Goat Keeping — Frequently Asked Questions

A conservative starting point for temperate southeastern Australia is 2 to 4 goats per acre on mixed improved pasture, reducing to 1 to 2 per acre in the dry summer. In high-rainfall areas on good improved pasture, up to 5 to 6 per acre is achievable in good seasons. Never set your stocking rate based on the best season — set it based on the dry season minimum and supplement in good conditions rather than destocking in bad ones.

Yes, absolutely. Goats are highly social animals with strong flocking instincts and they become significantly stressed when kept alone. A single goat kept in isolation will vocalise constantly, may pace or escape in search of company, and will generally be unhealthy and unhappy. Keep a minimum of two goats at all times; three is better for stability if one is removed for any reason.

Goats are notorious fence-testers and will exploit any gap, loose post, or inadequately tensioned wire. Page wire (also called hinge-joint or ring-lock fencing), 1.2 to 1.5 metres high with stays not more than 2 metres apart, is the standard effective goat fence in Australia. Electric fencing can work as a supplement to physical fencing or as a temporary division fence, but requires proper training of the goats (letting them touch it gently when they first encounter it) to be effective.

Goats are browsers — they prefer shrubs, weeds, and browse species to grass, unlike sheep which are grazers. Their diet should be based on quality pasture or hay, supplemented with browse where available. Grain supplementation (no more than 200 to 500 g per day for adults) can be used to maintain condition in late pregnancy and lactation. Goats should not have access to certain toxic plants including oleander, rhododendron, azalea, bracken fern, and others — check the toxic plant list for your region.

Well-managed goats typically live 10 to 14 years. Dairy breeds used intensively for milk production may have productive lives of 7 to 10 years before production declines significantly. Wethers kept as companions or fibre animals often reach 12 to 15 years. Good nutrition, parasite management, and dental health are the primary factors determining productive lifespan.

Goats have a gestation period of approximately 150 days (5 months), ranging from 145 to 155 days. Most breeds are seasonally polyoestrous — they cycle and can be mated from late summer through early winter (as day length shortens). Some breeds, including Boer goats and Nigerian Dwarfs, can breed more year-round. Kidding typically peaks in spring for autumn joinings.

Yes. The standard Australian goat vaccination program uses a 5-in-1 clostridial vaccine (Glanvac or equivalent) given twice initially (4 to 6 weeks apart) to establish immunity, then annually. Clostridial diseases including pulpy kidney and tetanus can kill goats rapidly without warning and are entirely preventable by vaccination. Does should receive their annual booster 4 to 6 weeks before kidding to pass protection through colostrum to kids.

Internal parasite management — particularly barber's pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) in warm, wet conditions — is the single most important routine health management task in Australian goat keeping. Use the FAMACHA system (assessing inner eyelid colour against a reference chart) to identify individual animals with anaemia before they become critically affected. Drench only animals that need it (FAMACHA score 4 or 5, or animals losing body condition) rather than whole-mob calendar drenching, which accelerates resistance development. Rotate between chemical classes and conduct egg count reduction tests periodically to check drench efficacy.

Milk production varies significantly by breed. A good Saanen doe at peak lactation produces 3 to 6 litres per day; a Nubian produces 2.5 to 4 litres per day but with significantly higher butterfat (4.5 to 8%); an Alpine produces 3 to 5 litres per day. First-fresheners (does kidding for the first time) typically produce 60 to 80% of mature animal production. Nutrition, genetics, and management all significantly affect actual production.

Yes — goats generally coexist well with cattle, sheep, alpacas, horses, and poultry. They are often used as companions for horses or in mixed grazing systems. However, biosecurity considerations apply: do not mix animals from different properties without a quarantine period, and be aware that some diseases (including Johne's disease) can spread between species. Goats and sheep should not share drench products without checking cross-species dosing — goats generally require higher doses than sheep for the same body weight.