Now that COVID-19 has shown people that they rely on stores for food, and stores can shut down, people are looking to add themselves to the numbers of 19.3% of Americans that live in rural settings. Farms are known for being healthier, with better air quality compared to the polluted cities, and a slower pace in contrast to the hustling, bustling rush of the cities. What these farms are arguably the most famous for, however, is their animals. Different animals are good for different things, and there is a lot of debate as to what is the best animal to have on a farm. Goats are wonderful animals to start a farm, due to their ability to clear land, their low maintenance requirements, and their benefits for a small family farm, such as milk and meat.
Goats clear land better than any other farm animal, making them very useful for being the first animal on a farm. Their sometimes small bodies eat a lot, especially when people realize that “a small herd of goats (about 4) can clear a quarter to a third of an acre of land within a week” (Patenaude). This means that land will be more accessible quickly, clearing space for other animals to eventually graze on. Also, “goats rely mainly on hay or pasture to fulfill their dietary needs. They need at least eight hours of grazing time per day.” (“Goat Care”). People need to feed goats a lot more than they would have to feed a horse, despite the difference in size. Rumens (the “four stomach-like” intestine) have the capacity for a lot more than a normal stomach in a horse or human. By letting them clear out a pasture, they are also getting all the nourishment they need. In addition to their ability to clear land, goats are also known for their scarcity of extra maintenance. Goats do not need extra maintenance, their only needs being food, water, shelter, and good fencing. While horses need to have their hooves trimmed every few weeks, goats are pretty independent, save for fencing, good water, food, shelter, and free-access minerals. “Most of us are aware of the fact that goats will eat pretty much anything, and many harmful plants are no exception. Poison ivy, poison sumac, blackberry bushes and other difficult types of vines and briars are easily edible and even tasty for goats (Patenaude)”. This means, if the goats are in an adequate pasture, they don’t need a lot extra, except for the fact that “the goats also need fresh water daily and a bit of grain, in case they prefer other meal options than the vegetation surrounding them” (Patenaude). As far as fencing goes, “Four-foot fencing is generally sufficient to keep goats in. Young goats may jump over a fence that high, and we have had "climbers" who will climb a four foot fence, but that is very unusual. Often these climbers are pygmy goats. Full-sized goats are just too heavy to get that high off the ground”(Hyde and Hyde). In contrast with dogs, who need higher fencing that also goes deeper to prevent digging, the goat fencing isn’t that hard to provide. The final reason that goats are good animals to start a farm with is that goats are good producers of both milk and meat. Goats are multi-purpose animals, and are very helpful, producing milk and meat for a family starting a small farm. Goat milk is said to be the one of the healthiest milks out there, as “goat milk is delicious, nutritious and wholesome. It may not be a miracle food, but it does have distinct characteristics that make it beneficial. The fat globules are smaller than those in cow milk and the curd is softer and smaller, making the digestion easier. Those who are allergic to cow milk may tolerate and thrive on goat milk” (“About Dairy Goats”). The fat globules in cow’s milk are what some people have trouble digesting, and many turn to goat milk as a better alternative. In addition to milk, people use products from the goat itself too. “The meat of the goat is chevon or cabrito. It can be barbecued, baked, fried, broiled or stewed. Goat leather is soft and fine grained when well cured. It is used to make many kinds of quality leather items. The dairy goat’s pelleted droppings make an excellent organic fertilizer.” (“About Dairy Goats”) Chevon or cabrito is popular, especially in particularly rural areas, as many people raise goats. The goats become a vital part in a farm’s well-being, making chevon a very popular dish. Goat leather is soft and an overall good quality leather. People make goatskin gloves, as well as “rugs (for example, in Indonesia) and carpet binding.” (“Goatskin (Material)”) For these reasons and more, goats make a good first animal to raise on a farm. Their ability to clear land opens up the property for other animals in the future, making the land more accessible and people-friendly. The goats ease of caretaking makes them less of a job, and more of an asset to the farm, so people can enjoy the goats more than maintain them. Their bountiful rewards such as milk, meat, leather, and fertilizer in exchange for their well-being leave many goat farmers claiming these adorable goats are worth it. Works Cited “About Dairy Goats” ADGA, 4 March 2020 www.adga.org/about-dairy-goats/ Accessed 06 October 2020. “Goat Care” Farm Sanctuary, June 2012 www.farmsanctuary.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Animal-Care-Goats.pdf. Accessed 06 October 2020. "Goatscaping" Permaculture News, 11 April 2017 www.permaculturenews.org/2017/04/11/goatscaping/ Accessed 06 October 2020. “Goatskin (material)” Wikipedia- the Free Encyclopedia, 21 September 2019, Accessed 08 October 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatskin_(material) Hyde, Jim and Hyde, Jane “What Goats Need” Pet Goats, 18 June 2019, www.petgoats.org/what-goats-need.html Accessed 06 October 2020. P.S. Stay tuned for a video that centers around my paper!
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AuthorHi, I'm Kay-Kay! I enjoy reading books and I love writing! My sisters (Bunkie and Trie) and I live on a farm where we have 3 Dexter cows, a horse, 10 Indian Runner Ducks, 11 Orpington Hens, A Quarter horse, 9 Nigerian Dwarf goats, and 3 dogs (An Italian Maremma, An Australian Shepherd, and a Cane Corso). Archives |