Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
breed or a mix. An animal's quality is judged by specific standards of appearance because
these physical characteristics affect the animal's overall health and potential to produce milk.
For example, the internal milking apparatus may not be formed correctly in a goat with
double teats. This will make milking difficult, and output may be far less than that of a better
example of the breed. Physical flaws can shorten the milking life of a doe and reduce its life-
time milk production, even if she is a good milker now. If you plan to sell purebred registered
kids for profit, conformation defects in the adult may pass to its kids and lower their market
value, along with your reputation as a breeder. No individual goat has perfect conformation,
but good conformation contributes to the overall health of your herd, lower veterinary ex-
penses, and the future milking productivity of your dairy.
Overall body type and condition
Start by getting a general idea of the goat's health and physical condition. Ask to see the
goat's papers. If the goat is purebred, ask to see the registration and any show cards. A show
card will contain notes from the judges on the goat's conformation. If the animal is not a
purebred, it may be registered with another type of registry. Ask to see those records.
The goat's owner should keep barn records that will tell you what kind of milk producer the
goat has been. If the herd is registered, an independent party may keep records of the produc-
tion for the herd and individual goats. Remember that the yearly output for a goat is far more
significant than its daily output because output fluctuates throughout the year. Finally, ask to
see health maintenance records, which will supply information regarding any illnesses in the
individual or the herd, evidence of testing for common caprine (goat) diseases, and vaccina-
tion records. If the seller does not have these records and expects you to take his or her word
that health has been maintained and vaccines are up to date, be wary of buying. Do not let
good rapport with a seller lead you into trusting too easily and buying carelessly.
Skin and fur
Take a close look at the goat's fur and the skin. Check for dullness, excessive flakiness, or any
abscesses in the skin. Skin should be thin, soft and a little loose over the middle section of the
goat. Look for evidence of lice or mites, as this indicates the goat has not been well cared for.
Skin problems can be an indication of internal health issues. Internal parasites affect the ap-
pearance of the skin.
