SELL YOUR MEAT GOATS?
THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND NOT ALL OPTIONS ARE AVAIL ABLE TO EVERYONE.
Product Inspection Options
Live animal None
Cash and carry
Facilitate slaughter of animal for customer
Allow on-farm slaughter of animal (if legal in your state)
Broker/dealer and other middlemen (feeder, direct
marketer)
Live markets
Public auctions: local, terminal, special sales
Marketing alliances (transportation pools, co-ops)
Abattoir (slaughter house)
Carcass
Custom
State
Federal
Consumer (freezer trade)
Retail establishment (butcher shop, store, or restaurant)
Meat
State
Federal
Personal consumption
Direct to consumer via
Farm sale or store
Farmer’s market
Internet sale

17. MARKETING OTHER GOAT PRODUCTS
DAIRY
• About 10% of US goat operations focus
on dairy; majority for personal
consumption.
• There is a slow, steady growth of goat
milk and cheese consumption in US.
• More than 50% of goat milk cheese
consumed in US is imported, mostly from
France.
• Most dairy goat producers rely on direct
market sales.
• Dairy regulations, including raw milk
regulations vary by state.
• Dairy usually requires a significant
investment.
FIBER
• The Angora industry has been in a
state of decline since subsidies ended
in 1995.
• Currently 152,000 Angora goats in US
5.7 lb. clip x $4.65 =$26.51 per head
• Largely a niche market.
• Other fibers (cashmere, cashgora,
pygora) are also very specialized
markets.
• Festivals provide good markets for
fiber.

18. L E A R N H O W T O F E E D G O AT S

19. FEED COSTS ARE THE SINGLE LARGEST
COST ASSOCIATED WITH RAISING GOATS.
NUTRITION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF GOOD PRODUCTION.
• What it costs to maintain a doe, produce milk, and grow out kids varies by farm and
geographic area.
• There is no “one size fits all” feeding or grazing program for goats.
• Pasture, browse, and range are often the most economical source of nutrients for goat, but
not always.
• Farms and geographic areas vary in the type and cost of feed they have available to them.
• The most economical feeding program will be the one that maximizes your resources, meets
the nutritional needs of your goats, and delivers nutrients at the most economical cost.

20. TIPS FOR FEEDING GOATS
• Develop a feed budget.
• Maximize your forage (pasture,
browse, range) resource.
• Supplement forage diet to meet
nutritional requirements and/or
production goals; supplement most
limiting nutrient.
• Price feedstuffs by weight.
• Learn what feedstuffs are available in
your area and learn how to compare
costs of feedstuffs based on nutrient
costs.
• Feed by weight.

21. TIPS FOR FEEDING GOATS
• Learn to balance simple rations:
various tools available.
https://www.sheepandgoat.com/rationsoftw
are
• Have forages analyzed for nutritive
value.
• Can have feces analyzed to determine
quality of diet being consumed by
goats.
• Regularly body condition score goats
to assess nutrition (and health) of
goats.

22. E N R O L L I N T H E M A N D AT O R Y
S C R A P I E E R A D I C AT I O N P R O G R A M

23. SCRAPIE
• Scrapie is a degenerative
disease that affects the central
nervous system of sheep and
goats.
• It is among a family of diseases
classified as transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies
(TSEs); same family as mad
cow disease and chronic
wasting disease (in deer and
elk).
• There is no treatment or cure;

24. SCRAPIE
• Scrapie is transmitted primarily at
birth, through birth fluids,
colostrum, and milk.
• Signs of the disease don’t usually
appear until 2-5 years after
infection (or later).
• Genetics determines susceptibility
to scrapie (if exposed to infective
agent, believed to be a prion).
– 30% of US sheep are believed
– 100% of US goats (still doing research to
identify resistant genotypes)

25. SCRAPIE WAS INTRODUCED TO US IN 1947 VIA SHEEP FROM CANADA.
SCRAPIE ERADICATION
• In 2001, USDA initiated an accelerated
program to eradicate scrapie from USA
(primarily mandatory ID, slaughter
surveillance)
• The goal is to eradicate “classical” scrapie
from US and meet the World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE) criteria for disease
freedom.
• Since 2003, there has been a 99% decrease
in scrapie incidence in sheep and goats.
As of June 1, 2016
0.001% prevalence in cull sheep

26. MANDATORY SCRAPIE IDENTIFICATION
• All goats are required to be identified
when they move into commerce: change
ownership, or leave farm of birth.
– There are some exceptions.
– Exceptions vary by state.
• ID must be approved by USDA APHIS:
ear tags, transponders (electronic ID), tattoos.
• USDA provides official tags FREE of charge.
Call 1-866-USDA-TAG (1-866-873-2824)
As of October 1, 2017 – only metal tags for free.

27. IN NORTH DAKOTA
All sheep and goats require official identification except sheep under 18 months in slaughter
channels; goats in slaughter channels; wethers for exhibition; low-risk commercial goats;
animals moved for grazing or similar management purposes without change of ownership; and
animals shipped directly to an approved slaughter facility or approved market when all the
animals in a section of a truck are from the same premises of origin and are accompanied by an
owner’s statement. Complete information is available by contacting:
Dr. Susan J. Keller, SV
Ph: 701-328-2657
E-mail: skeller@nd.gov
Dr. Beth Carlson
Ph: 701-328-2655
E-mail: bwcarlson@nd.gov

28. IDENTIFYING GOATS AND KEEPING RECORDS
• Goats don’t need to be identified until
they leave premises
• Do not buy goats that do not carry official
ID.
• Do not remove scrapie tags.
• Do not sell or give tags to another
person.
• Unused tags should be destroyed or
returned to USDA APHIS
• Keep records for 5 years: ID, breed, sex,
dates, and ownership.

29. THE LAST CASES OF SCRAPIE WILL BE THE HARDEST TO FIND.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
• Report scrapie-suspect animals to your
veterinarian and/or animal health authority.
• Submit heads for testing (from animals over
18 months of age), particularly if you market
animals through non-traditional channels
(non USDA inspected plants).
• There is also a voluntary certification
program that qualifies “scrapie-free” flocks
and herds for export.

30. E S TA B L I S H A V E T E R I N A R I A N - C L I E N T R E L AT I O N S H I P

31. WHY DO YOU NEED A VETERINARIAN?
BECAUSE OF EXTRA LABEL DRUG USE
• Few drugs and dewormers are FDA-approved
for goats.
• Extra-label drug use is usually required to
keep goats healthy and productive.
• Use of any drug that is not consistent with its
labeled use requires extra label drug use
(ELDU).
– Only licensed veterinarians can use or
prescribe drugs in an extra-label manner.
– Some drugs can only be obtained from a vet,
including water soluble antibiotics such as Di-
Methox®) which recently transitioned from
OTC to Rx (2017 VFD). Neither of these commonly-used products is labeled for
goats.

32. WHY ELSE DO YOU NEED A VETERINARIAN?
BECAUSE THEY KNOW STUFF YOU DON’T
AND CAN DO STUFF YOU CAN’T
• Access to their knowledge and skills.
– Comprehensive veterinary education
– Knowledge of pharmacology (drugs),
including proper dosages and withdrawal
periods.
– Some treatments, obstetrics, post-mortem
• Diagnostic testing
• Better access to other veterinary experts

33. HOW DO YOU FIND A VETERINARIAN
• Ask other goat and livestock producers
in your area.
• Visit large animal clinics in your area.
• Search American Association for Small
Ruminant Practitioners web site at to
find a member in your area.
– www.aasrp.org
• Remember: neither Dr. Google or your
friends on Facebook are veterinarians;
they do not replace sound veterinary
advice.

34. DEVELOP A VETERINARY-CLIENT-
PATIENT RELATIONSHIP (VCPR)
• The VCPR Is the basis for interaction among veterinarians, their
clients, and their patients.
• A VCPR is present when the following requirements are met:
1. The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making clinical
judgments regarding the health of the patient and the client has agreed to
follow the veterinarians' instructions.
2. The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the patient to initiate at least
a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the
patient. This means that the veterinarian is personally acquainted with
the keeping and care of the patient by virtue of a timely examination of
the patient by the veterinarian, or medically appropriate and timely visits
by the veterinarian to the operation where the patient is managed.
3. The veterinarian is readily available for follow-up evaluation or has
arranged for the following: veterinary emergency coverage, and
continuing care and treatment.
4. The veterinarian provides oversight of treatment, compliance, and
outcome.
5. Patient records are maintained.
Source: American Veterinary Medical

35. TIPS FOR WORKING WITH A
VETERINARIAN
• Set up appointment for an initial visit.
Share particulars of your operation.
• “Educate” your veterinarian if he/she is
inexperienced with small ruminants.
• Call your veterinarian in a timely fashion,
not when it’s too late to save an animal.
• Follow your veterinarian’s instructions. Let
him/her know about results of treatment.
• Form a animal health “partnership.”
• Read https://attra.ncat.org/attra-
pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=497

36. H AV E A B I O S E C U R I T Y P L A N

37. HAVE A BIOSECURITY PLAN
• Biosecurity is a series of management practices designed to prevent the introduction,
delivery, and spread of disease pathogens that can harm or adversely affect livestock,
crops, environments, and people. These practices may also help eliminate or control
diseases already existing on the premises. It is recommended that you have a written
biosecurity plan.

38. ONE WAY TO REDUCE BIOSECURITY RISK
IS TO MAINTAIN A CLOSED HERD.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
last 12 months 1-2 years 3-9 years
22
41
55
% Goat Farms That Introduced New Animals
• Adding new animals from outside of the
herd is one of the best ways to improve
stock and bring in new bloodlines.
• Limiting introductions to new bucks, as
most genetic improvement comes though
the males.
• Use artificial insemination (AI) to reduce
disease risk.
• Showing and/or exhibition is a biosecurity
risk.Source: NAHMS,
2010

39. GOATS PURCHASED AT SALE BARNS ARE A
HIGH RISK FOR DISEASE TRANSMISSION.
• 23.5% of goat farms that added adult goats to their herds purchased them at an auction
markets.
Source: NAHMS,
2010

40. REDUCE DISEASE RISK BY
QUARANTINING NEW ANIMALS.
Always
quarantine
d
49%Did not
quarantine
51%
• A minimum of 30 days is
recommended.
• Average was 21 days.
• Quarantined animals
should not have fence
line contact with other
animals.
• They should be fed last.
Source: NAHMS, 2010

41. VARIOUS HEALTH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES CAN
MINIMIZE RISK OF DISEASE TRANSMISSION.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Any practice
Inspect for abscesses
Internal parasite Tx
Any vaccinations
Foot trimming
External parasite Tx
Disease testing
Require vet inspection
Medicated foot bath
Other
82%
66%
66%
45%
45%
31%
12%
9%
9%
8%
% farms implementing health
practices on new animals
Source: NAHMS, 2010

42. K E E P G O O D R E C O R D S

43. WHY KEEP RECORDS?
• Improve herd performance by identifying
superior producers.
• To help you price your products.
• Use as a forward planning tool.
• Taxes
• Insurance
• Requirement for mandatory scrapie
program.
• Required for organic and other certifications.
• To apply for a loan
• To apply for government
programs/assistance
• .

44. WHAT RECORDS SHOULD YOU KEEP
PRODUCTION FINANCIAL

45. E D U C AT E Y O U R S E L F

46. LEARN AS MUCH ABOUT GOATS AND
RELATED TOPICS AS YOU CAN.

47. VISIT YOUR LOCAL COUNTY
EXTENSION OFFICE
• Cooperative Extension is unbiased and research-based.
• There are Cooperative Extension offices in most counties and
cities in the US.
• Some extension programs are cluster (multi-county) based.
• There may be a livestock educator that covers multiple counties.
• There may be a livestock or small ruminant team that covers the
state.
• 4-H extension educators can also be good sources of
information and support.
• Some states have state goat (and sheep) specialists.
• If your local extension office does not have small ruminant
expertise (or interest), he/she should be able to refer you to
someone who does.

48. VISIT OTHER GOAT FARMS
• Get a “feel” for raising
goats
• See how other farms do
things
• Ask where they get things
• Ask if they have a good
veterinarian (who?)
• Ask them what they would
do differently

49. TAKE A TRAINING
1. Master Goat and Sheep Program
Florida A&M University
2. Master Meat Goat Producers Program
Tennessee State University
Tuskegee University (Alabama)
3. Web-based Training and Certification
Program
for Meat Goat Producers
Langston University (Oklahoma)
http://www2.luresext.edu/goats/training/qa.h
tml
4. Meat Goat Home Study Course
Pennsylvania State University
5. Online FAMACHA© certification
University of Rhode Island
http://web.uri.edu/sheepngoat/famacha/

50. FIND INFORMATION ON THE WEB
1. Oklahoma Basic Meat Goat Manual
http://agecon.okstate.edu/meatgoat/manual.asp
2. American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC)
www.wormx.info – www.acsrpc.org
3. Goats @ eXtension
http://articles.extension.org/goat
4. American Goat Federation (AGF)
www.americangoatfederation.org
5. International Goat Association (IGA)
http://www.iga-goatworld.com/
6. Maryland Small Ruminant Page
www.sheepandgoat.com

51. HAVE SOME GOOD REFERENCES ON HAND
• Goat Medicine 2nd Edition (2009)
Mary Smith and David Sherman
• Goat Science and Production (2010)
Sandra G. Solaiman
http://anatomiayplastinacion.wikispaces.com/file/view/Goat+and+science....pdf
• Meat Goat and Dairy Goat Production Handbooks
Langston University
• Nutrient Requirements of Small Ruminants (2007)
National Academies Press
• Goat Resource Handbook (2008)
Ohio State University (4-H)
• Raising Goats for Meat and Milk (2008)
Heifer Project International
https://meatgoats.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Rosalee-Sinn.pdf?fwd=no

52. BEWARE OF SOCIAL MEDIA/INTERNET
• Social media is being used increasingly
as an information source.
• There are many Facebook groups and
blogs dedicated to goat production.
• Social media can be a great place to
buy/sell animals, equipment, feed etc.
• Facebook is a great place to share
ideas and interact with other goat
enthusiasts.
• Facebook is not always the best place
to get information about raising goats.
– Misinformation spreads rapidly.
– Always consider source and bias of all
information on internet. https://www.facebook.com/agfgoat/

53. J O I N A G O AT A S S O C I AT I O N

54. JOIN A GOAT ASSOCIATION OR TWO
• Breed
• Local
• County
• State
http://www.dakotagoats.org
• Regional
• National
https://americangoatfederation.org
• International
https://www.iga-goatworld.com
• Registration
• Education
• Promotion
• Networking
• Events
• Social
• Lobbying

55. 10 THINGS EVERY GOAT PRODUCER
SHOULD DO
1. Establish goals and objectives
2. Build good fence
3. Have a marketing plan
4. Learn to feed goats
5. Enroll in the mandatory scrapie eradication program
6. Develop a veterinary-client-relationship
7. Have a biosecurity plan
8. Keep good records
9. Educate yourself
10.Join a goat association

56. SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
sschoen@umd.edu
www.sheepandgoat.com
www.wormx.info
View/download PowerPoint
presentation at
www.slideshare.net/schoenian