Breeds that cycle year around include fainting goats, Kinder, Boer, Kiko, Nigerian Dwarf, Spanish, Pygmy, and sometimes Nubian goats. Alpine breeds experience heat cycles about mid-summer until the end of the year. Seasonal breeders include Alpine, LaMancha, Oberhasli, Saanen, and Toggenburg goats. Angoras are also seasonal.

Do you have poisonous plants for goats on your property? Check this list then consult your local veterinarian, county extension office and your state or local jurisdiction veterinary college can give you a list of additional problem plants often found in your area.

Listeriosis, also called Circling Disease and Silage sickness, is a life-threatening disease caused by bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria
ivanovii. Listeria is zoonotic and can be transferred to humans. It thrives in aerobic conditions and can withstand temperatures from 34-113 degrees F. It persists almost anywhere, including soil, manure piles, gastrointestinal tracts, the top layer of silage, and moldy hay or feed. It is also commonly found in the feces of infected birds, animals, fish, and insects as well as sewage.

We all want to live in peace. Goats naturally compete when feed and resources are centralized. Enriching housing and outdoor runs, and providing the means to escape aggression, enhances their well-being and reduces stress for you and your goats.

Without a suitable outlet for a caprine’s rambunctious nature, playfulness can translate into destructiveness for infrastructure and fencing. For this reason, goat playgrounds are highly recommended.

Knowing goat labor signs also alerts you to be available in case the doe should need your help. Unfortunately, not all pregnant goats show signs that kidding is imminent.

STOP and call the vet if: the kid is really stuck, if you note bleeding (bright red blood), any prolapsing of the uterus, if a kid has died some days previous and has become necrotic, or any signs that the doe is in extreme distress.

If you must know whether your goats are pregnant, you can spend money on blood tests, X-rays, or ultrasounds. But all pregnant goats show some visible signs.

Culturing dairy products produces the perfect environment for both beneficial and harmful bacteria to thrive, so hygiene is critical during all steps of production. Practice food safety for listeria prevention and other contamination in all stages from the goat to the affinage.