Below is a collection of links/resources that others may find helpful. Please note that we are not giving advice regarding goat management or health with the exception of one point: Find and develop a relationship with a good small ruminant veterinarian first and foremost. The internet is not a substitute for proper veterinary care.
When looking for information on management or health, we do our best to find credible, reputable sources, such as university systems, who publish information based on science, actual research, and veterinary guidance. Goat care groups on social media, personal blogs, personal websites, and similar sources are rarely good places to find credible information.
This page was last updated on October 17, 2019.
Goat Care Links
Basic Goat Care Langston University’s American Institute for Goat Research maintains a library of articles, including several basic goat care fact sheets. Langston also has a free online training site, including a web-based training and certification course for dairy (or meat) goat producers.
Parasites (internal) Internal parasites that affect goats are one of the greatest--if not the greatest--threats to the health of our goats. The most common and dangerous internal parasite in the United States, especially in the southeast/areas that have warm, humid weather, is the strongyle species haemonchus contortus, more commonly known as the “barber pole worm.” The American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC) is a source of current, science-based information and strategies for dealing with parasites. If you are new to goats, the ACSRPC's six-part series on controlling worms in goats is a good place to start.
If you need a lab to have fecal testing done for internal parasites, try Meadow Mist Lab Services or Mid-America Agricultural Research. Both of these labs accept samples by mail and provide detailed (egg per gram count) results.
Registries We personally use ADGA as our registry of choice because of their performance programs and availability of sanctioned shows; however, AGS has recognized Nigerians for much longer, and many choose to use them instead of or in addition to ADGA. Both are reputable registries. The American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) The American Goat Society (AGS)