In our article on the background of our goats, we already covered their breed, how much milk they produce, and what they eat. In this article, we go a step further: what happens to female and male baby goats, and are hormones or antibiotics used? Read on.
What happens to kids?
To produce milk, a goat needs to give birth regularly. Roughly half of the kids born are female, the other half male (billy kids).
What happens to the female kids?
The female kids stay on the farm and are raised to become dairy goats. If a farm has more than it needs, they're sold to another dairy goat farm, where they're also raised as dairy goats.
What happens to billy kids?
For billy kids, the situation is different. Some are needed for breeding, but most have no place on a dairy goat farm, since they don't produce milk. Billy kids are therefore usually raised on the farm until they're suitable for human consumption, with proper care and attention during that period.
Even so, the future of a billy kid isn't ideal, and this is something the sector is working to address. A large majority of our farmers now opt for extended lactation, where a goat is milked for 2 to 5 years without giving birth in between - meaning the goat doesn't produce billy kids during that time.
Want to learn more about the goats behind goat dairy products? Visit ontdekdegeit.nl (Dutch-language site).
Are hormones and antibiotics used?
The use of hormones and antibiotics is strictly regulated and controlled through the KwaliGeit system. Our farmers aren't permitted to use hormones unless required or desirable for the goats' breeding schedule. Medication can only be supplied by the veterinary practice linked to the farm.
Antibiotics are never used preventively, only to treat illness - and sometimes a vet may only treat a goat with specific medicines. During antibiotic treatment, and for a few days afterwards, that goat's milk isn't used, so no residues end up in the milk that eventually reaches the dairy processor. This matters for the farmer too: if antibiotics are found in the milk, they don't get paid for it. What's more, the farming family often drinks the milk straight from the tank, before it's even tested and processed by the dairy.
What does a goat pregnancy look like?
A goat reaches sexual maturity at around 7 months and should weigh at least 35kg (ideally 40kg) before responsible breeding takes place. She typically gives birth for the first time around one year old. A goat pregnancy lasts about 5 months (148 days), with a variation of around 10 days. Goats are seasonal breeders: fertile in autumn and giving birth in spring. Breeding usually happens between September and January, with births between February and May.