Katie Jackson, Morgan Hayes, and Joseph Taraba, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky
(Previously published online with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: April, 2024)
(Image Source: LSU Ag Center)
Introduction
Farmers who raise goats for meat or milk need guidance in the interrelated tasks of choosing a barn design and managing temperatures for their herd. Barn orientation, ventilation design, and stocking density are all important considerations which impact goats socially and physiologically, potentially impacting production. While other species are relatively well studied in these areas, research on goats is somewhat limited. T he goal of this publication is to provide recommendations drawn from research in goats and sufficiently similar species.
Stocking Density and Internal Layout
Stocking density can be highly variable between operations, often driven by management styles, for example, if the goats spend time predominantly on pasture vs. in a barn. Many goat spacing studies were run to determine pasture spacing. Pasture studies are likely excessively conservative (providing high square footage per goat) when applied to barns, since stocking density in a pasture impacts not only lying space and social constraints, but also dry matter availability and the probability of ingesting parasite eggs. Sheep literature is also limited in its application to goats.