Weight records are valuable tools for monitoring growth of your Boer goats. Because they mature quickly and produce large kids, knowing there size helps you record their weight and make practical decisions. Feed cost and breeding success hinge on whether a kid is hitting the mark or falling short. Weight charts gives you concrete numbers that turn fuzzy feelings into action points. Knowing something specifically lets you take action before it becomes costly.
The first few months of life dictate growth potential. Newborns are tiny, no question. But with plenty of dam milk available and low levels of parasites, newborns puts on pounds fast. By the time kids transition out of their milk period, things slow down. Growth doesn’t stop, but it isn’t automatic anymore. Now you’re relying on your feed and the rumen’s development to sustain the animal. This is where little management choices shows themselves as size/condition differences that become apparent.
Why Weighing Goats Is Important
The chart breaks down the paths bucks and does takes after weaning, too. Bucks continue adding muscle and frame through at least their second year. Does will generally level off sooner, especially after they start raising kids and cycling. This split prevents comparing animals that aren’t on the same track. That lean yearling buck could just be on schedule. The same look on a yearling doe might signal she needs more attention.
Weight numbers combine with body condition scoring. You may have two goats of equal weights but one has her weight piled on while the other carries hers very differently. We’re looking for that sweet spot where there is a little bit of cover over the ribs but not so much that she has fat accumulating around her tailhead. This allows for the best protection of reproduction and helps prevent metabolic problems from sneaking in at kidding time. A good way to check condition (besides your eyes) is how it feels, so you can catch any change before it becomes a real problem.
Why? Because needs change at every stage of life, they don’t stay the same. A growing animal require more protein to keep up with rapid frame development. A full-grown goat usually thrives on minerals and good forage alone. As bodyweight goes up, daily intake also rises (see chart). That means you can prevent underfeeding during growth spurts and avoid overfeeding once animals reaches mature size. Keeping feed matched to their present weight class allows for consistent growth without overspending.
The number one cause of stalled weight gain after weaning is still parasites. Once barber pole worm gets a foothold, it can take off quickly on a goat that had been doing well. That won’t become a chronic issue if you do regular FAMACHA checking and treat promptly. Feeder competition also plays a role. Make sure to provide sufficient space at the trough because dominant animals will push around others.
Some of the guesswork is taken out by weighing consistently. The best time to weigh is in the morning prior to feeding when it gives you the cleanest picture from week to week. Make simple records for each animal and those numbers become a story you can use. You can make decisions on which bucks to sell and which does to keep based off of this information.
What’s valuable about the chart isn’t so much the numbers on it, but the habit of seeing growth as a process you manage, not just something that happens. If you’re familiar with what “normal” progress should look like at every stage, you’ll catch an animal falling off track earlier and have time to correct for it. That will pay off in healthier animals and fewer surprises come kidding season or sale time.
You should of seen the signs earlier. Actualy, watching them closely is naturaly better than guessing. It could of been avoided with moddern methods. Weight records could of helped you. One of the most importent things is to check for parasites reguarly. Most farmers wants to avoid this problem. A goat should of had more protein. Making simple record help a lot. Keeping goats healthy are the goal.
You must watch the kids carefully. It makes life more comfortabley. You might recieve bad news if you wait too long. Don’t let the weight drop. This is better then waiting.