Whether youth own a dairy goat, meat goat, pygmy goat or are just curious about them, these activities provide enjoyable, hands-on experiences to introduce them to goats. Selection, feeding, management, fitting, showing and responsible goat ownership are emphasized for Dairy Goat, Meat Goat, Novelty/Pygmy Goat, and Utility Goat.
Please note there are age restrictions on this project area:
Youth must be 8 by October 1st of the current 4-H year to be eligible for:
- Competitive situations, such as livestock shows or sales
- Enrollment in large animal projects, including Beef, Dairy, Goat, Horse, Sheep, Alpaca/Llama, and Swine
- Enrollment in shooting sports projects
- Enrollment in projects using motorized vehicles
- Enrollment in food preservation projects
Cloverbuds, 4-H youth ages 5-7, may participate in a number of age-appropriate activities, though they may not participate in competitive events.
If you have questions about eligibility please, contact your county 4-H coordinator.
Objectives
Youth will:
- Demonstrate proper goat management and health practices
- Develop goat fitting and showing skills
- Select a quality project animal
- Select animals suitable for their use in harness or as pack animals
- Feed an animal properly
- Learn about meat goat projects and marketing
- Groom and show the project goats
4-H Goat Curriculum
Available from the Extension office or online
Dairy Goat 1 – Getting Your Goat
Whether youth own a dairy goat or are just curious about them, these activities provide enjoyable, hands-on experiences to introduce them to goats. Selection, feeding, management, fitting, showing and responsible goat ownership are emphasized.
Youth explore how to keep their goats healthy, feed them for maximum production, prepare for kidding, develop judging skills, milk a goat properly, and much more. Exciting activities for teams and individuals are included.
Experienced goat project youth will find these activities challenging and fun as they delve into genetics, careers, national industry issues, diseases, biosecurity, body condition scoring, linear appraisal, breeding programs, pedigrees, dystocia, quality assurance, and leadership opportunities.
Helpers will appreciate this resource as they plan group meetings to get youth involved and excited to learn about goats.
Youth will enjoy playing goat related games, conducting skillathons, giving demonstrations, participating in showmanship contests and experiencing many other fun and educational group activities.
Youth plan a program, complete project records, develop a management calendar, complete a meat quality assurance program, participate in a quiz bowl, skillathon and tour, give a presentation and explore goat related careers.
Meat Goat 2 – Get Growing with Meat Goats
Youth actively explore goat diseases, identify poisonous plants, determine body condition, learn about goat reproduction and kidding, and learn proper animal husbandry.
Meat Goat 3 – Meating the Future
Discover how to control parasites, practice bio-security, conduct judging clinic, judge goats, give oral reasons, select sires, balance ration, compare forage samples, practice sound ethics, prevent diseases.
Guide is packed with activities that involve the entire group. Youth will enjoy planning a program, completing project records, developing management calendar, completing meat quality assurance program and participating in quizzes.
Washington 4-H Records, Forms, and Guides
For youth members
Record sheet that includes goat identification and pedigree, and records on health, production, kidding, showing, income, and expenses.
C0895E – 4-H Dairy Goat Certificate
Record physical markings of goat and other project information.
EM4877E – Dairy Cattle and Dairy Goat 4-H Member Advancement
This contains everything you need to know about raising and showing dairy goats. Many photos show breeds and explain how to trim hooves and judge conformation.
C0914E – Animal Science Record
Sheet that records inventory, expenses, and income from an animal science project.
C1051E – Producer Affidavit & Market Goat Health Record
Youth producers will record all relevant health information for their market goats on this form. A sample form includes instructions for completing the form.
C1113E – Supplemental Animal Affidavit & Health Record
A supplemental sheet to go with the 4-H health forms for individuals that need to record more treatments, etc.
Judging Meat Goats and Oral Reasons 101
This publication will help youth and beginning meat goat producers to understand the four basic criteria for selecting a meat goat.
For adult helpers and club leaders
EM4425E – Goat Project: 4-H Leader Guide
EM4781E – Dairy Goat Show Procedures
Bulletin dealing with basic considerations, the group judging method, and the Washington State 4-H Dairy Goat Fitting and Showing Scorecard.
EM4873E – Dairy Cattle and Dairy Goat 4-H Member Advancement, Leader Guide
EM4789E – Teaching 4-H Oral Reasons
Teaches leaders how to help 4-H members give oral reasons for judging items and exhibits. Emphasizes knowledge and gives steps for oral reasoning process.
PNW614 – Pasture and Grazing Management in the Northwest
The comprehensive resource for anyone who manages livestock on pastures in the Northwest, this 208-page book offers pasture managers information and tools to enable their pastures and their livestock to reach their maximum production potentials.
Helpful Resources
Activity Ideas
This website was created by the University of Illinois Extension to help you learn more about beef, dairy, horses, poultry, sheep, swine, forage, and meats.
Washington Specific Reference Material
Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory – Goats
A full range of testing and consultation services for goats to ensure the health of your herd.
Other Reference Material
From 4-H Programs
4-H Dairy Goat Showmanship – North Dakota State University Extension 4-H (YouTube video)
4-H Market Goat Showmanship – North Dakota State University Extension 4-H (YouTube video)
The basics of Market Goat Showmanship.
Goats – Irvine Mesa Charros 4-H Club, Irvine, California
Informational page on raising goats that includes many references and resources.
From Higher Education Institutions
Breeds of Goats – Oklahoma State University
A comprehensive list of goat breeds with links to information pages on each breed.
Feeding and Housing Dairy Goats – University of Missouri Extension
Meat Goat Production – Penn State Extension
The basics of Dairy Goat Showmanship. Applicable regardless of location.
From Related Organizations, Journals, and Professionals
A wealth of informational resources on raising sheep and goats maintained by now-retired University of Maryland Extension Sheep & Goat Specialist Susan Schoenian. The resources tab contains multiple categories of articles, infographics, and other useful pages on the raising and care of these animals.
- Kits, Projects, and Activities from National 4-H