Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Over the Garden Fence
Take the time to see a few different breeds before selecting a goat or sheep breed. It's worth considering
breeds that are available locally if you want purebred offspring so you have access to other breeders who
can help you. Well-cared-for goats and sheep will live 8 to 12 years on average, although cases of them
living 15 to 20 years are not unheard of. Make sure your choice is one that suits your needs and situation,
because it's a longer-term commitment than some of the other livestock on the backyard farm.
Goat and Sheep Husbandry
Goats and sheep can be kept together without overly competing for resources because goats are
more of browsers, while sheep are more grazers. There are some differences in the dietary needs
between the two animals, which we will discuss in the following sections. Both can be offered
high-quality hay as a free-choice supplement in a smaller backyard space.
The biggest challenge will be to ensure that their diet is balanced year-round without upsetting
their digestive systems. Green grass and other forage, as well as hay, will make up the bulk of the
diet with various feeds and supplements added in as needed. The basic needs are, of course, food,
water, and trace minerals as needed. I'll discuss housing later in this chapter.
Care and Maintenance
Keeping goats and sheep can be more involved than keeping rabbits and chickens. I recommend
finding a breeder in your local area to connect with to help you. In our case, we have a mentor we
can turn to for help, advice, or just an expert eye. This kind of connection will be invaluable.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when caring for your goat or sheep.
Food.
Food is obviously very important for your sheep and goats. The trickiest part for new home-
steaders is understanding how your livestock's dietary needs change according to their age, workload,
and whether they are currently breeding. A young goat that hasn't been bred yet won't need as much
concentrated grain or feed as a doe that is carrying twins or milking nearly a gallon of milk per day.
Sheep that are growing lustrous wool fleeces will need higher protein as well. The diet has to be
monitored and adjusted for each member of your herd based on their individual needs.
This is one of the benefits of keeping livestock on a small scale. You know your animals individu-
ally, their quirks and their personality and their individual needs. I know that our Boer goat,
S'mores, is always the first with her nose in the feed trough, so if she ever held back, I'd know
something wasn't right. Both our mature does were bred this fall, and we already know both are
carrying, so we've begun to increase their feed allotments until they kid (give birth) in another
month. This personalized attention means your livestock will thrive and be healthier than they
might be in a larger situation where that level of attention isn't possible.
