BDN interviews Knight about backyard goats
The Bangor Daily News spoke with Colt Knight, a UMaine Extension assistant professor and state livestock specialist, for the article, “What to know before adding backyard goats.” The first thing that someone should consider when adding goats is that — like any other animal — you need to have the time and ability to take care of them daily, according to Knight. “Like any [animal], goats need to be cared for every day, whether there is 3 feet of snow or it is 95 degrees out,” he said. This daily care requirement also requires frequent visual check-ins to make sure the goats, which Knight likened to escape artists, haven’t broken from their enclosure, the article states. Goats are ruminant animals, meaning they are able to digest cellulose such as grass, hay and weeds, Knight said, which makes them great animals for clearing land or pasture. A sturdy wire, woven or electric fence are best to prevent goats from escaping, he said.