Livestock farming in our country is based on cows, sheep and pigs. Although there are other types of animals that produce equally tasty meat. For example, domestic goats. Unpretentiousness in food, good ability to withstand heat and frost have made goats faithful companions of humans since ancient times. To get high-quality meat from an animal, it is important for a farmer to know how long a domestic goat grows and how to provide it with ideal conditions for rapid weight gain.
How long does a goat grow for meat?
In good conditions, goats live up to 15 years, and up to this age they can become pregnant and give birth to offspring.If we are talking about raising animals for meat, then what is considered optimal is what is taken from animals up to a year old. The best is considered to be that produced by lightly fattened kids aged from one and a half to two months.
The quality of meat depends mainly on the animal’s food supply, and lifespan is affected only by climatic conditions. Though meat goat breeds considered the most resistant, it is still better to protect the livestock from cold and heat and not take it to wet pastures. This is fraught with pneumonia, and, accordingly, a deterioration in the value of meat due to medications.
Features of cultivation
The light weight of goats (from 40 to 50 kg) makes keeping them profitable for the farmer. In addition, animals, thanks to their extended front teeth, can graze in areas where grass has grown only 3-5 cm. Cows, for comparison, do not graze plants smaller than 10 cm. Goats can feed on almost any vegetation, which makes their breeding simple and accessible. If there is a shortage of hay and fresh grass, the animal will not refuse tree leaves (aspen, birch, willow, acacia), root vegetables, carrot tops, burdocks, and grain.
When a goat has given birth, it is better to immediately decide which kids will be raised for meat. Males are castrated; females do not require this procedure. Castrati meat is tender, does not have an unpleasant odor, is juicy and rich in microelements.
After birth, for the first 3-4 weeks, goat kids are given plenty of mother's milk. Then gradually grain, whey, hay and plants are introduced into the diet. Experienced farmers advise feeding young animals with bran to quickly gain weight.Starting from 3 months, goats are left with hay at night so that they do not get hungry.
In addition, animals must have 24/7 access to clean drinking water. If the livestock lives in a building, then daily cleaning and replacement of bedding is necessary.
From 4-5 months you can introduce grain into the diet: barley, oats, crushed corn. This will give the meat fat. If kids consume liquid food, whey or mash, it should be given warm. It is recommended to add a little salt to the feed once a week to stimulate the appetite of young animals.
Nutrition plan for fattening meat goats based on the amount of product per day:
| Type of feed | 4-8 months | 9-13 months | 13-10 months |
| Serum | 1.1 l | 1.6 l | 2.0 l |
| Corn | 0.16 kg | 0.5 kg | 0.35 kg |
| Hay | 0.6 kg | 2 kg | 1.1 kg |
| Grass | 2.85 kg | — | 3.6 kg |
Goat meat is considered a dietary product, despite its sufficient fat content. It is recommended for people with excess weight and diseases of the cardiovascular system.
At what age are meat goat kids castrated?
Upon reaching the age of 3-4 months, male hormones begin to be released into the blood of males. They deteriorate the quality of meat, making it tough and dry. In addition, a specific musky “aroma” is added. To avoid this, males are castrated at 2.5-3 months. This is the optimal period when the kid will easily undergo the operation and recover quickly.
Valukhi gain weight faster and, when slaughtered at 4 months of age, produce meat similar to that of wild animals. For industrial sale, it is optimal to slaughter goats at 8-10 months.
