Last April, a farmer wrote to me interested in sharing some new resources on goat farming (see the blog post here). Since posting that blog, I’ve been surprised by how many of my readers are still going to it, and by how many internet searches related to goat farming have brought folks to the site. So I decided to begin compiling information on goat farming, since there seems to be so much interest. What follows are the results, to date, of that continuing project. Send your stories, pictures, and resources about goat farming to beginningfarmers@gmail.com so I can include them here.
} GOAT FARMING RESOURCES {
1) Goat Resources is a virtual library with a wide range of publications, breed information, commercial links, dairy goats, diseases, parasites and drugs, and a number of other useful links.
2) The University of Maryland has a free, comprehensive 412 page publication called the National Goat Handbook which covers a wide range of topics in detail.
3) The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) publishes a 20 page Illustrated Guide to Sheep and Goat Production; a 24 page guide called Goats: Sustainable Production Overview; a 32 page guide called Dairy Goats: Sustainable Production; a 24 page guide called Meat Goats: Sustainable Production; an 8 page guide called Managing Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats ; an 8 page guide called Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Sericea Lespedeza; an 8 page guide called Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Copper Wire Particles; and a 24 page Small Ruminant Sustainability Checklist and Comprehensive Resource Guide listing dozens of publications and links. All of these publications are free.
4) A free .pdf publication from UC Davis called Small Meat-Goat Farms in California, with general information on goat farming and the current state of the industry (as of 2006) is also available
5) The American Dairy Goat Association Website contains articles, information on conferences, organizations, management, registration, recipes, and a whole lot more.
6) The American Meat Goat Association Website is loaded with information about shows, articles, conferences, health, and more.
7) The Maryland Small Ruminant Page offers a newsletter, classes, dozens of links, quick reference tables, forums, factsheets, power point presentations, research articles, and other resources.
8) The Goat Kingdom (‘home of duh goat man’), has loads of links to information about goats including associations and clubs, goat health, goat milk and cheese, feed and supplies, goat milk soap, magazines, books, and other publications; as well has a comprehensive listing of goat farms by breed (http://duhgoatman.tripod.com/goatfarms.htm).
9) Survival and Self Reliance’s Goat Farming Page has fantastic links to information on goat health, dairy goat production, breeding and kidding, forage, nutrition, and research reports.
10) The Goat Source is another page with loads of information about all facets of goat farming, including information for beginners.
11) The Boer and Meat Goat Information Center has lots of resources on goat farming including hundreds of articles, extensive links and tools, a breeders directory, goats for sale, catalogs, lists of auctions, and more.
12) SheepGoatMarketing.info is a national resource for sheep and goat marketing which provides education, news, a marketing directory, producer directory, calendars, and links.
13) The Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control has research information, publications, links, and lots of other information.
14) Langston University offers a Web-Based Training and Certification Program for meat goat producers.
15) Information on goat farming classes in Virginia is available at: http://www.analagoatcompany.com/farming.htm.
16) Eat Wild is a popular site with comprehensive information on grass-fed animals, health, pasture management, and a whole lot more.
17) ATTRA has a number of useful publications and links related to Grass Farming, as well as Livestock Fencing and Watering Systems.
18) www.AllThingsGoat.com, is an online magazine with news, photos, recipes and feature stories about meat, fiber and dairy goats.
19) Meat Goat Blog was a site recommended to us as one with excellent information and resources.
20) The Wisconsin Dairy Goat Association has lots of information and resources for farmers.
21) Personal Milkers: A Primer to Nigerian Dwarf Goats was reviewed by one of the contributing editors of Hobby Farms very favorably.
22) Ruminations: Celebrating the Small Farm Goat is a quarterly magazine has been around since the late 1980’s and focuses on Nigerian dwarf goats.
23) The Goat Justice League is a website dedicated to raising goats in the city.
24) I get my goat from Full Circle Ranch in Potterville, MI. 517 (242-5928) or NSS132000@yahoo.com. They are members of the Michigan Boer Goat Association, which has an excellent website featuring activities, education, youth program, marketing resources, and a producer directory.
Goat Farming in India
Indian Goat Farm is a live stock breeding farm and has lists of goat suppliers: http://www.indiangoatfarm.com/
Nadur Goat Farm has general information about goat farming and stall feeding: http://www.nadurgoatfarm.com/
Self Pvt. Ltd. Has information about goat farming, history, and supplies: http://www.shivajipark.com/self/goatfarming.html
aAqua has a discussion thread about goat farming in India: http://aaqua.persistent.co.in/aaqua/forum/viewthread?thread=4155
All Experts links to articles about goat farming in India: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Agriculture-2377/Goat-ostrich-farming-india.htm
Commercial Goat Farming: An Emerging Agri-Business Opportunity in India is an article written in 2007 by Shalander Kumar: http://ideas.repec.org/a/ags/aerrae/47443.html
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has lots of information about commercial goat farming: http://www.icar.org.in/?q=node/416
Goats, Goats, Goats, has information about goat farming in India: http://www.boer-goats-farmstay-bed-breakfast.com/goat-farming-in-india.html
For a comprehensive overview of statistics and trends on goat farming in India and information on planning a goat farm visit: http://planning.up.nic.in/innovations/inno3/ah/goat.htm
Links to lots of goat products and individual farms in India can be found at: http://www.hotfrog.in/Products/goat-farming
AISWARYAGRAM Agricultural Training and Research Center Promotes Goat Rearing: http://www.aiswaryagram.org/activities.html#Goat
Ajaputra Goat Farm situated 3 kms from Amalner town in northern part of Maharashtra in Dist. Jalgaon has a great website with information about raising goats, goat breeds, sales, and more. http://www.ajaputragoatfarm.com/
Buy/Sell Goats – Barbary Goats Farming Project Maharashrta: http://www.agriseek.com/market/p/Barbary-Goats-Farming.htm
An article on Goat Farming in Bihar is available at: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd19/9/dey19123.htm
| Comparison Goat/Beef(Ground) | Cooked |
| Servings | 1 |
| Servings Weight | 100g |
| Content (units) | BEEF | GOAT |
| Water (g) | 56.75 | 67.93 |
| Energy (kcal) | 257 | 142 |
| Protein (g) | 25.56 | 26.99 |
| Fat, total (g) | 16.42 | 3.02 |
| Cholesterol (mg) | 88 | 75 |
| Saturated fatty acids, total (g) | 6.317 | 0.926 |
| Monounsaturated fatty acids, total (g) | 7.305 | 1.354 |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids, total (g) | 0.491 | 0.229 |
| Copper (mg) | 0.081 | 0.302 |
| Iron (mg) | 2.49 | 3.72 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 20 | 0 |
| Phosphorus (mg) | 193 | 200 |
| Potassium (mg) | 304 | 403 |
| Selenium (mcg) | 21.3 | 11.8 |
| Sodium (mg) | 401 | 248 |
| Zinc (mg) | 6.21 | 5.25 |
| Vitamin B-6 (mg) | 0.366 | 0 |
| Choline, total (mg) | 80.4 | 106 |
| Vitamin B-12 (mcg) | 2.69 | 1.18 |
| Vitamin E, alpha tocopherol (mg) | 0.45 | 0.34 |
| Vitamin K (mcg) | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| Niacin (mg) | 5.107 | 3.933 |
| Riboflavin (mg) | 0.176 | 0.607 |
| Thiamin (mg) | 0.047 | 0.09 |
Data from USDA-ARS ‘What’s in the food you eat’ Search Tool 3.0 (http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=17032)
