RADA GUIDE - How to tell the age of your goat

Record-keeping is critical for any farmer who is serious about the business of livestock.

The records of farm activities are used to make management decisions towards the successful operation and expansion of the farming operations.

In goat production, there is certain basic information that the farmer needs to know about his or her goats, one of which is the age of the animals.

The age of the animal allows the farmer to properly manage its weight gain, breeding and the general welfare of the animal.

This is evident in cases where:

• You are going to breed the animal and you need to know if it is too young.
• In giving medication, the age of the animal, along with the weight, is important.
• In instances where one wishes to ascertain the health and development of the animal.
• By a certain age, your goat should be of a particular weight, depending on the breed.
• If, however, a record of the birth date of the animal is not being done, all is not lost.

While this is not a substitute for farmers in ensuring that the birth date of each kid is noted, the teeth of the goat can be used as a guide in determining the age up to its fourth year.

Goats are born with eight teeth on the lower front jaw (incisors) and a total of 24 teeth further to the back (molars) - six on each side on the top and bottom of the jaw.

There are, however, no front teeth on the upper jaw.

Instead, the front upper jaw has a tough toothless 'dental pad'.

The age of the goat is determined by the teeth on the lower front jaw only.

At birth, all the teeth are the same small size and are referred to as the milk teeth.

During this first year, the goat is called a kid.

After the first year, the two middle ones are replaced by larger permanent teeth and the goat is now referred to as a yearling.

The following year will see an additional two larger teeth replacing the milk teeth next to the middle pair.

This indicates that the goat is now two years old.

By the fourth year, the goat now has six permanent teeth and is now three years old.

After the last set of permanent teeth is replaced, by the fourth year the goat now has six permanent teeth and is now three years old.

After the last set of permanent teeth is replaced, the goat is now four years of age.

When all the milk teeth have been replaced by permanent ones, it now becomes difficult to tell the age of your goat.

Farmers should, therefore, ensure that birth records are kept, as this is the only sure way of determining the age of your goats.