People usually get into the practice of keeping goats for several reasons, some for monetary reasons and some for the heck of keeping goats as pets, still it is also equally important to know that goat care is more than just safety and health maintenance.
There are people who raise goats to provide meat and milk, cashmere or mohair, to graze grasslands and clearing the landscape or simply for pets at home.
Goats are more popular among developing countries where it is mostly used for the production of milk and other dairy products.
Although goats are hardy animals and does not seem to demand so much of your effort, especially in terms of maintaining their shelter, for which most of their needs would rely mostly on them getting just dry bedding during wet seasons or winter, and adequate shelter to prevent them from getting wet during the rainy season or the intense heat of the sun.
As much as possible, make sure to house no less than two goats in a shelter, since goats are pack animals and would long to have a companion, otherwise, they could get lonely and lose their appetite for food.
Ensure that your goats are fenced in, where they cannot easily get our and also prevent other domestic or wild animals from getting into the pens, which will also serve to protect your goats not just from being preyed upon, but would also prevent them from contracting disease from other animal carriers.
It is also important in making sure that they also have ready access to quality feeding hay and grain every day, as well as regular supplementation of vitamins and minerals that they need to stay healthy.
If you are stacking hay for feeding, make sure that it does not sit too long on the ground that it will start to get moldy or dirty, for which goats have the tendency of ignoring and rather feed on fresher ones.
If too much hay is stacked in a barn, make sure to always keep it clean and ready for consumption by the goats during feeding, that way you minimize wastage and prevent your goats from getting contaminated or infected by any ground borne disease or parasites.
Every so often, also introduce your goats to new pasture or feed them with freshly cut green hay, since this would not only provide a variety for your goats during feeding, it will also prevent your goats from getting bloated or getting ill.
Although goats are also hardy animals, it is also advised for them to get regular vaccination, for which partnering with a local veterinarian is also important in ensuring that these regular vaccinations are getting done.
Though it would cost you some dollars to maintain their regular vaccinations, it is practically better than spending thousands of dollars in having them treated for diseases that have easily been prevented through the timely and proper administration of animal vaccines.
So by now you know that goat care is more than just safety and health maintenance, it is also making sure that you are aware of how it would benefit your goats and you as the owner as well.
