The presentation was originally prepared for a program for small-scale goat producers in Nevada (for November 4, 2016)

1. FACILITIES
for small-scale goat farms
SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy-nē-ŭn)
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu – www.sheepandgoat.com

2. Facility needs on a goat farm
• Containment
• Shelter
• Feeding
• Watering
• Kidding
• Feed storage
• Animal handling
• Manure handling
• Mortality disposal
• Harvest
• Hauling

3. Containment: fencing needs
There are many options, many materials.
Perimeter Interior / cross Pens and corrals

4. Perimeter fences
“If it won’t hold water, it won’t hold goats.”
High-tensile, electric
• Multi-strand
5-7 strands, 40-46 inches high
• 12.5 gauge smooth wire
• Proper wire spacing
e.g. 6-5-5-8-10
• Good charger (energizer)
Low impedance
Minimum of 5000 volts
Main, solar/battery
• Well-grounded
Minimum 3 ground rods
• Well-braced
• Strong corners
• All hot or hot/cold
• Need to keep fence lines clean

5. Perimeter fences
“If it won’t hold water, it won’t hold goats.”
American (woven) wire $$$
• Horizontal wires with
vertical stays
• Openings small enough (2 x 6
in) to keep heads out or large
enough (6 x 6 in) to allow
horned goats to get heads out.
• Barbed wires at top and
bottom of fence.
• Electric off-set wire to keep
goats away from fence.
• Trip wire for predator control.

6. HT Electric vs. Woven Wire
HT Electric
• Less expensive
Construction: $0.89/foot
Ownership: $0.12/foot/year
(Iowa State University, 2012)
• Easier to install
• Fewer fence posts
• Physiological barrier
Animals need to be trained
Electric can go off
• Need to keep fence lines clean
• 25 year life expectancy
Woven Wire
• More expensive
Construction: $1.93/foot
Ownership: $0.33/foot/year
(Iowa State University, 2012)
• Harder to install
• More fence posts
• Physical barrier
“Peace of mind”
• Goats can get heads stuck
• 20 year life expectancy

7. Perimeter fences
“If it won’t hold water, it won’t hold goats.”
Other $
• 10-12 strand barbed
wire fence with wire
stays.
• Can add electric
wires to barbed
wire.
• Can add electric
wires or wire mesh
to board fences.
• More expensive
fencing can be used
for smaller
enclosures $$$$.

8. Interior fencing – cross fencing
To subdivide pastures and have different pastures for different classes of animals
• Permanent subdivisions
Multi-strand, HT electric
American (woven) wire
• Temporary subdivisions or pastures
Electric HT wire
Smooth wire
Polywire
Rope
Tape
Electric netting

9. Pens and corrals
Needs
• All producers
• Quarantine pen
• Sick pen
• Handling area
• Other needs depend upon
management system
• Barn lots
• Feeding areas
• Kidding pens, individual and group
• Buck housing
Materials
• Multi-strand, HT, non-electric
• American (woven) wire
• Board
• Stock panels
• Metal gates
Construction needs to be stronger
and taller than fencing.

10. Containment: housing and shelter
CLOSED OPEN SHELTER, SHADE

11. Closed (or confinement) housing
PROS
• Protection from
inclement weather
• Cold weather housing
for kidding.
• Housed animals have
lower nutrient
requirements.
• Easier to monitor animals.
• Place to store feed and
equipment.
• Comfort for people.
• Reduced labor
CONS
• More expensive
• Air quality
Ventilation
• Manure build-up

12. Open housing
PROS
• Less expensive
• Better air quality
• More exercise
• Less manure build-up
CONS
• Less protection
• Higher nutritional requirements
• Less convenience for people
• More labor

13. Many ways to provide shelter and/or shade for goats
Enough room for all goats to stand – consider dynamics of herd
• Barns
• Sheds
• Three sided shelters
• Poly domes
• Port-a-huts
• Carport
• Shade cloth
• Homemade
• Hay wagons
• Natural
• Trees
• Windbreaks

14. Space requirements for sheep and goats (Sq. feet)
Housing Dirt lot Open shed
Confinement
(dirt floor)
Confinement
(slatted floors)
Bred doe 20 8-10 12-16 8-10
Doe with kids 25 12 16-20 10-12
Buck 20 8-10 20-30 14-20
Kid 15-20 6 8-10 4-6
Source: Midwest Plan Service (sheep, 1994)

15. Feeders
Forage OtherConcentrates

16. Many options for feeder: considerations
• Appropriate for type of feed
• Appropriate for type and number of goats
• Consideration for horns
• Safe
• Minimize feed wastage
• Prohibit feed spoilage
• Ample feed storage
• Ample feeder space
• Easy to clean
• Labor considerations
• Cost
Homemade vs. purchased

17. Feeder space requirements for goats
Feeders Buck Dry doe Does with kids Kids
Limit-fed 12 in. 16-20 in. 16-20 in. 12 in.
Self-fed 6 in. 8-12 in. 6-8 in. 2-4 in.
Creep 2 inches per kid

18. Feed storage
• Needs depend upon size of operation and
feeding program.
• Feed storage gives flexibility in feeding
program.
• Allows bulk purchases for lower prices.
• Offers protection during emergencies.
• Protects your investment: hay deteriorates
rapidly in quality if it is not stored properly.
• Feed needs protected from animals: birds,
rodents, and cats.
• Doesn’t take many animals to justify some
investment in feed storage.

19. Watering systems for goats
• 1-4 gallons per goat per day
• Needs vary
• Size of operation
• Availability of well and surface water
• Proximity of barn and pastures to water
• Grazing plan
• Labor
• Cost
• Many options and materials
• Manual – buckets, troughs, hoses
• Automatic –water lines, bowls, nipples,
pump, gravity fill, tanks
Cost share may be available from NRCS to
assist with development of watering
systems for grazing systems.

20. Handling goats
How (and where) will you perform these tasks?
• Ear tagging and micro-chipping
• Weighing
• Hoof trimming, soaking
• Milking, shearing, slaughtering
• Vaccinating
• Treatments
• Body condition scoring
• FAMACHA© scoring
Deworming
• Loading onto truck or trailer
• Other?

21. Handling goats
Few animals
• Can handle animals
individually with a
collar or halter.
Bigger herd
• Working system is
recommended.
• Gathering pen
• Chute
• Restraining device
• Scale
• Loading ramp
• Can catch and handle
animals in a small pen.
Small herd

22. Restraint
manual – halter – milk stand - work platform – head gate - tilt (turn) table

23. Manure management
• Manure production varies with breed and feeding
levels
• 5% of body weight
• 50 lbs. of manure per day per 1000 lbs. of live goat
• Design facilities with manure removal in mind.
• Don’t have to remove frequently as long as top is dry;
there is value to having a manure pack.
• Proper storage (if stored)
• 0.8 cubic feet per day per 1000 lbs. of live goat
• Control runoff, flies, and odor
• Be in compliance with any nutrient management
regulations.
• In residential areas, handle manure properly to avoid
problems with neighbors.

24. Dead animal disposal
“Where there’s livestock, there’s dead stock!”
• Also need to dispose of afterbirth, slaughter
wastes, and other waste products from goats.
• Need to be in compliance with any state,
county and local regulations.
• Need to be concerned about:
• Run-off: need to protect well and surface water
• Odor and fly control
• Disease prevention: prevent spread of diseases,
e.g. abortion, scrapie, sheep measles.
• Wildlife: don’t want to attract wildlife, especially predators.
• Methods of disposal
• On-site composting (preferred)
• On-site burial
• Incineration
• Rendering
• Landfill
• Leaving it for nature to decompose

25. Hauling goats
• All livestock producers need to have a way to
haul their animals.
• To the vet
• To the fair
• To the livestock auction
• To the slaughterhouse
• To other farms/ranches
• Options
• Racks for truck
• Pull behind trailer
• Friend with truck or trailer
• Commercial hauler
•
• Dog crates and the back of SUVs are only
useful for hauling an animal or two and
smaller animals.
• Don’t need a 20-foot trailer for 2 goats.

26. Thank you for your attention. Questions? Comments?
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu
www.sheepandgoat.com
Dairy goats
in China