Topics:
Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher
Definition of One Goat Unit
One goat unit comprises of:
- 30 Doe + 1 Buck
- 20 Doe + 1 Buck
- 10 Doe + 1 Buck — Correct Answer
- 30 Doe + 2 Buck
Explanation:
Correct Answer: 10 Does + 1 Buck
By standard livestock management convention, one Goat Unit = 10 Does + 1 Buck. This ratio is lower than in sheep (30 ewes per ram) because goats typically have a shorter intensive mating period and bucks may be used more selectively.
Livestock Breeding Unit Standards
| Species | Female | Male | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goat | Doe | Buck | 10 Does : 1 Buck |
| Sheep | Ewe | Ram | 30 Ewes : 1 Ram |
| Cattle | Cow | Bull | 30–40 Cows : 1 Bull (natural) |
Goat Production Facts
- Goats are seasonal breeders (short-day breeders) — peak breeding in autumn.
- Gestation period: 150 days (5 months).
- Dry matter requirement: Meat goat = 3–4% of live weight; Dairy goat = 5–7% of live weight.
- Goats are browsers (prefer shrubs/leaves) vs sheep which are grazers.
Why Other Options Are Wrong
- 30 Does + 1 Buck → this is the sheep unit ratio (30 ewes + 1 ram); not standard for goats.
- 20 Does + 1 Buck → intermediate but not the textbook standard value.
- 30 Does + 2 Bucks → incorrect combination not recognized as a standard livestock unit.
📚 About this Topic — Animal Nutrition
This multiple choice question is from Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Nutrition to strengthen your preparation.
