This online course will teach you about the ins and outs of goat husbandry – including the products they produce; like milk, wool and meat. Domestic goats are one of the most useful animals to have as they are easy to look after and feed. Therefore, they are very good for farming, as pets, or as pack animals. These domestic goats can produce products such as:
- Dairy (milk, butter, yogurt)
- Meat
- Leather
- Wool (fleece goats)
- Soaps, body and hair care
E-Learning Structure
The duration of this course is 100 hours and consists of 9 in-depth lessons.
Lesson 1. 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.
Lesson 2. 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.
Lesson 3. Feeds and Nutrition
- Feeding; Forage; Hay; Haylage; Straw; Wild Plants; Concentrates; By-products; Minerals; Feeding Strategies; Feeding for milk production; Feeding for meat production.
Lesson 4. 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.
Lesson 5. 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; Tattooing; Vaccination; Worming; Grooming and Hair Care.
Lesson 6. Kids and Kidding
- Hygiene during delivery; The delivery; Parturition/Birth; Care of a newborn kid; Early feeding; Weaning; Castration.
Lesson 7. 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.
Lesson 8. 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.
Lesson 9. 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; Storage and disposal of chemicals; Handling tools and machinery; Safety Audit; Marketing your products; Advertising your stock; Where you can sell.
Course Aims
- Discuss the significance of goats, the characteristics that differentiate them from other domesticated animals and the scope and nature of goat industries.
- Select appropriate Goat Breeds for specified purposes.
- Describe how goats are bred.
- Determine and manage an appropriate diet for a goat.
- Identify a sick goat.
- Describe common health issues that can affect goats; their prevention and treatment.
- Determine facilities needed, and husbandry tasks that need to be undertaken for the management of a goat.
- Describe Kidding and Raising Kids.
- Explain the commercial farming goats for fibre, meat and other products (excluding dairy).
- Determine viable plans for farming goats.
How Does A Warnborough Online Course Work?
You can start the course whenever is convenient for you. You will be studying from home and have access to support from our qualified tutors. Practical exercises and research tasks will be set at the end of each lesson – including an assignment. You will submit this assignment to your course tutor, who will mark your work and give you constructive feedback and suggestions.
If you have any questions please contact us.
