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Although cashmere goats are rugged and adaptable and can survive with minimal
housing, goat owners in northern areas should provide places where goats can
escape from wind and wet weather. A clan, dry barn or shed can prevent hoof
problems, internal parasite problems, and kidding losses due to hypothermia or
frostbite.
Following a summer of pasture and browse, cashmere goats do well on good quality
hay all winter. However they do welcome grain supplements during periods of
extreme cold, of stress caused by shearing or moving, and prior to kidding and
at the start of lactation. The high protein grain mixes formulated for dairy
goats probably are unnecessary for fiber goats and may coarsen the cashmere
fiber.
Mineral supplements provide inexpensive insurance against various ailments,
especially in geographical areas known to be deficient in trace minerals like
selenium. The final item on a goat’s menu is fresh, clean water.
Hoof trimming and parasite control are also important parts of goat management,
although the frequency of worming and of hoof trimming varies depending upon
climate and terrain. Usually damp ground and restricted space mean more hoof
trimming and more anthelmintics, while the opposite is the case on dry, rocky
ground with frequent pasture rotation. |
