Goats Take Naturally To Life On Trail
Though the goat is gaining in popularity as a pack animal, it is still sort of a well-kept secret. Here are some things the neophyte goat backpacker should know to get started along the trail:
Like all pack animals, goats have positive and negative attributes. On the positive side, they can negotiate rugged terrain inaccessible to any other pack animals, including llamas. They are easy to handle and feed, and are about 35 percent to 40 percent more efficient than horses at converting feed to work. They create less of an impact on the environment and provide pleasant company on the trail (they love to sit around the campfire).
Endurance is a problem. A pack horse can pack up to 30 miles in a day while the average pack goat has a maximum range of about 15 miles.
Horses can carry loads up to 150 pounds; goats considerably less. Conservatively, the load-weight ratio is 25 percent to 30 percent, so a 200-pound wether can carry 50-60 pounds. In addition, goats sometimes overheat when working in hot weather.
The best kind of goat is a wether, but the average goat can make a good pack animal with a day or two of training.
A long-legged goat will have much less trouble crossing streams and pulling a sled, and can generally cover more miles in a day.
The difference between an excellent packer and a mediocre or poor packer is mostly a matter of the individual goat. Bottle-fed kids generally develop the best personalities for packing. A lot must be said for gentle human contact, from kidhood through adulthood. If you abuse a goat early, the memory sticks. A goat tends to fight back rather than run when threatened or abused.
The best breeds are those with long legs, big bones and calmness. The most successful breeds for packing are Alpine, Oberhasli, Saanen, Toggenberg and La Mancha.
John Mionczynski, a Wyoming outfitter/guide who started experimenting with goats as pack animals 22 years ago, is considered the father of goat packing. His book, “The Pack Goat,” is a great resource book.