Doe  

 Age 2, first freshener                              

 

Buck

      

How to Examine a Goat Before You Buy

 

1. Look at the goat from the top.  

Body shape:

A dairy goat should have a triangular shape.

This ensures that there is enough room for feed in the rumen, even when the doe is pregnant with multiple kids.

                   

 Good              Incorrect                         

 Body shape     Body shape  

Body condition:

Feel along her spine and then let your hand slide down the side until you hit the big groove in her side.  Feel along the rib bones at the top of the groove.  There should be some meat there but it should not be too fatty. If you can't see the groove in her side, she is very obese.  Don't buy a goat that is way too thin or way too fat.  (see body condition scoring for pictures and more information.)

Hair:

The hair should be free of lice and mites.  

If you see little white or brown spots that move, she is infested.

Skin:

The skin should be free of scales, sores, lumps, and bald patches..

2. Look at the goat from the front. 

General attitude:

A healthy goat is alert and energetic. 

Legs:

The legs should be straight.  They should not bow in or bow out.,

 

Correct         Incorrect 

Front legs      Front legs

Drawings from Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H Club Goat Guide, (Brown) and  (Schoenian)  

The following  photo shows what you do NOT want to see: enlarged knee joints, with the skin worn off from walking on the knees.  (Signs of CAE)  

Eyes:

The goat's eyes should be clear.

Redness or drainage indicate pinkeye or other eye irritation.

Mouth:

The jaws should match in size and shape so that the goat can chew well.

 

The lips should be free of sores.

You do not want to see this:

Contagious ecthyma (orf)

The teeth should be whole, spaced so the jaw can shut properly, and appropriate for age. (see medical section under "age" for more information..

 

You do not want to see this:

Broken mouth  (indicates that this is an old goat.  You won't get much milking time out of her.)  

University of Pennsylvania Disease Image Gallery

 

You also don't want to see teeth on a younger goat that are worn down.  This indicates that they are eating so close to the ground, they are wearing their teeth away, and they are probably malnourished and full of parasites..  This is very common where grazing is not controlled and there is not enough grass to support the number of goats grazing..

Nose:

The nose should be dry, not draining, and the goat should breathe quietly and easily.

Noisy breathing and runny nose can mean pneumonia, which is highly contagious.

Skin:

There should not be any abscesses on her face, neck or body.

You do not want to see this:

Producer photo

Body condition:

Reach under her the goat's front chest area and feel the breast bone for fat and meat.  There should be meat there, but not a lot of fat.

3.  Look at the goat from the back.

The udder:

 The udder should be full, and should be well attached at the top, with two distinct halves. 

The teats should be the same size and should be hanging straight down or slightly out to the side.   There shouldn't be any sores, lumps or deformities in the udder or teats.

 

A good udder should look like this:

 

       

Back view                             Side view

Photographs from Saanen breeder Joshua Kaplewski, of Spread Eagle, WI. http://www.portup.com/~mapleoak/    

 

These udders are unacceptable:

 

   

Mastitis damage                          Teats too large, bad udder

Photographs from "Your Dairy Goat" (4-H publication) http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/em4894/em4894.pdf   at page 5.

Udder size is dependent on age: 

If the goat is a 1 year old first freshener, meaning that she has had her first baby, her udder will not be as large as an older goats' udders.  That is perfectly normal.  

 

Udder size is dependent on milking time:

Udder size will be reduced on a goat that has recently been milked, and will increase greatly as you approach the next milking time.

Rectal area:

The back end of the goat should be clean.  

If there are liquid feces in the hair, the goat has diarrhea and is sick.

Vagina:

The vagina should be free from drainage.

Exceptions to this rule:

1) If the goat has birthed in the last couple weeks she will have drainage for up to three weeks, but the drainage should not smell bad.

2) The goat may have a clear discharge if it is in heat.

Back Legs:

The back legs should be wide apart, and straight up and down, not bowed in or out.

4. Look at the goat from the side 

Legs:

Her back legs should be shaped like this:

Her front legs should look like this:

If there is too much variation from these pictures, she may have trouble walking or standing for long periods on the milk stand. (Photos supplied by Saanen breeder Joshua Kaplewski, of Spread Eagle, WI)

Stature:

She should stand square on all four legs and walk freely, without pain or limping.

Hooves:

Pick up her hooves and check for foot rot or scald.  

Does the hoof smell bad?  

Is there a white patch, or sores between the hooves?  

Do not buy any goats from a herd that has even one case of foot rot or foot scald.  Once you get it in your barn, you can't get it out.  Even a goat without symptoms now, carries the disease, if other goats in the herd have had it.

 

Foot Rot (sores between hooves)

Foot Scald (whitish patch between hooves)

Photos from the University of Kentucky  http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/goats/

newsletter/bfebnwsletter01304.pdf  

Remember to check both sides of the goat

Note for first-time buyers:

It is very helpful to practice with a borrowed goat, running through the steps of what to look for before going to buy your first herd.  Do it enough so that you can quickly access the condition of the goat.  If you do not have access to a goat, practice with a dog until you can go through the steps quickly and easily.  

 

On the day you go to look at goats, carry a marking chalk, available at farm stores, and when you approve a goat, draw a line on the rump, so it is clear which goats you want to buy.  This will help you when you get ready to load them.