Recordkeeping on the Homestead: Goats

Life seems to move faster during the warm part of the year - spring, summer and fall. From homesteading tasks to my part-time work-mostly-at-home job, my days are full.

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In spite of not having enough hours in my day, keeping records on my livestock is important to me. Perhaps it is to you too?

But record-keeping depends on, you know, keeping records. If I don't write something down, I will probably forget it.

Ok, let's be honest and just forget about the "probably" part.

How I keep records for my goats

I tried carrying a small spiral notebook in my pocket, but it didn't work well for me. I kept losing my pen, and I hated that the papers got bent up and dirty. 

I tried, really I did, but it just wasn't working.

So my current method is this: when noteworthy things happen outside, I write quick notes on my phone, such as "Phoenix bred," "goats dewormed," "gave CDT shots."

The speech-to-text app is wonderful when it's too sunny to see the phone screen, and sometimes taking a photo with my phone is a good-enough reminder of what happened.

When I go back indoors, I write the notes in my weekly planner.

I also write down farrier and vet appointments, trips to the feed store and when we buy hay. You can't figure out how much you spend on feed or how much hay you need to buy to last the winter if you don't keep records!

Then in the winter, when life slows down a bit (no weeds in the garden to pull!) and I can spend more time indoors than out, I sit down and transfer all of these notes to their appropriate places in my livestock notebooks. Since they are highlighted, they are easy to spot in my planner.

The goat records notebook

I have a notebook for the goats which holds registration papers and several forms for each goat.

You can download these free forms further down in this post. These are pdf forms that can be printed out or saved to your computer.

Goat printable forms

First is the goat ID form, with spaces for purchase information, color, pedigree, etc, and a place to add a photo. I have one of these forms for each of my goats.

The second page is the medical record form. 

Use this one to note the date kids were born, when they were disbudded and by whom, when vaccines were given, when the goat was dewormed, and any injuries or illnesses and how they were treated.

This medical record form isn't goat-specific so you can use it for dogs, cats, horses or any other animals you might have.

I also have a kidding record page for each of my does. This page keeps track of the date the doe was bred, when she kidded, how many kids she had and when.

This form helps me see that a doe might have a pattern of kidding a few days early or a few days late, or whether she had any problems with kidding.

I also write down whether I need to milk out her very thick colostrum so her kids could nurse more easily, or that she's an outstanding mother (or not).

I use one line for each kid, rather than one line per year.

Next is the Record of Progeny form for each of my bucks.

Use one sheet per buck to record which does he was bred to each year, how many buck and doe kids were born, and any other notes you want to keep.

Breeding season records

When breeding season arrives, I write down the dates when my does were bred and used this due date calculator to figure out their due dates, which range from March 12-19 this year.

In past years I've done it both ways. I've had them all kid at once, and I've had kidding season strung out over several weeks and even months.

I much prefer to have the kids all due at once, even though it can get pretty crazy for a week or so. That's when I'm most thankful for my planner and my quick and easy method of record-keeping.

It happens to nearly all of us who own goats - occasionally a buck gets in the doe pen when he isn't supposed to be there. If and when that happens, that date goes in my weekly planner too. It might end up being an "oops" breeding and I want to know when any kids might be due.

Free printable forms for you

These pdf forms are free for you to print and use. You may print as many as you need for your own use. They aren't cute or fancy, but they serve their purpose: keeping track of things that need to be kept track of.

These forms are copyrighted. They are free for your personal use, but do not sell them or include them in a body of work that you sell. And if you know someone who would benefit from using them, please send them here to this post so they can download them too.

Click the image for your printable forms.

You'll find all my goat-related posts here.

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Related Posts:
Part Two: Recordkeeping on the Homestead
10 Must-Have Items for Goatkeepers
How Changing My Milking Routine Changed My Life
What's in My Goat First-Aid Kit

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