Domestic goats are one of the most useful animals to have as they are easy to look after and feed. Therefore, they are very good for farming, as pets, or as pack animals (pack goats).

As a domestic farm animal they can be used to produce a variety of products, such as:
• Diary (milk, butter, yoghurt)
• Meat
• Leather
• Wool (fleece goats)
• Soaps, body and hair care

Goats can also be very useful for the control of weed or grass overgrowth on a property as well as a great source of manure for the garden.

There are 9 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Goat Husbandry
2. Goat Breeds and Breeding
3. Feeds and Nutrition
4. Health Management
5. General Husbandry -Housing, Fencing, Grooming
6. Kids and Kidding
7. Dairy Production
8. Meat and Fibre Production
9. Goat Farm Management

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

• Discuss the significance of goats, the characteristics that differentiate them from other domesticated animals and the scope and nature of goat industries
• Select appropriate Goat Breeds for specified purposes
• Describe how goats are bred.
• Determine and manage an appropriate diet for a goat
• Identify a sick goat
• Describe common health issues that can affect goats; their prevention and treatment
• Determine facilities needed, and husbandry tasks that need to be undertaken for the management of a goat.
• Describe Kidding and Raising Kids.