How to Protect Your Goats from Predators

If you're going to raise goats, you need to find out about common predators in your area. Don’t think that, because you're raising goats in the city, you don’t have to worry about predators. Although some of the animals that we traditionally think of as predators are rarely found in the city, dogs are rampant and birds abound. Kids are particularly at risk because they are small and lack life experience.

The best way to ensure that your goats are safe, especially if you don’t have a guardian animal, is to make sure that they're secured in a building with no open windows from dusk until dawn. Make sure the door closes and latches to prevent animals from getting in and goats from getting out.

Here are some of the more common goat predators to guard against:

Domestic or feral dogs: Dogs are the worst predators of goats, attacking and killing more often than any wild animal and doing it for fun rather than because they’re hungry. Dogs go after goats individually or in packs, with pack attacks being the worst.

Dogs dig under fences to get to goats. You can identify a dog attack because dogs usually go for a goat’s hind legs and rear end. Goats that are attacked by dogs often have to be euthanized.

Coyotes: Eastern coyotes hunt individually, looking for weak members of a herd; western coyotes hunt in packs. You can tell the difference between a coyote attack and a dog attack because dogs chase and try to get as many goats as they can, while coyotes go for the throat and then try to get at a goat’s internal organs. They may even try to carry the animal away for safe eating.

Cougars: Cougars hunt individually. They leave tooth punctures and claw marks on the upper torso when they attack a goat. They also have been known to drag their prey a distance away, bury it, and come back later to eat. A good livestock guardian dog will normally deter a cougar, unless it is very hungry.

If you live in an area with cougars, get more than one livestock guardian dog to protect your goats.

Birds: Ravens and black vultures sometimes attack goats, especially when goats are down from sickness or trying to have their kids outside. Ravens peck an animal’s head and gouge out its eyes. Ravens attack in groups, which causes a problem for does trying to protect more than one kid.

The USDA recommends hanging a vulture carcass (real or fake) to deter vultures. Owls, eagles, and large hawks also may bother small kids, especially if they get separated from their mothers and cry. You can prevent losses to all types of birds by making sure your goats have safe, indoor kidding pens.

Other predators: Wolves, bears, foxes, wild pigs, and even feral cats will go after goats if their regular food supply is disrupted. Humans are also predators on goats — some rustling for food, but others killing for the fun of it, or for some other misguided reason.

Don’t tether your goats. A tethered goat is bait for any predator that lives in the area. Instead of tethering your goats, build them a proper fence, or if you need to move them around, use cattle panel sections or electric wire to create a barrier that you can move from place to place during the day. And supervise them or get them a guardian for protection.

The Largest Type of Horse

The biggest horses in the world are draft breeds. These horses were bred to pull or carry large loads. Included in the draft breeds are the Shire, Percheron and Clydesdale. Before the use of trucks and tractors, draft horses pulled ploughs, wagons, street cars, barges and other farm implements and conveyances. 

They are still used in some parts of the world, notably in North America, within Mennonite and Amish communities. Draft horses are the gentle giants of the horse world and “cold bloods” who have docile, stoic temperaments. Today, they are popular with those who enjoy driving, competing in heavy horse pulls, as well as making dependable, quiet riding horses.

Jamunapari - A Dairy Goat Breed in India

Jamunapari goat is a very beautiful dairy goat breed which was originated from India. This breed first introduced near a river of Uttar Pradesh named Jamuna. Since this breed is mostly known as Jamunapari goat. They are also known as some other names like Jamnapari, Ram Sagol etc. They become highly meat and milk productive and also very suitable for show. In India this goat breed is considered as the best dairy goat. They are one of the giant goat breeds with a pair of very long ear. The physical characteristics, feeding, housing, breeding and caring of Jamunapari goat are described below.

Physical Characteristics

The body of this goat is comparatively long sized than other goats.

They are of white, black, yellow, brown or various mixed colored.

Long sized legs with long hair in the thigh and back legs.

Love to graze in the open field.

The tail of Jamunapari goat is short and typically curved upward.

Very long sized thin ears which are curved downwards.

Has a pair of small sized horns which are curved to backwards.

They produce one baby goat per year.

Female Jamunapari goat gives about 2-3 litter milk daily.

An adult male goat weights about 65-90 kg and an adult female goat weights about 40-60 kg.

Almost all goat has slightly brown spots in their mouth and neck.

The udder is comparatively capacious but pendulous and the teats are long.

The milk of Jamunapari goat is very tasty and healthy. And it contains about 5% fat.

Benefits of Raising Dexter Cattle

Raising Dexter cattle is not something new. This type of cattle are an ancient breed. They are the smallest breed of cattle of British origin and are bred both for milk and for meat. They are predominantly black in color, but can also be red or dun. Dexters are a mountain breed, which means that they are particularly hardy and can survive in any environmental condition. The meat they produce is of excellent quality, has a good level of marbling, and is highly valued for its flavor and minimal waste.

1. Can be kept in small properties

Some farmers jokingly say that if you don't have a farm or a barn, you can keep a Dexter in your garden. Maybe not so, but the size and the temperament of this type of cattle really do make them suitable for small spaces. It used to be that cattle breeders thought that major breeds should be bred bigger and bigger. This necessitated having a property that was large enough for all those big cows. However, breeders have by now realized that bigger is not necessarily better and some have turned to raising Dexter cattle, a breed that does not require large properties but is equally profitable.

2. Have longer life spans

Because more calves mean more profits, raising Dexter cattle can be a particularly lucrative endeavor. Dexters typically live long lives and can be bred until the ages of 14 or 15. Considering that a Dexter can be bred from as early as a year old and through harsh weather conditions, this trait is a clear advantage over other breeds.

3. Easy to take care of

Raising Dexter cattle does not require large sums of money. First, the size of a Dexter means that it can be kept in a facility that does not have to be as strong and sturdy as those required by bigger and stronger breeds. Second, this type of cattle are not as susceptible to cattle diseases. This means that they rarely need to be attended to by a veterinarian. Third, they are highly intelligent and have a steady temperament, which means that they are not difficult to handle.

4. Easy to breed

Another good reason for raising Dexter cattle is that Dexters are known as "easy calving cattle". This means that they can successfully give birth without assistance and that they rarely experience any birthing difficulties. Also, the rate of live births of this type of cattle is relatively high. Because of these characteristics, Dexter bulls are often used instead of valuable heifers of larger cattle for breeding. This almost always results in larger numbers of safe, unassisted births.

5. Produce a lot of milk and meat

Raising Dexter cattle for either milk or meat can both be profitable. They are known as prolific milkers and produce a significantly higher milk yield than other breeds. Their milk is of very high quality and has high levels of protein and butterfat. The meat, on the other hand, has a pleasantly unique taste and texture that makes it suitable for boutique meat markets.

Animal Planet turns spotlight on India’s national animal Tiger

Animal Planet will bring the country’s attention on India’s majestic animal – tiger – with its special month-long programming initiative ‘Where Tigers Rule’. Bollywood actors Abhay Deol and Chitrangada Singh have joined the wildlife channel to create nationwide awareness on the threats to tigers’ survival and the acute role tigers play in balancing India’s ecosystem. The show will air every night at 8 PM from March 1 to 31, 2014.

With a few thousand tigers left in the wild, every small effort represents hope for their survival. From the breathtaking landscapes of Sundarbans to the magnificent forests of Ranthambore, ‘Where Tigers Rule’ provides an intimate look into the mysterious world of tigers. Featuring some of the leading tiger experts like Alphonse Roy, Valmik Thapar, Saba Douglas Hamilton, Dave Salmoni, Simon King, John Varty, Niall McCann, the programme showcases the elusive lifestyle of tigers and raises concern about the grave situation of the dwindling tiger population.

Through this engaging month-long line-up, Animal Planet highlights the secret lives of this private predator revealing its behaviour, predatory skills, conflict with humans, habitat destruction, poaching and conservation issues.

Rahul Johri, Senior VP and General Manager – South Asia and Head of Revenue, Pan Regional Ad Sales and Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, said, “Tiger is a symbol of wildlife wealth of India and holds an irresistible fascination due to its secretive predatory nature.  Its dwindling population is a matter of great concern. Animal Planet through its dedicated programming aims to help viewers understand and appreciate this majestic and endangered big cat.”

Abhay Deol commented, “The tiger is a supreme predator and is an indication of the well-being of our ecosystems. Saving the tiger is not just a choice, it’s our need. I am hopeful that my association with Animal Planet will help raise consciousness amongst audience in securing the future of this beautiful animal.”

Chitrangada Singh added, “We are left with very few tigers in the wild and if collective action is not taken, the most iconic animal could be wiped off the planet forever. Animal Planet’s ‘Where Tigers Rule’ is a wonderful initiative that will sensitise viewers to understand the importance of this charismatic cat.”

Now in its third year, ‘Where Tigers Rule’ has previously been supported by Ajay Devgn, Bipasha Basu and John Abraham. The cause also gained affiliation from Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, filmmaker Mike Pandey and conservationists Belinda Wright.

Some of the programmes in the line-up include:

‘Swamp Tiger’ documents the life of the most elusive of cats – the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sundarbans. Using elaborate night-sight equipment sensitive to moon and stars, the viewers will watch never-seen-before sight of a female tiger covering a carcass with leaves just before dawn and many revelations that follow.

‘Tigers Next Door’ takes a look at an intimate portrait of Sita, an Indian tigress, and her cubs in the forest of Bandhavgarh in Central India. The film analyses political changes sweeping across the nation which could mean a better future for the locals and tigers alike.

‘India – Kingdom of the Tiger’ is a historical epic depicting India from 1910 to the modern era. The film chronicles life of Jim Corbett, the famed English hunter-naturalist, as he races to save an Indian village from the terror of a man-eating tiger.

Naturalist and filmmaker John Varty and zoologist David Salmoni are the ultimate friends of these beautiful animals. ‘Living With Tigers’ follows their dynamic and ambitious programme which has been developed to reintroduce captive tigers into the wild.

‘Tiger, Hunting for a Home’ looks at some of the issues concerning the plight of tigers and how their existence or extinction impacts life around them.

INDIA CLEANS UP DIRTY ANIMAL TESTING METHODS

Last year, #India put an end to #animal testing for cosmetics, and now they’re on their way to becoming the second country to ban #animal testing for household products, such as cleaners and detergents.

With much help from PETA #India, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) decided to stop skin sensitization tests that involve rubbing harsh chemicals on #guinea #pigs’ shaved skin, and instead use non-animal testing methods including skin patch tests on humans.

#India decided to end #animal testing for household products after an extensive campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, which included appeals from high-profile politicians, as well as lengthy discussions with #PETA India’s scientist and support from PETA scientists in the U.S. and the U.K.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) committee responsible for determining testing requirements for household products, on which PETA India’s scientist has an official seat, decided in a meeting today to replace a skin sensitization test—which is currently performed by rubbing harsh chemicals into guinea pigs’ shaved skin—with non-animal testing methods followed by human skin patch tests. This move will end all #animal poisoning test requirements for cleaners, detergents and other common household products in India.

This progress comes after India’s June 2013 decision, following PETA India’s campaign, to end tests on #animals for cosmetics and their ingredients, and makes India the second country, following Israel, to end tests on #animals for household products. It also comes on the heels of bans on cosmetics testing on #animals in the European Union and Israel.

PETA India is now working to urge the Indian government to ban the sale of all animal-tested cosmetics and household products.

In New York, the Age of Horse and Buggy Has Passed (Op-Ed)

Mayor Bill de Blasio recently presented a plan to ban #horse-drawn carriages, an action that has led to an outpouring of discussion about whether or not the #carriages are a treasured tradition or a burden on the #animals in service.

The Humane Society of the United States supports the mayor's plan, and we call on the New York City Council to support his effort — and to reject the obstructionist tactics and phony arguments of the so-called Alliance for Truth.

The idea of banning the #horse-drawn #carriages — which are not used for point-to-point travel, but for sight-seeing in and around Central Park — has long been backed by the major #animal welfare groups, including The HSUS and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), which have voluntarily spent considerable resources in an attempt to oversee street and stable conditions for the #horses.

And, there have been dozens of documented accidents resulting in injuries and deaths of New York City's #carriage #horses through the years: #Horses may be easily spooked by vehicles or other loud noises and put themselves and others at risk by dashing into traffic.

The HSUS will continue to work with New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets (NYCLASS) to pass Int. 86a, legislation that would phase out #horse carriages and replace them with eco-friendly antique replica cars. Passage of the law would also bolster the local tourist economy by giving current carriage drivers the opportunity to drive electric, antique, replica "Horseless Carriages" — a win-win solution that protects both jobs and the safety and welfare of #horses and people in New York City. Other great global cities do without horse-drawn carriages, including Beijing, London and Paris.