Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The body size and makeup is obvious when you compare the meat goat breeds with the milk breeds.
Our Boer goat, S'mores, has a larger frame, thicker bone structure, and far more meat on her than a
typical milk breed.
Kiko. Kiko goats originated in New Zealand and are similar to Boer goats in their size and meati-
ness. Kikos were feral at their origin so they are very hardy and disease resistant. And with only the
most maturing and fastest-growing goats used for establishing the breed, the Kikos rival the Boer
goats in healthy feed-conversion rates. Most Kikos are white and have short fur.
Myotonic Goats (Tennessee Fainting Goats). This breed of goat originated in the United States
but their common name is slightly misleading. While Myotonic goats do have a trait that causes
their legs to stiffen up and sometimes fall over, they remain conscious when this happens. This
stiffening action is partially what creates the thick meatiness of the breed, making them a suitable
meat breed. Some Myotonics are naturally polled, or hornless.
dehOrninG and debuddinG
If your goats are not naturally polled, they will produce horns as they grow. You can have your goat
dehorned or disbud the kids when they are a couple days old. Disbudding involves burning off the growth
ring of the horn bud and should be done with help from an experienced goat keeper. Some people choose
not to disbud or dehorn their goats. We dislike the disbudding procedure and leave our goats in horns for
a variety of reasons. Horns are helpful for holding a goat during vaccinations and other procedures, help
with temperature control of the goat, and are more natural for the goat. Commercial dairies all dehorn
their goats to prevent injuries from multiple goats in the same enclosures. The choice is a personal one for
each goat owner.
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