How to Keep Goats Cool in the Summer
If you have hot goats, then this list of tips on how to keep goats cool in the summer is just what you and your goats need.
Get the help you know for how to raise dairy goats in the summer and all year long.
It’s summertime, and that means it’s hot. For people and animals alike. If you have goats, you might be looking for ideas on how to keep them cooler.
Goats can easily overheat especially when temperatures soar too high, and it’s important for us as goat owners to take extra care of them during the warm weather months.
Luckily, the help we can give is easy to do and might just make your goat herd more comfortable throughout those dog days of summer.
What temperature is too hot for goats?
Goats can generally tolerate warmer temperatures; how much heat depends on the goat’s age and health of the goat. As long as you have a place for them to go to get out of the hot sun, they can do fine in temperatures of 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have a stretch of 90-100+ degree days, however, you will want to watch your herd for signs of heat stress.
What is heat stress in goats?
Heat stress is when the body cannot get rid of excess heat. This can cause the heartbeat to speed up, causing stress on the heart. Signs of heat stress can range from panting and labored breathing to going off feed, having no interest in grazing, and being lethargic.
To prevent heat stress, it is a good idea to have help and relief for your herd so they can better handle the hot summer.
Do goats handle heat well?
Goats can handle the heat better than sheep. It is also said that if your goats have floppy ears or loose skin they will handle the heat better than other breeds.
The key is to have healthy and hardy animals. If you promote their health year round they will do well in weather that is less than ideal.
Be sure to grab the FREE Goat Health Checklist Below!
Remember to be proactive with your herd, and always call your veterinarian if you have any issues with one or more of your goats.
How to Keep a Goat Cool in the Summer
I like to offer relief before the weather gets hot so my goats are able to acclimate to the weather changes. These tips range from simple to a bit more involved.
Provide Multiple Shaded Areas
The most important step to keeping goats cool in the summer is providing plenty of shaded areas out in the pasture. Goats can overheat when exposed to direct sunlight for too long, so make sure your goats have plenty of shady areas throughout their pasture or pen.
If needed, you can invest in a portable canopy or some other type of sun-blocking material that you can hang up in an area of your goat’s enclosure.
When buying or building a shelter, you will want it to be open, meaning it only has a top but no sides. This will allow airflow to create a cooler space.
Benefits of shade trees
Shade trees are a natural way to provide cooler areas for your herd in the pasture.
There is one thing to remember when relying on trees for shade: your goats may be tempted to eat the bark, causing permanent damage to the tree.
To protect your trees, you can put a fence around the base, being sure it is far enough out to keep the tree safe, yet close enough so your herd can rest underneath.
Another option is to wrap a layer of mesh tree trunk wrap. I have never tried this, so I am not sure how well it will work to keep goats from damaging the bark of a tree.
How to create an artificial shade area
If you don’t have any natural shade trees, you can DIY a shady area for your goats to rest in. This is like a canopy mentioned above but make with a tarp and stakes.
Just be sure to have things high enough, so your goats cannot reach the tarp and chew on it. This option can be a quick fix that can bring relief to your herd.
One year, we hung a board off the end of our goat’s shelter, and this worked great, giving just a bit of shade in the summer.
Barn Fans
Stale and stagnant air can make the inside of a barn feel stuffy and very hot. Fans can be useful as they can move the air around, keeping things clean and fresh for your goats to breathe.
Fans can also be used to help circulate air throughout their pens and create a more comfortable environment for them.
Benefits of using fans in the summer heat
Using fans in your goat’s enclosure can be a great way to keep them cool during hot summer days. Fans will help circulate air throughout their pen and create an overall cooler environment.
It is important to ensure the fans are placed in areas with good ventilation so they don’t blow directly on your goats, as this could cause discomfort and distress.
Pasture Shelters
Another great way to keep your goats cool in the summer is by installing a pasture shelter. Pasture shelters provide a shady, well-ventilated area within your goat’s enclosure that gives them a place to rest and escape from the hot weather.
Benefits of having a shelter in the field
Having a shelter in the field can provide many benefits for your goats. It will give them a cool, shaded area to escape from the sun and allow them to stay out of the mud and damp grass during rainy days.
A shelter will allow them to rest more comfortably in all seasons, keeping them cool, dry, and free of dampness and muck.
How to construct a simple shelter
Building a shelter for your goats doesn’t have to be complicated. You can construct a simple shelter using scrap wood you may have lying around, planks from pallets, a tarp, or even sheet metal.
When constructing your pasture shelter, be sure it is large enough for all of your goats and provides plenty of ventilation. A slanted roof will help divert rainwater from the enclosure and keep your goats dry during rainy days.
Frozen Treats
Frozen treats are a great way to help keep your goats cool during hot summer days. You can freeze cut up fruit in water using a plastic bowl or other container.
Put the frozen snack in a feed bowl and let your goats lick and chew on them. Our goats love frozen banana slices or frozen apple peels and will come running whenever I have them in my hands!
Extra Water
Offering extra water during hot weather is a must for keeping goats cool. Make sure to provide plenty of clean, fresh drinking water at all times, as dehydration can be dangerous for goats.
I like to give fresh water a few times a day in the summer to make sure the water is cool and not too warm. Goats are pretty picky and will ignore warm water even if they are thirsty.
If you have access to a hose, you can invest in an automatic waterer for your goats and other livestock. This is a convenient way to stay on top of this daily chore.
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Ice Cubes
Ice cubes are a great way to entice your goats to drink more water. Goats are so curious that a few ice cubes will be enough to get them to poke their noses in the water to see what the cubes are!
Shave your goats
Too much fur can keep a goat hotter in the summer. To help, you can use clippers to shave your goats at the beginning of the summer.
We shave our goats in May, and by fall, their fur is back just in time for the cooler months. Shaving is also a good tip for raising dairy goats, as it will give you cleaner milk with fewer stray hairs floating around the milk stall.
Shade, pasture shelters, frozen treats, extra water, ice cubes, and haircuts are all excellent ways to help keep your goats cool when temperatures rise. Remember that it is always best to consult with a veterinarian if you see any of your goats showing signs of heat stress.
With a few of these simple steps, you can make sure that your goats are well taken care of during the hot summer months!
