The domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) is a common livestock animal known for producing milk, meat, and fiber. Animal husbandry uses specific vocabulary to describe goats based on their age and sex. Understanding this terminology is important for anyone communicating about these animals. The proper names for young goats are distinct from the terms used for adults.
Proper Names for Young Goats
The universal term for a young goat is a “kid,” used from birth until the animal approaches one year of age. The act of a female goat giving birth is formally described as “kidding.”
For specific communication, gender-specific terms are used. A young female goat is known as a “doeling,” and a young, intact male goat is called a “buckling.” These terms distinguish them from their adult counterparts: the adult female “doe” and the adult male “buck.”
Key Characteristics of Early Goat Life
The first moments of a kid’s life demonstrate a remarkable pace of development and instinctual behavior. A healthy newborn kid is capable of standing within the first 30 to 60 minutes after birth. Immediately following, the kid will instinctively seek out its mother to nurse, a process where it must consume the first milk, known as colostrum, ideally within the first two hours. Colostrum is packed with antibodies that provide the newborn with passive immunity against disease.
Kids are known for their active, vocal, and playful nature, which is a sign of their quick growth rate. For larger breeds, a kid should be gaining approximately six to eight ounces daily during the first two months of life. Bucklings tend to grow more rapidly and are generally heavier than doelings.
The transition from a milk-only diet begins quickly, as kids will start exploring and nibbling on hay or feed as early as one to two weeks of age. This early consumption of roughage helps stimulate the development of their rumen, the largest stomach compartment. While kids may be physically able to be weaned as early as six to eight weeks, most experts recommend waiting until they are 12 to 16 weeks old. This extended nursing period helps reduce stress and ensures the kid has reached a weight of at least two to three times its birth weight before fully transitioning to a solid diet.