What are the requirements for building a Boer goat shed?

The Boer goat is native to South Africa and is currently a famous meat goat breed in the world with a large build, fast growth and development, and good meat quality. It mainly includes the ordinary Boer goat, the long-haired Boer goat, the polled Boer goat, the native Boer goat and the improved Boer goat. The Boer goat has large, long ears, a thick head, and a noticeably raised forehead. The head and ears are brown, with a colored hair band from the middle of the forehead to the tip of the nose, and a certain number of brown spots are allowed. The neck is thick. Both males and females have horns; the male's horns are wide and curve backward and downward, while the female's horns are small and curve upward and outward. The body is white and rectangular, with a broad, deep chest, well-sprung ribs, a broad, thick and straight back and loin, well-developed hindquarters, thick legs, and full muscles, giving it an excellent meat-type body shape. Areas of skin not covered by hair have pigmentation.

1. Boer goat shed construction. The goat shed should be selected on high, dry ground with good drainage and facing the sun. The floor of the goat shed should be more than 20 cm above the ground. Building materials should be sourced locally. The overall requirements are sturdiness, warmth and good ventilation. The area of the goat shed can be determined according to the scale of raising; generally, 1.0-2.0 sq m should be guaranteed per goat. Each goat pen should not hold too many goats, otherwise it is very difficult to manage and increases the chance of disease transmission. When there are many goats, for convenient feeding and management, a keeper's passage should be set up, with both sides separated by iron bars or wooden poles, and the goats stick their heads out from the railing to eat or drink when feeding and drinking. The height of the goat shed depends on its area; if it is an enclosed goat shed, the height should take into account the area exposed to sunlight. In the management of the goat shed, remember the principles of "muddy pigs, clean goats", "goats do not lie in damp places" and "a warm pen adds three fen of fat", and disinfect regularly. For a larger scale of raising, a birthing room with warming equipment should be provided, preferably a heated kang.

2. Exercise yard. An exercise yard should be set up close to the entrance and exit of the goat shed, and the exercise yard should also be on high, dry ground with good drainage. The area of the exercise yard can be determined by the number of goats, but it must be larger than the goat shed, with the principle of ensuring sufficient activity for the goats. The exercise yard should be enclosed with a wall, with trees planted around it, and there should be a place for shade and shelter from rain in summer.

3. Feeding troughs. A trough that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom can be built with cement, with a top width of about 30 cm and a depth of about 25 cm. Cement troughs are convenient for watering, but they are not good when they freeze in winter, and they are also not easy to clean and disinfect. Feeding troughs made of wooden boards can be moved, overcoming the shortcomings of cement troughs. The length can be determined by the number of goats, following the principle of being convenient to move, clean and disinfect. The corridor inside the shed is about 130 cm wide. Exercise yard wall height: 130 cm for Small-tailed Han sheep; 160 cm for goats. Area of each goat pen: 480×450 cm2. Corresponding to each pen, set a rear window with an area of 80×80 cm2. Corresponding to each pen, set a switchable vent cap on the ridge. Floor area per goat: breeding ram 1.5-2.0 sq m per head; non-pregnant ewe 0.8-1.0 sq m per head; pregnant or lactating ewe 2.0-2.3 sq m per head; young goat 0.5-0.6 sq m per head.