Goat keeping

Goat Keeping
for women

A short Introduction

Servi Nabuurs
Short Term Expert Small Ruminants
Dr. Ibrar ul Hussain
Local Expert Small Ruminants

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Introduction
Everybody knows
goats; they are:
• small animals
• easy to keep
• poor woman's milk
cow
• ......

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Aspects of Goat Keeping

• Housing
• Feeding
• Health
• Breeding
• Care for the Kids
• Milking
• Marketig

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Some Questions
• Why do women want to keep the goats; what
benefits do they expect?
• Who has any goats, or kept them before?
• Where do you keep goats?
• What would you feed to goats?
• Who would take care of the goats?

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Some More Questions

• What can go wrong and what
problems can there be with
goat keeping?
• What goat diseases do you
know?
• What can be done about that?
• What skills and resources do
women need to keep goats
properly?

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Expectations
• What would you like to learn in this training?

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Goat keeping

Write Expectations on Cards

• Write Expectations on Cards
• Discussion
• Clustering of cards

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Goat Health
• Goat Training for women

• Servi Nabuurs
• Short Term Expert Small Ruminants
• Dr. Ibrar Hussain
• Local Expert Small Ruminants

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Overview of Diseases
• Restocking diseases: death in
non-local goats
• Coughing/pneumonia, CCP
• Diarrhoea
• Eye infection
• Tympany
• Kangoo virus (spread by ticks)
• Foot and Mouth Disease
• Enterotoxaemia
SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Restocking diseases: death in non-

local goats
• Quarantine: keep away from other
animals
• Vaccinate & deworm
• Animals may carry diseases from
other areas
• Transport stress
• Change of environment
(temperature, housing) and feeding
• Exposure to prevailing diseases in
the area

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Coughing/pneumonia, CCP
• Cough with fever:
– infection: bacteria / virus
• Cough without fever:
– no infection, irritation/allergy
– irritation: parasites/longworms, particles

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Cough with Fever, CCPP

• Infection: bacteria / virus
• Symptoms:
– thick nasal discharge
– coughing
– respiratory distress/sounds
– fever
• Prevention:
– vaccine: CCP
– Clean-dry ventilated but draught-free housing
• Treatment is possible:
– Tylosines / ...

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Cough without fever

• No infection, irritation/allergy
• Irritation: parasites/longworms, particles
• Symptoms:
– thin nasal discharge
– coughing
• Treatment and prevention:
– regular deworming
– dustfree feed and environment (clean shed)

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Diarrhoea
• Thin /loose/watery defaecation
• Causes:
– infections, protozoas
– worms, lush green feed
• Treatment:
– Worms: deworm
– Infection: antibiotics
– Protozoa: sulphonamides
– General rehydration solution
(4 table spoons sugar, ½ teaspoon
salt in 1 Liter clean water)
• Prevention:
– clean shed, feeding and water
– avoid overfeeding lush green feed

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Eye infection
• Causes:
– bacteria
– worms
– wounds
– particles
• Symtoms
– whitening of inner eye
– watery eye
– red eye
• Treatment:
– Cold water (clean/destilled)
– Boric water
– Eye ointment
– In case of worm: remove
the worm (scoop it out with finger)

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Tympany / Bloat
• Symptoms/identification:
– bulging stomach (rumen)
– distress
– kicking on belly
– lying down
• Note: some are with foam
others without!
• Causes
– overeating grains, bread, flour: without foam
– green plants (lucerne, clover, berseem), with foam
• Treatment
– mild case: stand over the goat; lift under brisket and squeeze with elbows on
the side of the goat to make it belch
– non-foamy: insert stomach tube (5 foot long ½" Ø hose pipe)
– vegetable oils
– Baking soda
– drugs: medioral, bloatryliquid, tempcure
– Emergency: trocar!!
SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Kangoo virus
• Cause:
– virus transmitted by ticks
• Symptoms:
– fever, ...
• Treatment:
• Prevention:
– remove ticks
– use forceps or gloves for removing ticks
– tick control (wash with acaricides;: e.g. Neguvon)

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Foot and Mouth Disease

• Viral diseas; symptoms:
– blisters in/outside mouth
– blisters between hooves
– sometimes blisters on udder
• Management of FMD:
– control secondary infection
– keep animal in dry place
separate from others
– Offer green & soft food
• Treatment:
– FMD serum
• Prevention:
– vaccination
– control animal movement in case of suspected
cases ! Avoid contacts among ruminant herds
– Inform veterinarian of suspected case
SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Enterotoxeamia
• Bacterial Disease
• Sudden death of mostly healthy animals
• Yellow diarrhoea in kids/lambs
• Post-mortem symptoms:
– pulpey kidney, red speckles in intestines, water
in heart sack
• Treatment:
– sulphydrugs: sulphadimidine, tribersin, trisolizine,
kaolin powder
• Control by vaccination: ET Vaccine

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Goat
Pregnancy,
Birth and Kids

Goat Training for

women

Servi Nabuurs
Short Term Expert Small Ruminants
Dr. Ibrar Hussain
Local Expert Small Ruminants

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Care for the Pregnant Goat

• Stop milking 2 months
before expected
kidding date (when is
that?)
• Good feeding in the last
2 months, but avoid
overfeeding
• Disease control
(vaccinations in first
part of gestation period)
• Separate in the last two
weeks

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Prepare for Kidding

• Clean place
• Announcement:
– swelling of the udder, loosening
of the ligaments of the pelvis;
restlessness, less eating and
drinking, vaginal secretion,
swelling and dilatation of the
vulva.
• Kidding process:
– Waterbag appears and breaks,
inside bladder appears with the
legs; normally the head is on the
legs and birth continues naturally

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Normal and Malpresentation

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Birth Assistance
• With normal position (two front feet and head in between) there is no
need for assistance, unless the doe is weak/small and the kid is large,
e.g. in a first-kidder
• In case of malpresentation that needs assistance ensure cleanliness
(water with some Dettol), soap to wash back of the goat, hands and as
libricant; have two ropes (10mm Ø) with a noose
• Backward position: hindlegs first occurs in twin and triplets; ensure fast
delivery after the hindlegs are out; the pelvis of the kid hold the kid
• Head or frontlegs turned backwards: push kidn inward and put noose
around trotters to pull them in the right position
• Breech: backwards with folded legs: push kid inwards and try with a
noose to pull the legs in the brith canal/alternative is to try a full turn
• Ask the village midwife for assistance: she usually has much
experience with birth assistance and diffult positions
Note on prevention: avoid using a large buck on doelings; use a buck
from which you expect smaller kids!

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Just after Birth

• Check that kid's nose and mouth are
clean
• Check if another kid is coming
• Let doe lick the kid clean // rub clean
& dry
• Navel desinfection with iodine
• Ensure that teats are not blocked
• Ensure that kid gets colostrum
within 2 hours
• Check that placenta comes out
within 12 hours (normal is 1-2
hours)

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Kid Management
• Separate kid and doe from other
animals for 4-7 days
• Keep kid with the mother full time in the
first four days to drink much and
frequently colostrum
• Offer clean water from the beginning
• Offer some good feed and fodder from
1-2 weeks onwards
• Let kids take milk until 3 - 4 months old
• Vaccinate for Enterotoxaemia at 1
month
• Deworm from 2 months onwards if
worm infestation is obvious

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Mortility in Kids due to Coldness

• Causes:
– poor feeding/poor condition of the doe
– results in low colostrum / milk production
– low intake of energy in the kid
– vulnerable to coldness
• Prevention:
– start feeding concentrates 2 weeks before kidding
– change the diet gradually
– will give higher milk yield, less chance of milk fever
– warm housing with good ventilation; avoid draught and
moisture

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Internal and
External
Parasites in
Goats
Goat Training for
women

Servi Nabuurs
Short Term Expert Small Ruminants
Dr. Ibrar Hussain
Local Expert Small Ruminants

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Roundworms

• Internal parasites
pierce the wall, suck
blood and produce
eggs
• They cause
diarrhoea, anaemia,
weakness
• Especially kids are
vulnerable

• Symptoms: rough dull hair coat, thick stomach, arched back, weakness, cough
(lungworms), diarrhoea, aneamia, ...
• Diagnosis through checking dung samples under a microscope
• Control by deworming (note: drench correctly in order not to drown the animal!)
• Use of clean swards and stallfeeding hay reduced infestation
SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Liver Fluke
• The life cycle of the
liverfluke passes through
the animal and snails; it
therefore occurs always
near wet places
• The Fluke damages the
intestines and the liver
and produces eggs that
pass with the faeces
• The next cycle is in snails,
after which they can infest
grazing animals again

• Symptoms are bottlejaw, weakness, aneamia, diarrhoea (with

typical smell)
• Diagnosis through dung samples and checking them under a
microscope in a laboratory
• Control by deworming
SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Tapeworm I

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Tapeworm II

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Goat keeping

Reasons for weakness and low

production
• Internal parasites live from the tissue and the blood of the
host and therefore take away the energy and proteins
• The feed nutrients are not used for production, such as
growth and milk, but feed the parasites
• The result is weak animals and low production
• Kids can easily succumb and die
• Symptoms of poor hair coat, loose hair, anaemia,

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

External Parasites
• Common external parasites are ticks, fleas, maggots, nasal
bot, mites, scab and lice

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Goat keeping

External Parasites II
• Symptoms: engorged ticks on the skin,
itching, rough haircoat, loss of hair and skinn,
mangy skin, ...
• Control by clean housing, removal by hands,
• washing with accaricides (insecticides), e.g.
neguvon, ecofleas, Ivermectin (injectable), ...

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Goat
Management

Goat Training for women

on
Housing, Feeding, Milking
and Matstitis
Servi Nabuurs
Short Term Expert Small Ruminants
Dr. Ibrar Hussain
Local Expert Small Ruminants

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Goat Management Overview

• Feeding
• Health Management
– Disease and Parasite
Control
• Housing + equipment
• Breeding
• Care for Pregrant Does and
for Kids
• Milking (+ Mastitis)
• Marketing (milk, animals)

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Goat Feeding
• Goats are browsers and grass
eaters; they eat:
• Fodder: tree leaves, grass, straw,
stovers, vegetable waste
• Concentrates: grains, bread,
compound feed
– do not feed all at once
• The feed must provide adequate
nutrients in terms of energy,
proteins, minerals and vitamins
• Never forget water: a dairy goat
may need 6 to 10 litre water per
day!
SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Goat Feeding II
• Goats are ruminants: feed is
ingested and afterwards chewed
again; the feed ferments first in
the rumen; then it is digested
further down the intestines
• Changed rations gradually to
allow bacteria / protozoa in the
rumen to adjust
• Ruminants spent about 8 hours
eating, 8 hours ruminating and 8
hours sleeping / day

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Incorrect Feeding
• Provides insufficient nutrients that results in poor
condition and low production
• May cause digestive problems, such as bloat
(tympany) and acidosis
• Bloat symptoms: thick stomach; painful abdomen
• Foamy Bloat is due to intake of leguminous feeds:
alfalfa or clovers: use vegetable oil or bloat
treatment
• Gaseous Bloat is due to intake of too much
concentrates or too fast change to a diet with
much concentrates: use a stomach tube (½" hose
pipe)
• Acidosis is due to overeating of grains/flour
products or too fast changing to such a diet
– Animals are listless and have a painful
stomach
– use baking soda drench

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Feedstuffs and Fodder Production

• Leaves of trees/shrubs, such as ipil ipil
(Leucaena), Robinia (kiker), Acacias,
Mulberry, Grewia (dhaman), ...
• Grasses
• Fodder: fresh, hay and silage
• Crop residues: straw and stover
• Kitchen waste: vegetables, breads, rice, ...
• Concentrates: grains, commercial
concentrates (wanda), cotton seed cake,
wheat bran, jaggery (gur), molasses
• Rock salt, minerals

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Fodder Production and

Conservation
• Try to grow fodder trees around the
house on field borders on the
boder of the garden
• Grow fodder crops like mott grass
(on borders) alfalfa, berseem, oats,
.....
• Prepare a Winter Stock of Fodder
to feed the Goats: best is making
hay
• Estimate the need in terms of
bundles (guddi - 5kg dry fodder;
minimum ½ guddi per goat per
day), so for three goats for 5
months: ½ x 3 x 150 = 225 guddis
• Stovers from maize / sorghum
need to be chopped before feeding

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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 Goat keeping

How Much to Feed?

• Feed quantity and quality depend on the
needs of the animal: growth, milk production,
pregnancy, condition
• Grazing and browsing allows the animals to
find their own feed
• Supplement at home with fodder, branches,
concentrates and salt
• Amount of concentrates can vary from a few
hundred grams to one kilogram
(approximately ½ kg concentrates/Liter of
Milk)
• Never give all concentrates in one time (risk
of acidosis)!
• Always give free access to fodder/hay/ straw,
salt and WATER!

• Always check the condition, behaviour and

manure if this all appears normal
SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Goat Housing
• Housing provides protection against
rains, coldness, predators, theft, ...
• Goat housing is dry, well-ventilated
(no draft), clean (and easy to clean),
has facilities to give clean food and
water
• Goats like to climb on heights:
include an elevated part for goats to
lay and sleep: it is clean!
• Allows to keep animals separate,
e.g. a doe with kid, the buck (think of
smell that can contaminate the milk),
sick animals
• Has storage for utensils, feeds (think
of rats / mice)
• Check for a good drainage and
storage place for the manure to use
in the field/garden

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Goat keeping

Milking
• Milking utensils:
– bucket
– cleaning materials: brush detergent
– strip-cup/plate
• Milking:
– prepare udder: wash with warm water,
dry; this stimulates 'milk-let-down'
– Few strips from each teat to check the
milk for clots
– Milk with proper
'full-hand' technique
– After milking dip
teats in desinfecting
solution,
e.g. diluted iodine

Note: stripping over-

stretches the udder
tissue and reduces
the live of the udder

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Cleanliness for Milk

• Have a clean place to milk
• Cut any possible long or dirty hair near udder
• After milking clean the untensils:
– Rinse with (warm) water
– Brush with detergent
– Rinse with clean water
– Drip dry (if possible in the sun)
– Store in a clean (fly-free) place
• Keep milk in clean containers as cool as
possible
• Boiling / pasteurzing milk allows to keep the
milk longer without deteriorating
• Milk products (yoghurt, curd, butter, cheese)
have longer keeping properties; be hygienic
in the preparation and storage
SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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Goat keeping

Mastitis
• Mastitis is an inflammation of parts of or the
whole udder
• It starts unnoticed
• Second stage: change of milk: change of texture,
clots, watery milk, blood
• Acute: swelling of udder; high temperature of
affected area, puple colour, damage of the udder
• Detection:
– Prestrip and check for clots on a black surface
– Boils and clot test: heat some fresh milk and check
if it clots
– Surf-test: make 2% Surf solution and mix with milk:
if it clots there is sub-clinical mastitis
• Prevention:
– Clean milking practice
– Clean and dry housing
– Teat dipping after milking
– Avoid the 'udder bag'
• Treatment:
– Ask veterinary professional

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

Goat keeping

Vaccination and Treatment Schedule

for Goats
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vaccinations
Enterotoxaemia X kids boost boost boost

FMD X
CCPP only in mountains;
repeat after 3 yrs X
PPR X

Deworming X X X
Helminths/Fluke

SLSP: European Commission, ALA ProgrammeEuropeAid/114465/C/SV/PK

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