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Practical Homesteading: Beyond Kidding: Dairy Goat Breeding, Birth and Milking

Completed by 3 learners
Ages 14-18
Live Group Course
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
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(609 reviews)

Live video meetings
1x per week, 4 weeks
3-8 learners per class
50 min

What's included

4 live meetings
3 hrs 20 mins in-class hours
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Session One: Talk about your goat herd or put together your ideal herd. Include breeds you have or would use and your reasoning behind your choices. Session Two: Design your own birthing kit and talk about your birthing preparations, watch kidding video (25m) Session three: Post video reactions to classroom, talk about any experiences you may have with live births Session four: Home experiment and reflection questions

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 12
This four-session 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 discuss 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." 

Session one: Building your herd
* Buck and doe selection
* The heat cycle, signs of heat, 
* Gestation calendar
* Breeding

Session two: Preparing for arrival
* Nutrition 
* Compiling a birthing kit with emergency numbers
* Setting up a kidding stall

Session three: Labor & delivery
* Birth video discussion
* Kidding assistance
* Nursing assistance
* Umbilical care

Session four: Kid care & milking
* Postpartum doe care & worming
* Disbudding and castration
* Milking mechanics and milk products
* Weaning and bottle feeding

This class is informational in nature and does not feature live goats.

Don't see a time that works for you? This course is also offered in FLEX format: https://outschool.com/classes/beyond-kidding-dairy-goat-breeding-birthing-and-milking-qyEiuqA3?usid=6Sw2nCDl&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

It is also sometimes offered as a 4-day CAMP: https://outschool.com/classes/beyond-kidding-dairy-goat-breeding-birthing-and-milking-ty8SKQa5?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 Weeks
Lesson 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. 
50 mins online live lesson
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. 
50 mins online live lesson
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. 
50 mins online live lesson
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. 
50 mins online live lesson

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.

Meet the teacher

Profile
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



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