Goat growths occurs in stage and follows specific pattern based off the age and the breed of the goat. Monitoring the growth of goats allow for the determination of whether or not the goat is growing at a healthy rate. Using a growth chart allow for the comparison of the weight of the goat to the expected weight of a goat of that age.
The growth of goats does not occur in a single movement, but instead in stages. The first stage of a goat’s growth includes the consumption of colostrum and the survival of the newborn goat. The second stage includes the newborn goat consuming milk and the development of its rumen.
How to Track Goat Growth
At the weaning stage, the goat digestive system can digest grass and grains and develops its muscle and bone. Goats of the same breed will follow similar growth pattern, but growth charts help to determine if each goat is growing in accordance with those growth pattern. The breed of the goat will change the growth pattern of that goat.
For instance, a Boer kid will grow to a much more larger size then a Nigerian Dwarf kid. Nigerian Dwarf kids are born with smaller frames and grow to their adult size at a much younger age than Boer kid. It is important to understand the breed of the goat you own to rule out any issue caused by the expected growth of that breed.
The sex of the goat will also impact the growth of the goat, but over time. Bucks will develop more muscle than does after reaching the yearling age. Does will grows more muscles needed to support the weight of the kid they bear.
Using a growth chart to monitor the goat individually will allow for the tracking of the sex of the goats to help set target weights for bucks and does. While measuring the weight of the goat is important, measuring the body condition of the goat is just as important. A goat can have an appropriate weight on a scale, but the body condition of the goat can reveal that the kid is too thin.
Another example is that a goat can weigh alot on the scale, but have poor muscle tone. Knowing how to use a body condition scoring system is essential to understanding the health of the goat, just as understanding how to measure the weight of the goat. As the goat grows, it’s feeding requirement will change.
Kids will require colostrum for their first two days of life. After two days, the kid will require milk as the kid’s rumen develops. Goats will eventually be able to consume hay and pasture.
By three months of age, the kid digestive system will be ready for hay. Many goats will still benefit from grains until the building of its frame. The feed given to the goat should match the stage of the kid as this will ensure that the kid does not become underfed or overfed.
The weight of the goat can be measured in different ways. If the goat is young, you can use a hanging scale to make the measurement. For larger goats, a platform scale or a weigh tape will prove to be more useful.
The weight of the goats should be measured at the same time of day and on the same weighing surface. Ensuring that the owner measures the goats in the same way will allow for the identification of a trend in the weight of the goat. A growth chart has a specific purpose in the care of the goat herd.
Using the chart allows the owner to determine if the weight of the kids is increasing as it should. The growth chart can assess does to ensure that they have the appropriate body condition. The owner can also evaluate the bucks to ensure they are growing to the frame indicated in the genetics of the buck.
If the weight of the goats matches what is indicated on the growth chart, it indicates that the management system in place for the goats is working. If the weight of the goats does not match the numbers on the chart, it allows for the recognition of specific problem to be addressed.