Choosing a Dairy Goat

After viewing my last two blogs and you decided you would like to try to raise dairy goats and you have picked a breed that appeals to you, I am going to give you some hints on where to purchase your goats and what to check for.

Where to Buy:

First advise is not to buy from a livestock auction. These goats are under alot of stress, may pick up diseases from each other, and probably were brought to the auction because the owner didn't think much of them.

One of the best ways to buy a goat is through a local goat club or show. Both give you the chance to meet goatkeepers who care about their animals. These people love to talk about goats, answer questions and see that beginners get off to a good start.

You can also locate nearby goatkeepers through the membership lists of the various national registries or national club promoting the breed you are interested in. For current addresses and listings of regional and local clubs, consult Dairy Goat Journal, or The American Dairy Goat Association. I know the ADGA has a website, not sure about the Dairy Goat Journal.


Goats are herd animals. They get lonely and into trouble when kept alone, so you probably need to at least have two for companionship. If you are a beginner, you might want to consider getting a pregnant doe and that way you will have several weeks to get to know your goats before they have to be milked and the double pleasure of newborn kids and milk. Otherwise, if you get a young goat, you also need to wait a year before you can breed her and you will need to have a buck. Bucks have to be in a separate area, away from the does and babies, when they come. If you are just starting out, buying a pregnant doe might be the best option, but that is your preference. just make sure you get a written guarantee that the doe is pregnant.

Checking the Goat:

Before you purchase a goat, check it over carefully. It should not have horns, which can injure you and the other goats. It should stand squarely and walk freely without lameness. Improper hoof trimming, foot infection, or deformed feet can cause limping. Run your hands over the goats body to check for lumps, knots, sores, scabs and scars.

Examine the teethe as a sign of age. A goat has eight teeth at the front of its lower jaw. if the middle two are large, the animal is 1 year old. If it has 4 large teeth, it is 2 years old, 6, it is 3 or 4 years old and if all 8 are large, it is 4 to 5 years old. If it has 8 large teeth that are excessively worn or separating means the goat is quite old. A prime dairy goat is not more than 4 years old.

If possible, look over the mother, father, siblings, and aunts for good health. Check for cleanliness in the barn, that will indicate the likelihood that the animals are healthy. If the goat you choose has bright eyes and shows curiosity over your visit, it is probably a healthy one.

These are just basic things to look for when purchasing a dairy goat. I will post more later on.