Goat Program
Description/ background /fun factsDescription Dairy Goat:
The Dairy Goat project is designed to help youth develop to their fullest potential as they learn the care and management of a dairy animal. The dairy goat is an ideal youth project animal, as it allows young people to learn about dairy production with an animal that requires much less investment than the dairy cow.The 4-H Dairy Goat project offers all aspects of care and management, plus an understanding of the workings of a living creature. Activities include public presentations, dairy goat quiz bowl, judging, fitting and showing, and dairy product identification, milk and milk quality, making ice cream, cheese, etc.
Description Meat Goat:
Meat goat breeding doe project – female goats (does) can be used for raising meat goat kids rather than (or as well as) for producing milk for humans. Just like a dairy goat they require suitable housing for over-wintering and kidding but they do not need milking. However, you must find a market for their slaughter kids every year. Meat goat does often graze on pastures from May through November but may need supplementary grain, especially when pregnant or nursing.Meat goat market kid project –
market kid projects are short term projects. Goat kids (usually castrated males) are purchased in the spring when they are old enough to be separated from their mothers (weaned). This occurs when they are about 10 to 12 weeks old. You can also raise a kid from birth from your own meat goat breeding doe. Either way, the goal is to do a good job of raising them through the summer until they are ready to slaughter somewhere between 50 and 100 pounds. Before you get a meat goat kid, you need to be sure you are willing to have it slaughtered despite how tame it gets.The Lake Plains Goat Program is for Youth 5 to 19 years of age.
