Beyond Kidding: Dairy Goat Breeding, Birthing and Milking (10-14 SP)
Detailed herd planning, breeding, kidding, newborn care, and milk production. Great if you have/want goats or are considering being a veterinarian or veterinary science. Includes actual birth! (Zoology, Animals, Biology, Farm) #academic
Heidi Lathrem, MA: Homesteading/Farm & Video Games
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(597)
What's included
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1-2 hours per week. Lesson one: Post a description either your existing goat herd or ideal herd in the classroom. Include breeds you have or would use and your reasoning behind your choices. Lesson two: Post a description of your own birthing kit and talk about your birthing preparations, watch kidding video (25m) Lesson three: Post your reactions to the birthing video in the classroom, talk about any experiences you may have with live births Lesson four: Do the experiment on your own and post your reaction and any reflections you have on the classAssessment
Assessments are available upon parent request.Grading
Grades are available upon parent request.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
This four-lesson self-paced course discusses the steps necessary to get to milk production in a goat; from breed selection, to mating, to preparing for new arrivals, to kidding, newborn care, and milking. This course is full of factual information presented orally and visually, coupled with illustrative pictures from my own herd and many others to show a variety of situations and setups for dairy goat farming, featuring videos coupled with PowerPoint-style presentation. Supplemental materials include a 25m video showing the whole process of mating, waiting, labor, kidding, and newborn firsts for students to watch independently and follow up in the next lesson in the classroom. There is also a home experiment showing the mechanics of milking and letting the students try out a "teat." And yes, it's okay if your learner giggles a bit when using the word "teat." :) Lesson one: Building your herd * Buck and doe selection * The heat cycle, signs of heat, * Gestation calendar * Breeding Lesson two: Preparing for arrival * Nutrition * Compiling a birthing kit with emergency numbers * Setting up a kidding stall Lesson three: Labor & delivery * Birth video discussion * Kidding assistance * Nursing assistance * Umbilical care Lesson four: Kid care & milking * Postpartum doe care & worming * Disbudding and castration * Milking mechanics and milk products * Weaning and bottle feeding This self-paced class does not have live meetings. Videos are hosted on Google Drive (links provided) and other course materials are uploaded directly to the self-paced classroom in PDF format. This class is also offered live under a separate listing: https://outschool.com/classes/beyond-kidding-dairy-goats-breeding-birthing-and-milking-mUPfTq8t?usid=6Sw2nCDl&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link ****Parental advisory: This class talks about sexual reproduction of goats and includes a (brief, wide-shot) video of goats mating and a (graphic, close up) video of a goat laboring and giving birth. Discretion is advised.**** **I am not a veterinarian and information contained in this course is designed for general informational purposes only. For specific medical advice or in the event of a goat emergency, please consult a veterinarian.**
Learning Goals
Students will learn the basics to prepare them for responsible herd planning and goat husbandry, as well as expose them to some realities of goat kidding in a safe and non-urgent environment.
Syllabus
4 Lessons
over 4 WeeksLesson 1:
Building Your Herd
Lesson one introduces various goat breeds and uses, buck and doe selection, the heat cycle, signs of heat, gestation calendar, breeding. Lesson 2:
Preparing for Kid Arrival
Lesson two focuses on goat nutrition and supplements, health, disease prevention and management, hoof care, birthing kit, emergency numbers, and setting up a kidding stall. Learners will also watch a video of an actual goat birth. Lesson 3:
Labor and Delivery
Lesson three reviews the birth from lesson two, following up with more detailed instruction on the mechanics of birth, reasons and methods of intervention, and newborn and mother goat care. Lesson 4:
Kid Care and Milking
Lesson four follows the mother doe and kid into the first few weeks of life, discussing options such as dehorning, castration, bottle feeding, milk handling, and milk products. Other Details
Parental Guidance
****Parental advisory: This class talks about sexual reproduction of goats and includes a (brief, wide-shot) video of goats mating and a (graphic, close up) video of a goat laboring and giving birth. Discretion is advised.****
**I am not a veterinarian and information contained in this course is designed for general informational purposes only. For specific medical advice or in the event of a goat emergency, please consult a veterinarian.**
Supply List
For final experiment, students will need a single disposable glove.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined April, 2020
4.9
597reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am not a veterinarian, but worked for years as a veterinary assistant. Additionally, I have attended several goat births (and narrowly missed a few) on our own farm. My family has a small goat herd with new kids born every year. We have a small business making and selling soap with our extra goat milk.Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$13
weekly or $50 for all content4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 21 learners
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Ages: 10-14
