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…