COURSE CONTENT
Start Date: Start at any time - study at a pace that suits you, and with full tutor support for the duration of your studies.
Lessons: The course comprises 9 lessons as outlined, below.
Lesson 1. Nature and Scope of Goat Production
Introduction and History; Biological Terminology; Uses of Goats and Goat
Production; Goats Breeds Overview; Introduction to Farm Systems;
Keeping a Buck; Truths and Myths about Goats; Goat Psychology; Social
Structure.
Lesson 2. Goat Breeds and Breeding
Dairy Goats; Saanen; Toggenburg; British Alpine; Anglo-Nubian; Fleece
Goats; Angoras; Cashmere; Meat Goats; Boer Goats; Spanish Goats;
Savannas; Kiko; Myotonic; Goat Skin; Black Bengal; Garganica; Pet Goats;
Australian Miniature; Nigerian Dwarf; African Pygmy; Feral Goats;
Selection and Breeding General Objectives; Reproductive System Anatomy;
Puberty; Breeding Season; Flock Mating; Pen Mating; Hand Mating;
Reproduction Control Methods; Synchronisation of Oestrus; Out of
Breeding Season; Superovulation; Artificial Insemination; Genetics and
Selection; Understanding Genes.
Lesson 3. Feeds and Nutrition
Feeding; Forage; Hay; Haylage; Straw; Wild Plants; Concentrates;
By-products; Minerals; Feeding Strategies; Feeding for milk production;
Feeding for meat production.
Lesson 4. Health Management
Health Problems; Ecopathology; Signs of Good Health; Bacterial and Viral
Diseases; Clostridial Diseases; Johne’s Disease (Paratuberculosis);
Listeriosis; Soremouth; Slow viruses; Parasites; Accidents, Emergencies
and First Aid; Control of Bleeding; Tear wounds or lacerations; Electric
Shock; Snake bites; Fractures; Poisoning; Abortion and Genital
Processes; Chlamidiosis; Q Fever; Listeriosis; Leptospirosis;
Toxoplasmosis; Ketosis; Digestive Problems; Bloat; Choking; Acidosis;
Respiratory problems; White Muscle Diseases; Pinkeye; Urinary Calculi;
Mastitis; Metritis; Sanitary Policy of Infectious Goats; Choosing a Vet.
Lesson 5. General Husbandry - Housing, Fencing, Grooming
Space Requirements; Housing and Fencing; Grazing and Pasture Management;
Free Range; Intensive Confinement; Combination System; Grazing Methods;
How Much Grazing; Other Areas That Can Be Utilised For Grazing; Hoof
care; Disbudding; Dehorning; Tattooing; Vaccination; Worming; Grooming
and Hair Care.
Lesson 6. Kids and Kidding
Hygiene during delivery; The delivery; Parturition/Birth; Care of a newborn kid; Early feeding; Weaning; Castration.
Lesson 7. Dairy Production
Milk Production; Lactation Curve; Quality and Composition; Compositions
of goat's milk; Protein; Fat; Lactose; Ash; Vitamins; Factors of
variation; Breeds and production systems; Age and lactation number;
Different types of cheese.
Lesson 8. Meat and Fibre Production
Fibre Production; Mohair; Annual Management of Angora Flock; Mohair
Production; Cashmere; Annual Management of a cashmere flock; Cashmere
Production; Meat Production; Management of meat flock; Slaughter
terminology; Carcass quality and grading; Leather production.
Lesson 9. Goat Farm Management
On the Farm - Buildings and Structures; Goat shelters; Farming
production systems; Keeping records; Goat Management; Occupational
Health and Safety Legislation; Farm Safety; Duty of care (employer and
employer duties); Lifting and manual handling; Protective Equipment;
Dealing with chemicals; Storage and disposal of chemicals; Handling
tools and machinery; Safety Audit; Marketing your products; Advertising
your stock; Where you can sell.
AIMS
- Discuss the significance of goats,
the characteristics that differentiate them from other domesticated
animals and the scope and nature of goat industries.
- Select appropriate Goat Breeds for specified purposes.
- Describe how goats are bred.
- Determine and manage an appropriate diet for a goat.
- Identify a sick goat.
- Describe common health issues that can affect goats; their prevention and treatment.
- Determine facilities needed, and husbandry tasks that need to be undertaken for the management of a goat.
- Describe Kidding and Raising Kids.
- Explain the commercial farming goats for fibre, meat and other products (excluding dairy).
- Determine viable plans for farming goats.
Goats are kept for many different reasons
The goat is a member of the family Bovidae. The goat specifically
belongs to the subfamily caprinae and is closely related to the sheep.
Goats are categorized as an herbivorous mammal and are one of the oldest domesticated species.
Neolithic farmers are known to have herded wild goats to provide them
with milk and meat and also bone, sinew and hair for making tools,
clothes and building.
The first area of captivity is known to be in the South-East Asia region
about 8000BC. Before this time, goats were only known to be feral
Uses for Goat & Goat Products
Domestic goats are one of the most useful animals to have as they are easy to look after and feed.
As a domestic farm animal they can be used to produce a variety of products, such as:
- Diary (milk, butter, yoghurt).
- Meat.
- Leather.
- Wool (fleece goats).
- Soaps, body and hair care products.
In Europe and North America, intensive,
high-yielding dairy goat herds are common. In Afghanistan cashmere goats
are kept on rangelands for their meat and fleeces. In Africa,
subsistence farmers commonly keep dual-purpose goats on their
smallholdings for milk and meat. In Australia, goats are farmed and
exported for meat in large volumes. Feral goats are commonly run
alongside sheep and beef herds in New Zealand to help manage weeds and
scrub in pasture. In the 1900’s goats have become very popular as pets,
more commonly in Europe and North America.
Goat Breeds
Nowadays, there are over 300 different breeds of goats. Goat breeds
fall into a number of general categories. They are generally classified
by their main use e.g. dairy, meat, fibre/fleece or companion animals.
Dairy goats may be of 4 different breeds:
- Saanen.
- Toggenburg.
- British Alpine.
- Anglo-Nubian.
Examples of specific meat breeds:
- Spanish meat goat.
- South African Boer.
- New Zealand Kiko.
Examples of specific fibre/fleece goats
- Cashmere.
- Angora.
- Pygora.
Examples of companion goat breeds
Who Should Study This Course?
- farmers
- farm staff
- rescue workers
- animal care workers
- veterinarians
- veterinary staff
- anyone working with animals and wants to learn more about goats
Any Questions?
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