| Cute and cuddly: those are the two terms people | | | | 2. Raising goats for their meat. |
| associate with goats. This can be true, if you are | | | | The South African Boer goats are considered as the |
| raising goats as pets. However, if you are trying to | | | | true meat yielding goats because of their fast growth |
| establish a goat farm, you will quickly discover that | | | | rate, the high litter count, and their resiliency to almost |
| these two terms are the farthest descriptions you can | | | | all kinds of animal diseases. Very young goats are |
| give your animal wards. Like all animal husbandry | | | | highly prized for their tender meats which are sold as |
| practices, raising goats also means having to deal with | | | | fresh produce in the market. On the other hand, meat |
| housing units, choosing feeds and dietary supplements, | | | | coming from older animals is usually incorporated in |
| keeping out unwanted predators (especially wild | | | | processed food items like cured, salted or smoked |
| animals in the surrounding areas,) health check ups | | | | meat. |
| done by the vet, updating or buying tools and | | | | Other types of meat producing breeds are the: Brush, |
| machineries, regular inspection done by the authorities, | | | | Kiko, Myotonic (also called Fainting goats,) Spanish, and |
| knowing the breeding cycle of goats, and most | | | | the West African Dwarf goats. |
| important of all, choosing what breed of goats you | | | | 3. Raising goats for their milk. |
| intend to keep. | | | | Goat milk can be used as a substitute for cow's milk |
| Although you can buy any breed of animal you want, | | | | because it contains fewer levels of lactose, which |
| raising goats according to their output will help you | | | | makes it perfect for lactose intolerant people. |
| quickly regain your investments, and make your | | | | However, goat's milk can also be used in: buttermilk, |
| endeavors into a profitable business. As such, there | | | | candy, cheese (and cream cheese), clarified butterfat |
| are four types of goat farming. These are: | | | | (ghee,) kefir (alcoholic beverage,) yogurt... or |
| 1. Raising goats for their fibers. | | | | incorporated in a number of bath and beauty care |
| Wool is the most common fiber to be harvested from | | | | products as well. |
| goats. But you can also acquire mohair and cashmere | | | | The Anglo-Nubian breed is considered as the best |
| wool; both of which are usually prized for their silken | | | | producers of quality goat milk. But other breeds like the: |
| texture and softness. For medium class wool, which is | | | | Alpine, La Mancha, Oberhasli, Saanen and Toggenburg |
| similar to sheep wool but only somewhat thicker, you | | | | also yield great milk outputs. |
| would need to buy nigora and pygora goats (hybrid | | | | 4. Raising goats as pets. |
| goats.) | | | | Pet goats are usually chosen for their quiet and docile |
| Angora goats produce mohair and cashmere goats | | | | demeanors. However, many people choose animals |
| produce cashmere wool. And these are about 100 | | | | that are low maintenance as well. Some of the best |
| times more expensive than the common wool. | | | | breeds that can be raised as home or farm pets are |
| However, you can only every successfully establish a | | | | the: Anglo-Nubian, Pygmy goat, and the South African |
| goat farm of this kind in areas that are very cold or | | | | Boer goat. |
| experience near freezing temperatures. | | | | |