The other diseases can be known by inspecting the herd and looking out for signs and symptoms. You can also approach a farm veterinarian to make sure that the goats are checked for diseases. Once the diseases are identified, you’ll need to get medications and treatment for your goats from the vet. You can stock the medicine cabinet with certain medications such as antibiotic ointments for pink eye. 

This helps you in having the medications ready as soon as you notice any symptoms. It is best to have a farm medicine cabinet, where all these medications can be kept. You must separate the sick goat from the herd if it has a contagious disease. Consult the vet if you need to have any of your doubts clarified. Here are some of the common goat diseases:

1. Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE)

This is a contagious and incurable disease, which is devastating for your goat herd. It’s quite similar to HIV in humans. This disease compromises the immune system of a goat and this is why you must buy CAE-free goats. A test for CAE would help in identifying whether the goat has been infected with this virus.

2. Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL)

This is a contagious and chronic disease, also known as ‘abscesses’. Goats infected with this disease have pus-filled infections or abscesses formed around their lymph nodes. With the bursting of the abscesses, other goats can be infected by the pus. As the test for CL is not often accurate, you must buy goats that are free from the disease.

3. Coccidiosis

The young ones affected by this parasite can suffer from diarrhoea, rough coats, and general ill-health. Sometimes, the diarrhoea can be bloody. Albon is used to treat the affected goats. You can also feed them a coccidiostat as a preventative.

4. Pink eye

Just like humans, goats can get pink eye. The rules for taking care of the affected goats is the same as in humans. Keep the sick ones away from the rest of the goats in the herd. Make sure you wash your hands well after handling the goat with pink eye. You can get the goat treated by taking it to the vet.

5. Enterotoxemia

This condition is caused due to bacterial imbalance in the rumen of the goat. It can result from overfeeding, sudden changes in feed, sickness, or digestive problems. Enterotoxemia can be fatal for the goat. So, make sure that you vaccinate your goat herd against enterotoxemia. It’s always good to have CD antitoxin handy for emergencies.

6. G-6-S

This is a genetic defect, which is seen in Nubian goats and Nubian crosses. Young ones among goats with this defect usually die early. Only some of the breeders have their goats tested for this and sell them as ‘G-6-S Normal’.

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These friendly farm animals also have higher intelligence and bond well with humans. Besides, it can be great fun watching them as they are curious and agile animals. Here are a few things you must do if you wish to raise goats:

1. Choose a good breed of dairy goat

If you intend to raise dairy goats for milk, this is the first step. Take some time to learn about the standard breeds of dairy goats. You’ll come across several breeds, but only a few are commonly raised for milk. Among the popular ones are the Saanen, Alpine, Toggenburg, and Oberhasli breeds. 

All of them have their origins in the Swiss mountains. They adapt well to cooler climates and not-so-perfect conditions. If you wish to have goats that have tropical origins, consider the Nubians. They generally do well in hot summers.

2. Fencing and housing dairy goats

A clean and dry place is essential for raising dairy goats. It must be protected from unpleasant, cold winds. Have an enclosed barn that’s warm enough to make the goats comfortable during winters. Make sure you provide a lot of forage for your goats. This would go a long way in keeping them healthy and happy. It’s also important to have extra-sturdy fencing for your goats.

3. Feeding your dairy goats

Grasses, woods, and shrubs are the foundation of good forage for goats. Places with these three things give them plenty of opportunities to roam around and eat well. There are times when you won’t have fresh forage available for them. In such situations, you can feed them high-quality hay. 

You must also learn some tips and tricks that are necessary to keep your goats well-fed. The foraging area must be kept free from plants that are considered toxic for goats. You can get in touch with your county extension agent. This would help you identify these plants in the forage area if there are any.

4. Keep your dairy goats healthy

Keeping your goats free of illnesses and diseases is extremely important while raising them. There’s a lot of truth in the good old saying, ‘prevention is better than cure. This is especially true when it comes to goats. Many goat owners don’t realize that it’s much easier to keep these animals healthy. 

It would be extremely hard to heal them once they develop a disease or illness. You must learn the basics of keeping them healthy and know when to take them to a vet.

5. Managing milking

Goats typically give birth to their young ones about 150 days after breeding. They often have two or sometimes three baby goats. After the young ones are born, mother goats begin to produce milk. If continuously milked, they’ll lactate for nearly ten months. You need to give them a break for at least two months before they breed again. 

Goats produce greater quantities of milk. You’ll still have a lot to take even after your babies are fed. Most of the goat owners milk in the morning after confining the young ones overnight. After the milking is done in the morning, the babies can nurse on demand.

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These animals are believed to have been domesticated about 10,000 years ago. Over 200 breeds of domestic goats are found across the world in recent times. Goats of different species have varying colours and sizes. Usually, they feed on tree trunks and grass. Here are some of the other interesting facts about goats you probably don’t know:

1. They like smiling faces

A simple experiment revealed that these domestic animals prefer happy faces. The details of this experiment were published in the Royal Society Open Science. As a part of the experiment, researchers placed photos of the same face on the wall at a goat sanctuary. One was a happy face while the other was an angry one. Goats were seen avoiding the photo with an angry faces. 

However, they had a strange attraction towards the happy face and explored it with their snouts. It was already known to the researchers that goats understood human body language, but this behaviour was quite unexpected. It took things a little further. Goats could clearly distinguish between the expressions and they obviously liked smiling faces.

2. They’re picky eaters

You might be under the impression that goats would eat anything. In many of the cartoon or comic series, you must’ve seen a goat gnawing on a tin. You must understand that this is far from being true. Goats are actually quite picky when it comes to food. They go for the most nutritious offerings and are very resourceful. They like tree bark, as it is rich in tannins. The thinnest patches of grass are also eaten by them.

3. The shape of their eyes have a purpose

Some people don’t like the odd pupils in the eyes of goats. A study was published in Science Advances in the year 2015. The researchers examined the eyes of more than 200 land animals as a part of this study. They found an astonishing correlation between the shape of goats’ pupils and their ecology. 

Their side-slanted eyes help them while feeding on grass. They give them a wider field of vision without absorbing as much light coming from above. So, their vision is not affected by the sun’s rays. It also helps them in keeping an eye on their predators.

4. Goats are quite emotional

Many people are not aware of the fact that goats are very emotional animals. They’re surprisingly intelligent and can learn to perform a task within about twelve attempts. Another amazing fact about goats is that they can identify their companions just by hearing their sounds. By listening to the calls of other goats, they can also understand their emotions. 

A study published in ‘Frontiers in Zoology’ had some interesting details. It was found by researchers that goats have different physiological reactions based on emotions heard from other goats. It’s a social phenomenon called ’emotional contagion.

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Today, many people don’t know anything about goats. Here, we’ve presented some tips to those who wish to raise goats in cities:

1. Know the local rules and regulations

The very first requirement for keeping goats is whether it’s allowed according to the local rules and regulations. Permission might be required from the authorities of the county, municipality or the local association of homeowners. Certain breeds of goats, especially the males among them that haven’t been neutered can be loud. 

It might not be possible to keep them in a place that’s densely populated. Much of this can be attributed to their poor habits with regard to hygiene.

2. Choose a goat breed according to your needs

The ideal breed for backyard environments would be goats that stay small at maturity. Oberhaslis and Manchas are an excellent choice if you’re looking for one of the milk-producing breeds. However, there must be a stud buck of the chosen breed is present in the area where you reside. 

In the process of raising female goats, you’ll realize that they need young ones. This is how they begin producing milk. People who don’t want milk from these animals can raise pygmy goats. If your intention for raising goats is dairy, take your doe to a stud buck when it’s breeding time.

3. Have a covered goat shed built

It’s important to have a shed that protects the goat from rain, wind, and snow. For this purpose, you’ll need to provide them with a covered shed. There are different styles of shed that can be constructed for the goats. The first thing that’s needed in a shed is protective flooring. It must stay dry so that the goats would be comfortable. 

At least half of the sides of the goat shed must have walls. Goats would be protected from respiratory problems if there’s proper ventilation. As long as your goats stay dry, you don’t need to provide the shed with additional heat.

4. Provide a milking stand with a stanchion

You should plan on milking twice a day if you wish to have dairy products. As the days grow shorter, you can milk once every day. When the goat gives birth, you must plan on picking the exact tempo after some weeks of rest. You’ll certainly need a milking stand with a stanchion. 

It would help the goats to place their head and enjoy their treat while being milked. They must be given some training in the process of getting milk. You’ll also need to train yourself in milking the goats. Some amount of practice is required to get your hand movements right. 

In the absence of a proper stand, you’ll face a lot of difficulties while milking your goat. Without an appropriate stand, you’ll probably need to almost lie down on the ground while milking. This is especially true in the case of shorter goats.

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Today, many people across the world are moving away from the corporate jungle. They seem to be happy leaving their hectic urban lifestyle and settling for a pleasant countryside living. Most of them who have successfully made the move are also keeping domestic animals as their extended family members. 

One of these animals is goats. Goats produce extremely nutritious milk and also make for great pets. Now let’s take a look at the most popular breeds of goats in the world:

1. Alpine

The highest milk producers among goat breeds, the Alpine goats have their origins in the French Alps. Some of these goats can produce up to two gallons of milk a day. As they’re the highest milk producers, they also have greater nutritional needs. Those who wish to domesticate these goats must closely monitor their diet. Individuals who raise Alpine goats have said that they’re curious, quiet, and tolerant animals.

2. Nubian

You can easily recognize Nubian goats as they have long ears and a convex muzzle. They have Middle Eastern origins and can easily thrive in hotter climates. Although these goats produce less milk compared to the other goat breeds, their milk is high in fat content. 

The milk produced by these goats is also very sweet and creamy. Nubian goats are strong, graceful, and come in different coat colours. Among them, mahogany brown is the most common colour. 

3. Saanen

Although Saanen goats are found in many countries, they’re originally from Switzerland. They have an all-white coat and are easy to raise. Many say that even a child can raise these goats. Saanen goats are well-mannered and gentle animals. Their females have a smaller, heart-shaped faces with small beards. 

Male Saanens have a larger face with a bigger beard. The milk produced by these goats is somewhat similar to the low-fat cow’s milk found in supermarkets.

4. LaMancha

One of the excellent milk breeds among goats, LaManchas have their origins in the United States. They’re quite distinct from all the goat breeds in terms of appearance. LaManchas have very short ears and a round belly. Their coats are short, fine, glossy and come in different colours. 

Milk produced by these goats is high in protein and fat with a smooth texture and a rich flavour. They’re curious and loving breed and interact well with other animals and humans.

5. The Oberhasli

Another goat breed of Swiss origin, the Oberhasli are mountainous goats. They have a shiny, brown coat and love to climb and jump around. Among their distinct features are pointy ears, blackheads, and doughy eyes. The black markings on their head extend to the tips of their muzzle. 

As they’re quite lovable and interactive, the Oberhasli goats make for good pets. These goats are also one of the best milk producers among the goat breeds.

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