CHOOSING YOUR GOATS

 

Goats are a long term commitment, they have about the same lifespan as dogs at an average of 12-14 years. So, just like when buying a dog, it pays to make sure you get your goat from a reputable breeder, don’t be tempted to go to market or buy through facebook where, often, they are selling kids that are byproducts of the farming industry and are too young to leave their mothers. These kids are likely to be sickly and weak. You wouldn’t buy from a puppy mill so don’t buy your goats from sellers like that!

 

Find a registered breeder or even a hobby breeder. Visit them even before the kids are born to check out the set up and health & welfare of the Nannies and Billies, all good breeders will welcome you. Visit again when the kids are born to choose yours and visit as often as you can for the next few months. Your goats will have been properly raised and weaned at the right time. They will be strong and healthy and far less likely to have any behavioural issues.

Be prepared to pay a few hundred pounds for each goat, if you see an advert for kids selling at  ‘too good to be true’ you need to question why.

 

Always ask to see certification proving that the herd is free from Johnes Disease, CAE and CLA. These conditions can be devastating.

Try to find breeders that refrain from early banding and opt for surgical castration once male goats are mature.

 

I have to add an exception here, though, if you think you can offer a good home to a rescue/rehome goat then that’s a different matter entirely. Just bear in mind that rescues often come with severe physical or psychological trauma, depending on what they’ve been through. They will need extra special care and often expensive veterinary fees.

 

As I’ve mentioned before wethers make the absolute best pets! Yet are often overlooked. They’re very friendly, docile and extremely funny. They’re just like dogs really and love to be scratched and are quite easy to train.

Nannies(or Does) can make lovely pets too but only if you have lots of land and not many neighbours because when they come into heat they have a tendency to scream!

Billies (or bucks) don’t make the best pets, although they can be friendly with certain individuals they can often be very dominant. They also pose a different problem during ‘the season’ because they absolutely reek!! Not only do they secrete a very pungent oil but they also urinate on themselves and this ‘concoction’ can be smelled from several fields away!!!

 

I’m not going to cover all the breeds of goats as it’s quite a big list. Rather I’m going to stick with the most appropriate pets based on temperament and size. All the goats listed are generally calm, loving friendly, inquisitive, funny and intelligent in nature. I’m also not going to go in to their utility uses as we’re focusing on pets.

 

PYGMY - As a Pygmy owner myself I’m obviously going to be biased here! But they really do make the absolute best pets! They’re particularly good if you don’t have a massive amount of space as they’re a relatively small breed, but very robust. Females average at 30kg and males 40kg (but I’ve had wethers bigger than this!) Pygmies vary hugely in size and appearance, more so than any other breed, since they are technically originally cross breeds a ‘Heinz 57’ variety you could say. Although, these days they are more standard since the beginning of the Pygmy Goat Society. Their coats can often be long and will need grooming in order to stay clean and tangle free. They’re funny, mischievous, inquisitive and placid. Just like dogs they love to learn but, most of all, they love snuggles!

 

ROYAL GOLDEN GUERNSEY - These majestic goats also make fantastic pets. They are extremely sweet natured, intelligent and placid almost to the point of being lazy. They are bigger than Pygmies with females averaging 55kg and males 70kg. They will require a bit more space than Pygmies. They can vary from a creamy, strawberry blond to a dark bronze in colour and some grow long hair that will require grooming. Sadly there are less than 1400 of these beautiful goats in the uk.

 

SAANEN - A very pretty white/cream, short haired breed. They are known to be a very gentle, sweet natured breed, similar to the Golden Guernsey but bigger. Females average at 65kg while the males can be much bigger at 90kg.  The definitely require a good deal of space.

 

OLD ENGLISH GOAT - Gentle, loving and very family friendly as they’re great with children. You’ll need high, secure fencing if you choose this breed as they are fantastic escape artists! They are slightly bigger than Pygmies (but less round!) females average around 38kg and males 50kg. They come in varying shades of brown, black and white and come in both short and long coats (they resemble antelope) Although hardy they are becoming rare, it is estimated that there are only 800-900 left.

 

ANGLO NUBIEN - Anglo Nubians are very friendly and affectionate. They are also known for their intelligence and can be very vocal. They have a short, glossy coat that can be in a variety of colours and patterns. These are one of the larger breeds with females reaching 110kg and males 140kg so will need a lot of space.

 

BOER - These are a very family friendly breed if they grow up with children, they love cuddles and playtime. Their coat is short and glossy, mostly white with a dark red/brown head but this can vary slightly. They are often chosen for petting zoos and make fantastic companion animals for donkeys. They are also one of the bigger breeds with females averaging 100kg and males 135kg.

 

ANGORA - This striking breed is very quiet and shy but when they know you are calm and trusting. They’re not adventurous and prefer to be in larger groups. Females average at around 50kg while males are around 80kg so not big as goats go. Angoras require a little more of a hair care routine due to their long, curls and may be more prone to mites and lice because of their long hair, they should be sheared once or twice a year too. They require a bit more attention to their vitamins and minerals. The upside of the extra care they need (aside from goaty snuggles) is all the mohair you can use for knitting and crochet! These goats are probably not for beginners but give back so much.

 

TOGGENBURGER - These are friendly, loving but lively goats that will need lots of space and things to keep them occupied as they are prone to escaping when bored, they respond well to training so spending lots of time with them harnessing their talent will keep them busy. They tend to be fearful of other animals so are best kept on goat only properties. Females average at 55kg while males are around 75kg.