Show Goat Success Starts In The Water Bowl

Rylee Anderson of Chillicothe demonstrates keeping a show goat in place, during a presentation on showmanship and nutrition Feb. 26th, 2023 at the Western Farm Show in Kansas City, Mo. (Kyle Hill, Alpha Ag Network)

While shears and shine can make a good show goat look great in the ring, each animal’s success begins with adequate nutrition. That’s the message MFA Livestock Specialist Greg Davis delivered Sunday at the Western Farm Show in Kansas City. Davis stressed that most issues tied to a goat’s nutrient intake can be traced to their water consumption, or lack thereof. He tells Regional Radio of a trick to encourage goats and other small ruminants to keep drinking.

Central MO Info · 23 0228 Greg Davis on Adequate Water Consumption for Show Goats

Davis adds that goats may also need their water filtered or even transported from the farm to their pen at the fair to ensure continued consumption on the road.

Central MO Info · 23 0228 Greg Davis on Making Water More Palatable for Show Goats

MFA Livestock Specialist Greg Davis says water filtration kits normally available at camping supply stores can help to make water more palatable to goats and other small ruminants.