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Things I’ve Learned…
ADGA
ADGA stands for American Dairy Goat Association- This is how we register our show goats. https://app.adga.org/#/app/dashboard/account
Papered means the goat is ADGA registered. This is required for them to be shown.
Goat terms
Buck- Intact male goat
Doe- Female goat
Weather- Castrated male goat
Kid- Baby goat
Doeling- Doe under a year old
Buckling- Buck under a year old
Dry- Not in milk
Kidding- A goat giving birth
First freshener- First time kidding
Dam- The mother of a goat
Sire- The father of a goat
Polled- A goat born without horns
Disbudded- A goat with its horns burned off
Papered- An ADGA-registered goat
Medicines
CD&T: This is a vaccination against both Clostridium Perfringens type C and D and tetanus.
All ages get 2cc. This is given a month before kidding, then every 6 months. Can be found at Lee’s.
Bo-Se: This is a shot that prevents White Muscle Disease; it is also essential to goats.
This is by weight; they will receive it a month before kidding, then every 6 months. This comes from a vet only.
Selenium: This is an oral gel, a vitamin E paste. It also prevents White Muscle Disease.
This is given every 30 days; the tube shows the dosage. This is found at Lee’s, Amazon, Tractor Supply, Clifton Warren, etc
Jumpstart Plus: This is an oral gel that supports digestion and stress. This is given when needed; the dosage is on the tube. This can be found at Tractor Supply.
Probios: This can be an oral gel or powder; it is a probiotic supplement designed to support healthy gut digestion. This is given when needed; the dosage is on the tube. This can be found at Lee’s and Tractor Supply.
Activated charcoal: This is an oral gel that absorbs toxins and reduces the severity of diarrhea. This is given as needed; the dosage is by weight. It can be found at Tractor Supply.
Electrolytes: This can be a drink or a powder that is added to water; it replenishes essential minerals and nutrients lost due to dehydration.
The container or bag says how much to put in water.
Pepto Bismol: This is used to help soothe the digestive tract (get rid of diarrhea).
This is given by weight, which will need to be googled.
Breeds of Dairy Goats
Nigerian Dwarf - Around 75 pounds
Saanen- Around 170 pounds
Toggenburg- Around 150 pounds
Alpine- Around 135 pounds
Nubian- Around 135 pounds
LaMancha- Around 130 pounds
Oberhasli- Around 120 pounds
Guernsey- Around 120 pounds
Sable- Around 135 pounds
(All of these sizes can and will vary)
Breeding
You do not need to own a buck- Many people in the area have bucks that you can breed your does to.
To plan breedings, I use this website:
https://genetics.adga.org/PlannedPedigree.aspx
To calculate due dates, I use this website: https://americangoatsociety.com/gestation-calculator.php
To track stages of goat pregnancy, I use this website:
https://edenhills.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/stages-of-goat-pregnancy/
Kidding
Nigerian Dwarfs are pregnant for 145 days. The earliest they can safely kid is day 141. They can safely kid a week past their due date.
Large Dairy Goats are pregnant for 150 days. The earliest they can safely kid is day 145. They can safely kid a week after their due date.
Kidding Kit
Towels
Gloves
Iodine
Molasses
Scissors
Cup to dip umbilical cords in iodine
Bulb syringe
Lube
Paper towels
Trash bags
Thermometer
Bottle
Electro-gel
Selenium
Electrolytes
Have a heat lamp on hand for when you have kiddings when its cold
Meds before kidding
CDT 2cc. Give 30 days before their due date.
Bo-Se- Prevents white muscle disease/ floppy kid syndrome. Dosage is by weight of the dam. Give 30 days before their due date
Meds/supplements/Care during the year
CDT: every 6 months or once a year
Selenium Vitamin E Gel: every 30 days
Trim Hooves: every 30 days
Minerals: I make sure they have access to minerals at all times, both “powdered” and block
Kids
Disbudding: This is a process where we burn off the horns. Do this before the kid is 1.5 weeks old (depending on the size of their horn buds or if they are polled (Naturally born without horns)
Kids get 2cc of CDT at 6 and 8 weeks old (They do not need it again that year, just wait until their moms get it the next year before kidding)
polled)
Banding: This is how a buck becomes weathered. You take a special rubber band and put it around the testicles; they will lose circulation and fall off (castration). I do it at 7 weeks. If you need help, I'm happy to do it.
Showing
At fair, only does can be shown.There are 3 main parts: kids, dry yearlings, and milkers. Kids are babies. This group consists of multiple classes depending on age. Dry Yearlings are does that are one year of age and are not in milk. Milkers are does that are one year or older who are in milk. This group consists of classes that are 1st fresheners, 2-year milkers, 3-year milkers, etc.
Feeding
For my large dairy (Toggenburgs). I have them free feed alfalfa. This means that they always have access to food.
For my Nigerian Dwarfs, I do different things. Some of them gain weight really easily. That being said, I have to have those on a different diet. Those 2 are put in a separate area, and they get 90/10, which is a combination of 90% grass hay and 10% alfalfa. The other one is with my Toggenburgs
Depending on both the breed and genetics of the goat, they will have different dietary needs.
2 of my Nigis need a diet to help them maintain, but not gain weight, whereas my other one needs to stay on alfalfa so she stays at a healthy weight.
*When does are pregnant I free feed alfalfa so that they have enough nutrients for their kids.
Everyone has different preferences on how they feed their does this is just how I like to do it.
Showmanship
Novice
Intermediate
Senior
ADGA Scorecard:
https://adga.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ADGA-Scorecard-2025.pdf
ADGA Goat Parts:
Barn Board/ Calendar
This is important for keeping track of all the important stuff… When hooves were done, selenium given, goats' symptoms, when meds were given, when goats were bred, when they are due, when they kidded, etc.
I keep a whiteboard in my barn where I have a section for each goat I have, a portion where I can put things that were given to the whole herd, and a section for hooves and selenium. I found that after a while, I would forget to write things down, so I created a calendar on my phone (just the one that comes on the iPhone) so I can keep track of all the things.
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