Goat Husbandry Course Online | Learning Cloud New Zealand

Domestic goats are one of the most useful animals to own due to their entertainment and economic value. Their versatility makes them an excellent choice for a breeding or cottage industry investment and are a low maintenance source of income for existing farming and grazing enterprises looking to diversify.

As a domestic farm animal they can be used to produce a variety of products, such as:

Dairy (milk, cheese, yoghurt)
Meat
Wool (fleece goats)
Leather
Soaps, body and hair care products

Goats can also be very useful for the control of weed or grass overgrowth on a property as well as a great source of manure for garden.

There are 9 lessons in this course:

Nature and Scope of Goat Production
- Introduction and History
- Biological Terminology
- Uses of Goats and Goat Production
- Goats Breeds Overview
- Introduction to Farm Systems
- Keeping a Buck
- Truths and Myths about Goats
- Goat Psychology
- Social Structure
Goat Breeds and Breeding
- Dairy Goats
- Saanen
- Toggenburg
- British Alpine
- Anglo-Nubian
- Fleece Goats
- Angoras
- Cashmere
- Meat Goats
- Boer Goats
- Spanish Goats
- Savannas
- Kiko
- Myotonic
- Goat Skin
- Black Bengal
- Garganica
- Pet Goats
- Australian Miniature
- Nigerian Dwarf
- African Pygmy
- Feral Goats
- Selection and Breeding General Objectives
- Reproductive System Anatomy
- Puberty
- Breeding Season
- Flock Mating
- Pen Mating
- Hand Mating
- Reproduction Control Methods
- Synchronisation of Oestrus
- Out of Breeding Season
- Superovulation
- Artificial Insemination
- Genetics and Selection
- Understanding Genes
Feeds and Nutrition
- Feeding
- Forage
- Hay
- Haylage
- Straw
- Wild Plants
- Concentrates
- By-products
- Minerals
- Feeding Strategies
- Feeding for milk production
- Feeding for meat production
Health Management
- Health Problems
- Ecopathology
- Signs of Good Health
- Bacterial and Viral Diseases
- Clostridial Diseases
- Johne’s Disease (Paratuberculosis)
- Listeriosis
- Soremouth
- Slow viruses
- Parasites
- Accidents, Emergencies and First Aid
- Control of Bleeding
- Tear wounds or lacerations
- Electric Shock
- Snake bites
- Fractures
- Poisoning
- Abortion and Genital Processes
- Chlamidiosis
- Q Fever
- Listeriosis
- Leptospirosis
- Toxoplasmosis
- Ketosis
- Digestive Problems
- Bloat
- Choking
- Acidosis
- Respiratory problems
- White Muscle Diseases
- Pinkeye
- Urinary Calculi
- Mastitis
- Metritis
- Sanitary Policy of Infectious Goats
- Choosing a Vet
General Husbandry - Housing, Fencing, Grooming
- Space Requirements
- Housing and Fencing
- Grazing and Pasture Management
- Free Range
- Intensive Confinement
- Combination System
- Grazing Methods
- How Much Grazing
- Other Areas That Can Be Utilised For Grazing
- Hoof care
- Disbudding
- Dehorning
- Tatooing
- Vaccination
- Worming
- Grooming and Hair Care
Kids and Kidding
- Hygiene during delivery
- The delivery
- Parturition/Birth
- Care of a neborn kid
- Early feeding
- Weaning
- Castration
Dairy Production
- Milk Production
- Lactation Curve
- Quality and Composition
- Compositions of goat's milk
- Protein
- Fat
- Lactose
- Ash
- Vitamins
- Factors of variation
- Breeds and production systems
- Age and lactation number
- Different types of cheese
Meat and Fibre Production
- Fibre Production
- Mohair
- Annual Management of Angora Flock
- Mohair Production
- Cashmere
- Annual Management of a cashmere flock
- Cashmere Production
- Meat Production
- Management of meat flock
- Slaughter terminology
- Carcass quality and grading
- Leather production
Goat Farm Management
- On the Farm - Buildings and Structures
- Goat shelters
- Farming production systems
- Keeping records
- Goat Management
- Occupational Health and Safety Legislation
- Farm Safety
- Duty of care (employer and employer duties)
- Lifting and manual handling
- Protective Equipment
- Dealing with chemicals
- Storgae and disposal of chemicals
- Handling tools and machinery
- Safety Audit
- Marketing your products
- Advertising your stock
- Where you can sell

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

For more information on this course, please request your free course information pack.