Helpful Links
GENERAL BREED INFO
link to an article about the history of the breed: http://wishwehadacres.com/2010/03/10/a-little-history-about-nigerian-dwarf-goats/
REGISTRIES
American Dairy Goat Association: www.adga.org
ADGA Genetics Database: www.adgagenetics.org
Information about ADGA's linear appraisal program: https://adga.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/LA_BOOKLET.pdf
American Goat Society: www.americangoatsociety.com
AGS Gestation Calculator: www.americangoatsociety.com/education/gestation_calculator.php?Gestate=145
HEALTH/GOAT CARE INFORMATION:
** You will find different advice/differing opinions regarding goat care. There is no "one size fits all" method as we are all raising goats under different conditions (some goats are dry-lotted, some are grazing, some are browsing above the ground as nature intended; some are raised in hot climates, some in cold; some are raised in dry climates, some in wet, etc!). In other words, what works for some may not work for you at all, so it's beneficial to be well-read, to attend goat seminars, AND PLEASE HAVE A VETERINARIAN advise you when you have a sick goat. Therefore, the links below are not meant to be a substitute for veterinary advice!
General Info/Beginner's Guides
Fiasco Farm: fiascofarm.com/goats/
Thrifty Homesteader Articles (goat guide for beginners): thriftyhomesteader.com/a-beginners-guide-to-goats/
Better Hens & Gardens Goat Care Information: www.betterhensandgardens.com/category/goat-2/basic-care/
(this website has a lot of really useful information - be sure to explore beyond the link provided)
Maryland Small Ruminant Page (articles): www.sheepandgoat.com/articles
Coccidia Information:
** Goat Notes - Emily LeVan - link to sample pages about Cocci/Coccidia/Coccidiosis (from this link, there appear to be links to order the book itself - I've not read it or seen it firsthand, so not an endorsement, but it does appear to be a decent resource)
** https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/coccidiosis-in-goats/ (advice in links DOES NOT replace a vet - ALWAYS consult a veterinarian!!! if you use CoRid, work with a vet on dosing and when/if to give Vitamin B)
CDT vaccination
https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/goat-cdt-vaccination/
Wethering/Banding Goats
https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/wethering-neutering-nigerian-dwarf-goats-via-banding/
Urinary Calculi Risk (most common in wethers)
*** https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/wethers-urinary-calculi/
*** http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/urinarycalculi06.html
*** Urinary Tract Disease | Agricultural Research (luresext.edu)
Goat Minerals
https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-minerals/
Goats & Baking Soda
https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goats-need-baking-soda/
Goat Hoof Trimming
https://www.boergoatshome.com/hooves.php
https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/goat-hoof-trimming-2/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M59i9RjZS8
Hoof-Trimming on Goats: It's pretty Simple! - YouTube
Dealing with Parasites
***https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/6ef604_3981789ca4d34d74913834b1ea1b0b16.pdf - this is an EXCELLENT AND fairly current document
***https://www.apsc.vt.edu/content/dam/apsc_vt_edu/extension/sheep/programs/shepherds-symposium/2013/13_sym_zajac.pdf - this is a great reference in a slideshow format
*** American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control: www.wormx.info/management and https://www.wormx.info/part1
(again, spend time exploring entire website for information on FAMACHA, Sericea Lespedeza, COWP, dewormers, etc.)
***Information about use of Lespedeza as part of arsenal of worm control strategy: https://www.wormx.info/single-post/2018/06/19/Sericea-Lespedeza-and-Worm-Control
Frequently-Asked Questions about Parasites:
extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/gastrointestinal-parasites-in-sheep-and-goats-frequently-asked-questions-8-019/
Suggestions for Parasite Management: (I really like this article)
u.osu.edu/sheep/2019/04/02/on-farm-parasite-management-strategies/
Information about Deer Worm/Meningeal Worm: https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/e/7832/files/2017/11/P.-tenuis-Producer-Factsheet-2gkq1rv.pdf
Information about new tick-borne disease that affects livestock: www.lancasterfarming.com/news/southern_edition/new-tick-borne-disease-raises-concerns-for-virginia-cattle-producers/article_88095026-5a39-11ea-b2b2-d7e23f6c7cb5.html
Plants that may be poisonous/toxic to goats, not necessarily all-inclusive:
https://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/goatlist.html
Some videos that might be useful about various topics (I have not watched all of these videos, but just noticed they cover topics about which people often have questions): www.bcdairygoats.com/you-tube-videos.html
GENERAL BREED INFO
link to an article about the history of the breed: http://wishwehadacres.com/2010/03/10/a-little-history-about-nigerian-dwarf-goats/
REGISTRIES
American Dairy Goat Association: www.adga.org
ADGA Genetics Database: www.adgagenetics.org
Information about ADGA's linear appraisal program: https://adga.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/LA_BOOKLET.pdf
American Goat Society: www.americangoatsociety.com
AGS Gestation Calculator: www.americangoatsociety.com/education/gestation_calculator.php?Gestate=145
HEALTH/GOAT CARE INFORMATION:
** You will find different advice/differing opinions regarding goat care. There is no "one size fits all" method as we are all raising goats under different conditions (some goats are dry-lotted, some are grazing, some are browsing above the ground as nature intended; some are raised in hot climates, some in cold; some are raised in dry climates, some in wet, etc!). In other words, what works for some may not work for you at all, so it's beneficial to be well-read, to attend goat seminars, AND PLEASE HAVE A VETERINARIAN advise you when you have a sick goat. Therefore, the links below are not meant to be a substitute for veterinary advice!
General Info/Beginner's Guides
Fiasco Farm: fiascofarm.com/goats/
Thrifty Homesteader Articles (goat guide for beginners): thriftyhomesteader.com/a-beginners-guide-to-goats/
Better Hens & Gardens Goat Care Information: www.betterhensandgardens.com/category/goat-2/basic-care/
(this website has a lot of really useful information - be sure to explore beyond the link provided)
Maryland Small Ruminant Page (articles): www.sheepandgoat.com/articles
Coccidia Information:
** Goat Notes - Emily LeVan - link to sample pages about Cocci/Coccidia/Coccidiosis (from this link, there appear to be links to order the book itself - I've not read it or seen it firsthand, so not an endorsement, but it does appear to be a decent resource)
** https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/coccidiosis-in-goats/ (advice in links DOES NOT replace a vet - ALWAYS consult a veterinarian!!! if you use CoRid, work with a vet on dosing and when/if to give Vitamin B)
CDT vaccination
https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/goat-cdt-vaccination/
Wethering/Banding Goats
https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/wethering-neutering-nigerian-dwarf-goats-via-banding/
Urinary Calculi Risk (most common in wethers)
*** https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/wethers-urinary-calculi/
*** http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/urinarycalculi06.html
*** Urinary Tract Disease | Agricultural Research (luresext.edu)
Goat Minerals
https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-minerals/
Goats & Baking Soda
https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goats-need-baking-soda/
Goat Hoof Trimming
https://www.boergoatshome.com/hooves.php
https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/goat-hoof-trimming-2/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M59i9RjZS8
Hoof-Trimming on Goats: It's pretty Simple! - YouTube
Dealing with Parasites
***https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/6ef604_3981789ca4d34d74913834b1ea1b0b16.pdf - this is an EXCELLENT AND fairly current document
***https://www.apsc.vt.edu/content/dam/apsc_vt_edu/extension/sheep/programs/shepherds-symposium/2013/13_sym_zajac.pdf - this is a great reference in a slideshow format
*** American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control: www.wormx.info/management and https://www.wormx.info/part1
(again, spend time exploring entire website for information on FAMACHA, Sericea Lespedeza, COWP, dewormers, etc.)
***Information about use of Lespedeza as part of arsenal of worm control strategy: https://www.wormx.info/single-post/2018/06/19/Sericea-Lespedeza-and-Worm-Control
Frequently-Asked Questions about Parasites:
extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/gastrointestinal-parasites-in-sheep-and-goats-frequently-asked-questions-8-019/
Suggestions for Parasite Management: (I really like this article)
u.osu.edu/sheep/2019/04/02/on-farm-parasite-management-strategies/
Information about Deer Worm/Meningeal Worm: https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/e/7832/files/2017/11/P.-tenuis-Producer-Factsheet-2gkq1rv.pdf
Information about new tick-borne disease that affects livestock: www.lancasterfarming.com/news/southern_edition/new-tick-borne-disease-raises-concerns-for-virginia-cattle-producers/article_88095026-5a39-11ea-b2b2-d7e23f6c7cb5.html
Plants that may be poisonous/toxic to goats, not necessarily all-inclusive:
https://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/goatlist.html
Some videos that might be useful about various topics (I have not watched all of these videos, but just noticed they cover topics about which people often have questions): www.bcdairygoats.com/you-tube-videos.html