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Before you purchase any goats, it's a good idea to think long and hard about why you want them. Do you want them for milk? For meat or fiber? Or do you just think they'd make a cute pet? The motivation behind your decision to raise goats will influence what breed of goat you will buy and how you'll raise them. Keeping goats is a big commitment - you'll need to feed them everyday, pay for their food and veterinary bills, and ensure that they are healthy and happy - so make sure that you are prepared to take this responsibility on board. Take the time to read a few books or talk to someone who knows about goats so you have all the details before you jump in head first. As mentioned above, the type of goats you choose will be influenced by whether you want them for milk, meat or fiber. You will also need to consider the goats' size, temperament and care requirements. Some of the most popular breeds are as follows: Dairy Goats: Alpine, La Mancha, Nubian, Oberhasli, Saanen and Sable, and Toggenburg. Meat Goats: Boer, Kiko, Spanish, Savannah, Texmaster, Genemaster and Moneymaker. Fiber Goats: Angora (which produce Mohair), Cashmere, Pygora and Nigora. Pet Goats: Miniature goat breeds like Nigerian Dwarfs, Pygmy Goats and Kinder tend to make the best pets. Ideally, you should have a large outdoor area where your goats can range, browse and get the exercise they need to stay healthy. The goats will also need an indoor space for rest and shelter. The general rule of thumb is to provide 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 4.6m) of space for every standard size adult goat. Miniature breeds will require slightly less space. It's important not to overcrowd your goats or keep them in confined spaces. This will cause them to become stressed and unhealthy, and may contribute to the spread of disease. If you decide to go ahead and start your herd of goats, it's important to know what to look for. You don't want to buy a sick or unhealthy goat that doesn't meet your needs. Look for bright-eyed and alert goats which move around quickly and easily, with an even gait. Run your hands over the goat's body to check for any lumps or bumps - as this could indicate the presence of an abscess. Check the goat's droppings to make sure they are firm, not runny. Look for goats with deep, rounded bellies, wide-set hips and large milk sacks with downward-pointing udders (in does). If possible, you should also try milking any potential does, to make sure they have a good temperament and that the milk comes easily. If you're buying dairy goats, make sure they are friendly and not skittish, as you will need to get close to them in order to milk them. When starting out, it's a good idea to just purchase does, as only they can bear kids and produce milk. Bucks can be aggressive and start to smell as they grow older. The pheromones they release can also affect the flavor of the does' milk if they are kept in close quarters. Unless you want to raise a large herd of goats, it's better just to borrow a buck when you need one for breeding, rather than purchasing one yourself. Wethers are castrated male goats, and are only useful for providing meat (or as pets). However, if you wait until the first baby goats arrive (which have a 50/50 chance of being male) you will be able to sell the young bucks for a particular type of goat's meat called chevon, which is popular for its lamb-like flavor. You have a number of options when it comes to buying does - which option you decide to go for will depend on your budget and how soon you want your goats to produce milk or have kids. Buy a doeling: A baby doe, or doeling can be as young as 8 weeks old, as this is the soonest they can be weaned from their mothers. Doelings are relatively cheap to buy, but you will have to wait about a year and half before you can breed them, and another five months before they will start to produce milk. Buy a junior doe: A junior doe is a young doe that hasn't been bred yet. These are more expensive than doelings as you don't have to wait as long to breed them and start producing milk. Sometimes you can buy a young doe that has already been bred (i.e pregnant), so you only have to wait 5 months before she starts producing milk, but you will have to buy a breeding fee. Buy a doe in milk: A final option is to buy a senior doe who is already producing milk. This option is faster and cheaper than the previous ones, however there is a much higher risk that the doe you buy will have problems, as breeders will usually try to sell off the weakest animals in their herd. Goats are herd animals, which means that they prefer to live in groups. Therefore, you will need to buy a minimum of two goats to start off. Many people make the mistake of buying only one goat. Single goats get lonely and will become very loud, as they bleat and call out for company. If possible, try to buy two goats from the same herd (especially if they're related). This will help them to adjust to their new surroundings much more quickly. Under certain circumstances, goats will bond with other hoofed creatures, such as sheep, cows and horses, so this is an option if you already own some of these animals.
Think about why you want to raise goats. Choose a breed based on your needs. Consider how much space you have. Pick the best, healthiest-looking goats. Choose does over wethers and bucks. Consider the age of the does. Understand that goats are herd animals.