Consider | Suite101.com

This is a reminder of some basic goat social principals, in the hope that you will think of them when arranging or altering your goats' herd situations. Sometimes we get so preoccupied with what is most convenient or appealing to us that we forget how our actions will affect the emotional state of our animals.

First, what every person who sets foot near, talks about, or considers purchasing goats needs to know...goats belong in herds. It may appear that goats are sufficiently equipped to defend themselves without the safety of numbers, and indeed, their physical characteristics and intelligence provide them with a great deal more confidence in solitary situations than, say, a sheep; but, in the end, goats know they are just chevon on legs and thousands of years of living in groups has instilled in them the strong survival instict of seeking companionship. So for your sake and your charges', don't keep a goat alone.

Certain unique situations call for an isolated caprine--quaranteen, herd bucks, and companion animals are examples--but keep in mind that none of those examples are natural (even outcast bucks will soon join a new herd), and the animal does not understand their cause. To prevent the crying, escaping, stereotypical, and stress-related behaviors that can accompany such arrangements, avoid them at all costs. Buy new goats and keep bucks in pairs whenever possible. House weak or injured animals with your calmest doe--a sibling or dam, ideally. And failing another goat, provide any solitary pet with some other animal with which they can bond, such as a sheep or horse.

After your goats have established a herd is when things start getting complicated for you. Once hierarchys, peer groups, and bonds have been established, you need to figuratively walk on eggshells to avoid unintentionally collapsing the entire structure.

The animal you should be most careful about, as their presence or absense in the herd affects every single member, is the alpha. Be in an older doe, a buck, or a bellwether, you'd better know the animal by name and observe how it interacts with its inferiors. If you have any respect for the emotions of the animals under your care, do not just toss the alpha into isolation for being "pushy."

Remember what dominance means to the herd. Every individual looks up to the queen. They have a healthy respect for her, true, and depending on their position in the herd hierarchy, they may keep a distance...but they still trust her. The queen gets the first choice of all resources, not because she is "mean," but because she deserves them, she has earned her place through rigorous testing and demonstration. She must also spend her time looking out for the rest of the herd. She is a watchdog and a guardian, a mother and a peacekeeper. She keeps the herd operating efficiently. With force, perhaps, but you can trust that any force the alpha uses is called for...and often, the so called aggression that a dominant goat uses to keep others in check is far less harmful than the squabbling among similarly ranked individuals. She knows best and you should have faith in her. Watch before you judge. Know before you act.