Sovereignty Module: Tend the Herd
Tend the Herd
Complete Goat Keeping, Dairy Production, and Fiber Harvesting Guide
Complete Goat Keeping, Dairy Production, and Fiber Harvesting Guide
Goats are the most versatile livestock for small homesteads — providing milk, meat, fiber, and brush clearing on marginal land that cannot support cattle.
Chapter 1: Breed Selection
| Breed | Purpose | Milk (lbs/day) | Butterfat % | Adult Weight | Temperament | Climate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nubian | Dairy | 4-6 | 4.5-5% (highest) | 135-175 lbs | Vocal, friendly | Hot climates |
| Alpine | Dairy | 5-8 | 3.5% | 135-155 lbs | Active, hardy | All climates |
| Saanen | Dairy (highest volume) | 6-10 | 3-3.5% | 135-185 lbs | Calm, docile | Cool climates |
| LaMancha | Dairy | 4-7 | 4% | 130-160 lbs | Very calm | All climates |
| Nigerian Dwarf | Dairy (small) | 1-3 | 6-10% (richest) | 60-80 lbs | Friendly, small | All climates |
| Boer | Meat | Low | - | 200-340 lbs | Docile | Hot/dry |
| Kiko | Meat (hardy) | Low | - | 150-250 lbs | Independent | All climates |
| Angora | Fiber (mohair) | Low | - | 70-110 lbs | Docile | Dry climates |
| Cashmere | Fiber (cashmere) | Low | - | 80-130 lbs | Hardy | Cold climates |
Chapter 2: Housing and Fencing
| Component | Specification | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelter | 15-20 sq ft per goat (minimum) | Rain/wind protection | Three-sided OK in mild climates. Must be dry. |
| Fencing height | 4-5 feet minimum | Containment | Goats jump AND climb. No horizontal rails to climb. |
| Fence type | Woven wire (4×4 inch mesh) or electric | Containment + predator deterrent | NOT cattle panels (heads get stuck) |
| Bedding | Straw or wood shavings, 4-6 inches | Comfort, moisture absorption | Deep litter method: add fresh on top, clean 2×/year |
| Hay feeder | Elevated, covered | Prevents waste and parasites | Goats will NOT eat hay off the ground |
| Water | 2-4 gallons per goat per day (more when lactating) | Hydration | Must be clean. Goats refuse dirty water. |
| Milking stand | Elevated platform with head stanchion | Restraint during milking | Build at comfortable height (18-24 inches) |
Chapter 3: Feeding
| Feed | Purpose | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browse (leaves, brush, weeds) | Primary natural diet | Free choice (pasture) | Year-round if available |
| Grass hay (timothy, orchard) | Winter/supplemental roughage | 3-5 lbs per goat per day | When pasture unavailable |
| Alfalfa hay | Protein + calcium (lactating does) | 2-4 lbs per day | During lactation and late pregnancy |
| Grain (16% dairy ration) | Energy for milk production | 1 lb per 3 lbs milk produced | During milking only |
| Minerals (loose goat mineral) | Copper, selenium, zinc | Free choice | Always available |
| Baking soda | Rumen pH buffer | Free choice | Always available (prevents bloat) |
| Fresh water | Hydration | 2-4 gallons per day (4-6 lactating) | Always available, clean |
Critical: Goats NEED copper (unlike sheep, which are copper-toxic). Never feed sheep mineral to goats. Goats also need selenium in deficient areas. Signs of copper deficiency: faded coat color, fish-tail (hair loss at tail tip), poor immune function.
Chapter 4: Milking
| Step | Action | Purpose | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lead doe to milking stand, secure head, offer grain | Calm, cooperative milking | Consistent routine = cooperative goat |
| 2 | Wash udder with warm water/dilute iodine | Sanitation, stimulates letdown | Dry with clean towel |
| 3 | Strip first 3 squirts from each teat into strip cup | Check for mastitis (clots, blood, off-color) | Discard these squirts |
| 4 | Milk completely: wrap hand around teat, squeeze top to bottom | Extract all milk | Incomplete milking = mastitis risk |
| 5 | Dip teats in teat dip (iodine solution) after milking | Prevents bacteria entering open teat | Teat canal stays open 30 minutes after milking |
| 6 | Strain milk through filter into clean jar | Remove hair, debris | Stainless steel strainer + disposable filter |
| 7 | Chill immediately (below 40F within 1 hour) | Preserves freshness, prevents bacteria growth | Ice bath or refrigerator |
Milking schedule: 2× daily (12 hours apart) for maximum production. 1× daily acceptable (reduces production 30-40% but still viable). Consistency is critical — same time every day.
Chapter 5: Breeding and Kidding
| Timeline | Event | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Fall (September-January) | Breeding season (does come into heat every 18-21 days) | Introduce buck or use AI |
| Heat signs | Tail flagging, vocalization, swollen vulva, mucus discharge | Breed 12-24 hours after onset |
| Gestation | 145-155 days (average 150) | Monitor weight, increase nutrition last 6 weeks |
| 2 weeks before due | Separate to kidding pen (clean, dry, private) | Prepare supplies: towels, iodine, molasses water |
| Kidding day | Signs: pawing, talking to sides, discharge, restlessness | Usually unassisted. Intervene if pushing 30+ min with no progress. |
| Immediately after birth | Clear airways, dip navel in iodine (7%), ensure nursing within 1 hour | Colostrum within first hour is CRITICAL (antibodies) |
| First 2 weeks | Kids nurse freely from dam | Monitor weight gain (should double birth weight by 2 weeks) |
Chapter 6: Health and Parasites
| Parasite/Disease | Symptoms | Prevention | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barber pole worm (Haemonchus) | Pale inner eyelids (FAMACHA), bottle jaw, weakness | Rotational grazing, browse (not grass), dry lots | Dewormers (rotate classes) |
| Coccidia | Diarrhea in kids (3-8 weeks old) | Clean dry bedding, prevent overcrowding | Sulfa drugs (Corid/amprolium) |
| Pneumonia | Cough, nasal discharge, fever, rapid breathing | Ventilation (no drafts), dry bedding, reduce stress | Antibiotics (veterinary guidance) |
| Mastitis | Hot/hard udder, clots in milk, pain | Clean milking practices, complete milking | Antibiotics + frequent milking |
| Bloat | Distended left side, discomfort, difficulty breathing | Free-choice baking soda, avoid sudden diet changes | Vegetable oil drench (60-120ml), massage rumen |
| Hoof rot | Limping, foul smell, overgrown/soft hooves | Trim hooves every 6-8 weeks, dry ground | Trim, copper sulfate foot bath, zinc sulfate |
Reference Card
- Minimum 2 goats always (herd animals, will be miserable and destructive alone).
- 4-5 foot woven wire fence minimum. No horizontal rails. Electric wire at top and bottom.
- Goats are browsers (leaves, brush), not grazers (grass). Elevated feeding prevents parasites.
- Milk 2× daily, 12 hours apart. Chill immediately. Strain through filter. Consistent schedule.
- Loose goat minerals (with copper) free choice. NOT sheep minerals. Free-choice baking soda.
- FAMACHA scoring: check inner eyelid color weekly. Pale = anemia = worm load = treat immediately.
- Gestation 150 days. Colostrum within 1 hour of birth is non-negotiable (kid will die without it).
- 1 dairy goat = 1-2 gallons milk per day at peak. Enough for family + cheese + soap.
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