Goats and Sheep

Until recently, I had only been a horse and hound person. But one night, a goat won my heart. I was doing night duty at the yard, and the vet came out. It was late, and the vet had picked up her daughter and their pet goat.  The goat soon hopped out of their car

Raising goats for either meat or milk can be a rewarding experience, but it’s not without its challenges. Although goats have a reputation for eating anything and everything, they’re also very active animals that burn many calories. Meeting their nutritional needs can be challenging. A skinny goat will often struggle to regain the weight they’ve

One of the first animals to ever be domesticated by humans, the humble sheep has held an essential place in the history of livestock farming for thousands of years. With more than 200 unique breeds to choose from today, sheep come in various colors, including black, white, blue, brown, and combination colors. Both new and

Goats are hardy animals, but they’re still susceptible to health complications. This is especially true when they are exposed to extreme weather conditions. A goat that’s left out in heavy rain is as liable to get a cough and a runny nose as a human.  Why do goats get a runny nose? Dust, stress, and

If you want to raise sheep for meat, it can be difficult to figure out what breed to raise. Sheep breeds that grow larger and have a higher meat quality and taste are called meat sheep breeds. Sheep meat breeds usually grow faster and produce less milk than milk breeds.  Choosing the best sheep breed

Today’s domesticated goats are related to animals that once roamed the Iranian Plateau and Zagros mountains, which explains why they have such an aptitude and enthusiasm for climbing. Goats are at home in rugged areas where balancing and climbing are their main activities. Toys that encourage them to utilize these skills will provide mental stimulation

Every spring, my goats start scratching. This itchiness is normal and associated with them shedding their winter coats. When they started scratching in the autumn as well, I started to wonder if something else was wrong. I couldn’t see any mites or other external parasites, but they were clearly losing hair and their skin appeared

Goats are playful, curious, and…noisy. They have a wide range of bleats, and each goat has a distinctive, unique voice.  In a quiet, peaceful neighborhood, a loud goat can upset neighbors. Most goats are not super quiet. But, is there a way to own goats and strike a balance? What are the quietest goat breeds?

Sheep are ideal pets for kids. And, when a newborn lamb is abandoned by its mamma, as is common on the farm, that lamb often becomes a pet. And, its human family wants to give it treats. But, sheep have very different digestive systems than people, and their treats should be different also.   After weaning,