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Dairy Goat
There’s so much more to the Dairy Industry than just producing milk! Acquire skills in dairy goat production through ownership and care of dairy goats. Learn marketing, processing, distribution, consumption, and use of dairy products. Discover selecting your project, to raising it, to finding a career in the industry. Learn nutritive value of dairy products and promote their use. And much more!
If you have already signed up for this 4-H project, come on in and get started. If you haven't signed up yet, contact your local county office and become a member today.
Take it Further
Dairy Goat Hot Sheet (pdf)
Dairy Goat Hot Sheet (b/w pdf)
Here are other opportunities to explore Dairy Goats:
- Participate in regional or statewide quiz bowl events and judging contests
- Market and sell project animals to other 4-H’ers
- Start your own dairy goat herd
- Enjoy a summer internship working at a dairy goat farm
- Attend a local or state dairy goat show and listen to the judge give oral reasons on the classes
- Is it fair time? Consider showing in your County Fair dairy goat show or the Iowa State Fair
- Contact your county ISU Extension Office for other local workshops, activities, and events
- Interested in a college education in animal science or veterinary medicine? Schedule a visit with Iowa State University to explore those majors.
Step it up
Pass it on! Now that you know how, share it with others. Here are ideas to get you started.
Communication
- Design a poster on dairy goat breeds
- Teach others about showmanship techniques
- Educate your community on the importance of the dairy industry
Citizenship
- Complete a Service-Learning project
- Have your animal as part of a petting zoo sharing the importance of dairy
- Be a part of a dairy promotion event
- Help other 4-Hers in selecting animals to start their own goat project
Leadership
- Arrange for your class to tour a dairy goat operation
- Be a mentor for a younger 4-H’er
- Organize a county grooming clinic
- Attend a national or regional conference and encourage other youth to attend
Record Keeping
Dairy Goat Record Forms
- 4H 392 WS Dairy Animal Project Worksheet
- 4H 393A WS Dairy Goat Lifetime Record
- 4H 106A Dairy and Dairy Goat ID Report
Exhibit Ideas
- Create a poster on dairy goat bi-products
- Assemble an emergency medical kit
- How to properly tattoo your dairy goat
- Design a poster on the many dairy breeds
- Proper selection and how to judge your animal
- Fitting techniques for show day
- Compare the differences in dairy cattle and dairy goat milk and cheese production
- A display on proper feed rations
- Prepare a dairy goat show kit
- Describe the proper terms when talking about dairy goats
- How to properly register and keep records on your animals
- Compare and contrast the dairy breeds and their positive traits
- Make a scrapbook of your animal(s)
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Develop a presentation on the following:
- Grooming your animal
- How to start a dairy goat herd
- Comparison on the nutritive value of dairy vs. non-dairy products
- How to properly show your animal
- Continue exhibiting the same animal(s) to show the progression and how they’ve changed
