Meat GoatsMeat Goats
TermsTerms Buck or Billy – mature maleBuck or Billy – mature male Wether – castrated maleWether – castrated male Doe or Nanny – mature femaleDoe or Nanny – mature female Buckling – young maleBuckling – young male Doeling – young femaleDoeling – young female Kid – young goatKid – young goat
Meat Goat FactsMeat Goat Facts Minimal care animalsMinimal care animals Browsers by nature – prefer brush, Browsers by nature – prefer brush,
shrubs, and weeds rather than grass.shrubs, and weeds rather than grass. Helpful in controlling weeds & brush Helpful in controlling weeds & brush Gestation period = 149-155 daysGestation period = 149-155 days
– Around 5 monthsAround 5 months
More Meat Goat FactsMore Meat Goat Facts Boer goats are the most common Boer goats are the most common
goat breed in U.S.goat breed in U.S. Offer adequate milking, but raised for Offer adequate milking, but raised for
their high quality meat.their high quality meat. Show goats must be registered by Show goats must be registered by
their breed association.their breed association. Multiple births (2-4) are commonMultiple births (2-4) are common
Even More Meat Goat FactsEven More Meat Goat Facts Most critical part of ANY meat goat Most critical part of ANY meat goat
operation is the selection of a herd sire.operation is the selection of a herd sire. Primary market weight is 50-90lbsPrimary market weight is 50-90lbs Common crossbreedings include:Common crossbreedings include:
– Boer x NubianBoer x Nubian– Boer x Spanish goatBoer x Spanish goat– Boer x AngoraBoer x Angora– Boer x KikoBoer x Kiko
Goat StomachGoat Stomach Goats are ruminants and have a 4 Goats are ruminants and have a 4
compartment stomachcompartment stomach– Sheep & cattle are also ruminantsSheep & cattle are also ruminants
Ruminants get a lot of their nutrients Ruminants get a lot of their nutrients from roughages that humans cannot from roughages that humans cannot use for food.use for food.
Goat Stomach cont.Goat Stomach cont. Rumination aka cud chewing – the Rumination aka cud chewing – the
process of regurgitation where a process of regurgitation where a small bolus (ball) of food is “thrown-small bolus (ball) of food is “thrown-up”, re-chewed, then re-swallowed.up”, re-chewed, then re-swallowed.
Goat StomachGoat Stomach The 4 compartments (in order) are:The 4 compartments (in order) are:
1.1. RumenRumen2.2. ReticulumReticulum3.3. OmasumOmasum4.4. AbomasumAbomasum RUMEN
RETICULUMOMASUM
ABOMASUM
RumenRumen Aka Fermentation Aka Fermentation
VatVat Largest Largest
compartmentcompartment Used for food Used for food
storage and storage and fermentationfermentation
ReticulumReticulum Aka HoneycombAka Honeycomb Sorts food particles Sorts food particles
by sizeby size Retains foreign Retains foreign
objectsobjects– They keep a They keep a
magnet in here!magnet in here!
OmasumOmasum
Aka many foldAka many fold Removes excess Removes excess
waterwater
AbomasumAbomasum
Aka true stomachAka true stomach Final breakdown Final breakdown
of foodof food
Parts!Parts!
Goat Meat FactsGoat Meat Facts Cabrito – meat from goats under a Cabrito – meat from goats under a
year old.year old. Chevon – meat from goats over a Chevon – meat from goats over a
year old.year old. Wholesale cuts:Wholesale cuts:
– ForequarterForequarter– Rack or Chine Rack or Chine – BrisketBrisket– LoinLoin– LegLeg
Wholesale CutsWholesale Cuts
Forequarter
Rack or Chine
Loin
Leg
Brisket
Goat Meat FactsGoat Meat Facts 95% of the World’s countries are 95% of the World’s countries are
major consumers of goat meat.major consumers of goat meat.– 63% of the red meat consumed 63% of the red meat consumed
worldwide is goat meat.worldwide is goat meat. Especially popular with the middle Especially popular with the middle
eastern, latino, african, chinese, and eastern, latino, african, chinese, and caribbean ethnic populations.caribbean ethnic populations.
More Goat Meat FactsMore Goat Meat Facts U.S. is the world’s largest importer of U.S. is the world’s largest importer of
goat meatgoat meat– In 2003 U.S. imported 18 million tonsIn 2003 U.S. imported 18 million tons
Goat meat is 50-65% lower in fat Goat meat is 50-65% lower in fat than beefthan beef
Has a similar protein content to beefHas a similar protein content to beef Goat meat is 40% lower in saturated Goat meat is 40% lower in saturated
fat than chicken.fat than chicken.
Sheep vs. GoatsSheep vs. Goats Say “Baa”Say “Baa” Grazer – like short, Grazer – like short,
tender grasstender grass Eat from bottom – upEat from bottom – up Flock mentalityFlock mentality Strong instinct to Strong instinct to
“follow the leader”“follow the leader” UsuallyUsually grow wool grow wool MostMost require annual require annual
shearingshearing
Say “Maa”Say “Maa” Browser – like leaves, Browser – like leaves,
twigs, vines, shrubstwigs, vines, shrubs Eat from top – downEat from top – down Very independentVery independent Very curious and Very curious and
inquisitiveinquisitive UsuallyUsually grow hair grow hair MostMost require no require no
groominggrooming
BreedsBreeds1.1. BoerBoer2.2. KikoKiko3.3. SpanishSpanish4.4. AngoraAngora5.5. Fainting or Myotonic GoatFainting or Myotonic Goat
Boer GoatsBoer Goats Developed in South Developed in South
Africa by Dutch Africa by Dutch Farmers.Farmers.– Boer is Dutch and Boer is Dutch and
means farmermeans farmer First brought to U.S. in First brought to U.S. in
19931993 White body with a red White body with a red
to brown headto brown head
Boer GoatsBoer Goats Rapid growth rateRapid growth rate DocileDocile High FertilityHigh Fertility Mature does weigh Mature does weigh
190-230lbs190-230lbs Mature bucks weigh Mature bucks weigh
200-340lbs200-340lbs
Boer Doe RegistrationsBoer Doe Registrations 3 types of Registered Boer Does3 types of Registered Boer Does
1.1. PercentagePercentage1.1. 50% - 88% boer50% - 88% boer
2.2. American PurebredAmerican Purebred1.1. At least 95% boerAt least 95% boer
3.3. FullbloodFullblood1.1. 100% boer100% boer
Kiko GoatsKiko Goats Originated in New Originated in New
ZealandZealand– Kiko means flesh or Kiko means flesh or
meatmeat Typically white in Typically white in
colorcolor HardyHardy
Kiko GoatsKiko Goats Fast GrowingFast Growing Tolerant of multiple Tolerant of multiple
climatesclimates
Spanish GoatsSpanish Goats Aka brush or scrub goatAka brush or scrub goat Came from Spain to Came from Spain to
Mexico then to the U.S.Mexico then to the U.S. Broad color range from Broad color range from
black to brown to tan.black to brown to tan. HardyHardy Can survive harsh Can survive harsh
climatesclimates
Spanish GoatsSpanish Goats Small udder and Small udder and
teatsteats Low-input goatLow-input goat Difficult to find a Difficult to find a
pure “spanish” goat pure “spanish” goat because they are because they are commonly crossbred commonly crossbred with other breeds.with other breeds.
Angora GoatsAngora Goats Originated in Originated in
TurkeyTurkey Came to U.S. in Came to U.S. in
18491849 White, black, or White, black, or
red, or brown in red, or brown in colorcolor
Produce mohairProduce mohair
Angora GoatsAngora Goats Very susceptible to Very susceptible to
external parasites external parasites (fleas, ticks) (fleas, ticks) because of their because of their thick mohair.thick mohair.
High nutritional High nutritional requirementsrequirements
Poor fertilityPoor fertility
Fainting GoatsFainting Goats Have many names: Have many names:
Myotonic Goats, Myotonic Goats, Tennessee Fainting, Tennessee Fainting, Stiff-leg Goats, etcStiff-leg Goats, etc
Originated in Originated in Tennessee in 1800’sTennessee in 1800’s
Common colors are Common colors are black and whiteblack and white
Small in sizeSmall in size
Fainting GoatsFainting Goats Large eyes set in high Large eyes set in high
socketssockets Muscles freeze for Muscles freeze for
around 10 seconds around 10 seconds when startledwhen startled– Caused by a genetic Caused by a genetic
disorder disorder Listed as a “threatened” Listed as a “threatened”
breed by the American breed by the American Livestock Breeds Livestock Breeds ConservancyConservancy
Yes, I’m a VERY dirty boy…Yes, I’m a VERY dirty boy…