Do you want to venture into the meat goat business?
You’ve probably heard all about the most popular meat goats, such as the Boer and Kiko, but you should also consider the Spanish goat breed if this topic has been on your mind lately.
In the 1500s, Spanish explorers brought the Spanish goat to North America. The breed has thrived in the wild in Mexico, the Caribbean, and the southern United States since then. This is a breed that is both hardy and self-sufficient, to be precise.
Sadly, until recently, the Spanish goat breed was mostly utilized to transmit hardy characteristics to less rugged goats by crossing it with other goat breeds. There was little attention paid to the breed’s upkeep.
This may be the ideal breed for you if you’re seeking for a hardy meat goat that needs some care in the realm of conservation. Read on to learn more about this endangered goat breed’s traits.
Breed Standards of the Spanish Goat
In the United States, the Spanish Goat Association is the major registry. Newcomers will be welcomed and encouraged by the Spanish Goat breed’s website.
The Spanish Goat has a diverse set of features that are not always consistent across all purebred Spanish goats, which the association stresses.
Spanish goats continue to exhibit genetic diversity within the breed, according to the organization. As a result, your herd might be substantially different from the others in the future. That’s fine.
The overuse of Spanish goats in breeding programs designed to alter other breeds’ characteristics is most likely to blame. (Spanish goats are not just hardy; they are also resistant to illness and parasites).
1. Appearance
A few requirements for the breed have been set by the American Livestock Conservancy:
Ears: The ears are positioned horizontally close to the head and down the cheek.
The Spanish goat’s physique is large and athletic, with ideal meat conformation.
The breed has a wide range of hair colors, not just one shade. In reality, any hue is now permissible.
Spanish goats have huge horns that swoop dramatically upwards and outwards. Horns tend to twist at their points.
Coat: Long or short hair, some examples of the breed provide a appealing, thick cashmere coat.
The livestock conservation has established the following reference points to see whether your goat might include other breeds inside its genetics as a consequence of the extensive cross-breeding
Your Spanish goat may have been crossbred if any of the following traits apply:
- Nubian or Boer Crosses have enormous drooping ears and huge short horns.
- Dairy Crosses have short upright ears with long, thick horns and no twist at the tip.
- Angora Cross had a lot of hair and droopy Nubian-like ears.
2. Height and Weight
The bucks may weigh between 200 and 250 pounds, while the does may weigh between 100 and 150 pounds, as is common in meat goats breeds.
The Spanish goat is robust and compact, measuring just about 20 inches in height, much like the Boer goat.
3. Hardiness
The Spanish goat is a tough breed that enthusiasts adore because of its toughness, which is why they spend time re-establishing the breed.
Since they first arrived in North America, this meat goat has flourished particularly well in warm places.
Parasite and illness resistant are also traits of the breed, according to legend. This is also due, in part, to the fact that they were left to their own devices after being brought to the Americas as a breed. To combat common illnesses and parasites, they’ve changed.
4. Temperament
Unlike other meat breeds, such as the Boer or even the Kiko, the Spanish goat is not as domesticated. As a result, goatherds who own Spanish goats describe them as difficult to handle and jumpy.
Spanish goats are flighty, so catching one for maintenance may be difficult.
Breeding the Spanish Goat
This breed’s capacity to manage kiddings very well is praised by many Spanish Goat breeders. The breed’s human goatherds may assist or interfere during birth, but it is normally self-reliant. The kid enters motherhood mode when they hit the ground, and they seldom have any issues caring for their children.
To put it another way, if you want a hands-off approach to goat farming, the Spanish goat doe is an excellent mother and producer.
1. Nutritional Needs
You must enhance your Spanish goat’s feed before you decide to breed them, in order to ensure a fruitful and healthy breeding season. Several goatherds describe flushing (increasing feed intake) as a good thing for both bucks and does.
Does need a lot of feed, minerals, and clean water throughout pregnancy and after kidding. A doe will be unable to look after her newborns if she does not have what she needs to remain healthy and strong.
Overfeeding does not occur throughout pregnancy since it may cause pregnancy toxemia. They, on the other hand, require certain extra nutrients since they are growing two, three, or four people.
2. Maturity
Even though Spanish goats may go into heat as early as five months old, it is recommended to wait until they are at least eight months old to breed them.
It’s more secure for her and the offspring if you have smaller does that have gained at least 80 pounds before breeding them.
3. Mating Season
Like with many other meat goat breeds, Spanish goats are polyestrous. They can be bred up to three times in two years, which allows them to be breed year-round.
Placing the buck with does at preferred times of the year, rather than leaving him with them year-round (which ensures kidding surprises throughout the year), is more convenient for management purposes.
4. Kids
Spanish goats have a gestational period of around 155 days. It is possible to allow your does to kid on their own (without supervision) if your goats are kept in a warm climate. You should, however, create a draft-free, protected living space for your does if you reside in a colder environment.
Many kidren, triplets, and occasionally quadruplets are common among Spanish Goats.
Caring For The Spanish Goat
1. Feeding and Nutritional Needs
Goats need both legumes and grasses in their diet, as well as plenty of forage. Supplements of 16-20% protein should be used instead of quality hay if it is not accessible.
2. Housing and Fencing
The same housing and fencing requirements apply to Spanish goats as to other goats. They aren’t as delicate as other Goat breeds like the Angora goat, so they don’t need as much elaborate shelter since to their resourcefulness and hardiness.
Like other goats, Spanish goats are the Houdini of the farmyard. They are excellent climbers and jumpers. Select fencing that is at least 4 feet tall and sturdy. For meat goats in general, hot-wire is an excellent option.
3. Health Issues and Care
Any animal kept in a domestic setting will have internal and external parasites. While parasites are resistant in the Spanish goat, they are not immune, and parasite immunity is reduced if their habitat is not maintained clean.
The Spanish goat breed may benefit from a consistent, though not necessarily daily, deworming regimen.
Alternatives To Spanish Goats
One of these comparable meat types may suit you if you adore the concept of owning a Spanish goat herd but can’t locate one or your area isn’t appropriate:
Did You Know?
Trimming the hooves of this breed, according to certain Spanish Goat breeders, is less labor-intensive and has to be done less often than with other breeds. The breed’s extremely active demeanor, as well as the fact that most goat owners allow them to roam freely, are contributing factors. This helps their hooves wear down naturally.
Conclusion
The Spanish goat is a tough goat with meat-production abilities and a large carcass that is often utilized for meat production. This may be the goat for you if conservation measures are your passion and you’re willing to let it be a hands-off meat breed.