Everything You Need to Know About Gulabi Goats
This week's post is a guest post from Teddy Dondanville, a freelance writer from Albany, NY.
Goats are becoming a super practical way for farmers and homesteaders to create a steady supply of meat and dairy products (especially for those of us with cow milk allergies). Compared to the typical source of red meat and dairy, goats take up less space and are more affordable than cattle.
When it comes to animals that can provide you with the two-for-one, meat and milk combination, Gulabi Goats are a strong option. Plus, the Gulabi’s super interesting physical appearance provides a unique, endearing quality compared to other goats.
Keep reading if you are interested in learning about Gulabi goats. Below, I will discuss the origins of the Gulabi breed, what makes them unique, and typical tips for raising Gulabis:
What are Gulabi Goats, and Where Did They Come From?
Behavioral and Physical Characteristics of Gulabi Goats
Buying and Selling Gulabi Goats
Raising Gulabi Goats
Common Problems Associated with Raising Gulabi Goats
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What Are Gulabi Goats?
A Gulabi goat, also sometimes referred to as a Gulabi Pateri goat, is a breed of domestic goat. The name Gulabi translates to “pink” and is in reference to the goat's typical distinctive pink skin, especially in the ears.
Modern-day Gulabi goats are products of a long line of breeding and cultural heritage.
Four other goat breeds comprise a Gulabi– Beetal, Rajhanpuri, Pateri, and the Kamori. All four breeds are also popular as domesticated animals, each is commonly raised for their meat and milk.
Where Did the Gulabi Goat Come From?
The Gulabi breed of goat comes from the Middle East. Specifically, the Gulabi can be traced back to the Sindh Province, Pakistan, where the goat was first domesticated for meat and milk production.
Gualbi goats are also commonly raised in countries like Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar, Iran, and India.
Interestingly, in countries like Pakistan, the Gulabi goat is not raised, bought, and sold as a sacrificial animal. Instead, Gulabi goats are raised as a sign of wealth and social status. For that reason, Gulabi goats come with high price tags in the Middle East.
Key Behavioral Characteristics of the Gulabi Goat
Due to a long line of domestication, Gulabi goats are known for being relatively mild-tempered. They are friendly with humans as well as other goats. Like most other goat breeds, Gulabi goats can be curious and playful.
Gulabi goats are also pretty intelligent. Despite their appearance, some breeds of goats have shown unique forms of intelligence. A Gulabi goat’s cleverness lends to them to being well-trainable.
What Do Gulabi Goats Look Like?
Gulabi goats are much more well-known for their physical appearance than their behavioral characteristics. In general, Gulabi goats are large in stature. They typically have a white color and pink skin. Their white hair, along with pink skin, is what gives them an overall soft pink appearance, hence their name.
One of the most identifiable characteristics of Gulabi goats is the nose. A Gulabi goat has a pronounced “Roman nose.”
This means the nasal structure of the goat’s nose bulges outward (convex) rather than inward (concave). Gulabi noses are typically pinkish in color.
The second most identifiable physical characteristic of Gulabi goats is their ears. Gulabi goat ears are incredibly long and wide, similar to basset hound ears. In some goats, the ears can hang past the point of their shoulder.
Most Gulabi goats have a pronounced fringe around their necks. Gulabi goat horns are flat and low. Typically, the horns and hooves are white in color. In addition, Gulabi goat tails are also white in color with pink underlying skin.
What Are Gulabi Goats Raised For?
Like most other Goat breeds, Gulabi goats are “dual-purpose,” meaning that they are raised both for their meat and milk. When young and healthy, most dairy goats can produce six to eight pounds (three to five quarts) of milk per day, although this number fluctuates based on breed. Most Gulabi goats can be milked twice a day.
Due to their larger size, Gulabi goats are also raised for their meat. A fully grown, 18-month-old male Gulabi goat can produce up to 70 kilograms (~155 pounds) of meat.
Compared to other types of red meat like beef, goat meat is leaner, lower in saturated fats and cholesterol, and high in iron. Like other high-quality goat meats, Gulabi meat has a strong, gamey flavor. Typically, goat meat is sweeter than lamb but not as sweet as beef.
In the Middle East, Gulabi goats are also raised for their uniqueness and beauty, referencing the socioeconomic status of their owners. Similarly, in the United States, Gulabi goats are raised simply for standout appearance and as interesting attractions in petting zoos.
Where to Find Gulabi Goats for Sale
Finding Gulabi goats for sale may be a tricky endeavor, especially in the United States. In all honesty, I struggled to find a reputable U.S.-based webpage for information regarding the buying and selling of Gulabi goats.
However, multiple Gulabi goat farms (on Facebook and Instagram) popped up for the sale of Gulabi goats overseas.
In terms of prices, prices will fluctuate wildly depending on where you are in the world. For example, according to a 2022 article from the Arab News, pristine Gulabi goats can cost upwards of $12,000.
Regardless of where you buy your goats, make sure to do your due diligence. Always avoid buying goats that are still nursing. In addition, always make sure to buy from a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders should have a strong track record and fiar prices, as well as paperwork for important medical vaccinations.
How to Raise Gulabi Goats
Raising Gualabi goats is a lot like raising other types of goats. Their health and longevity will depend on your ability to provide them with a proper home, feed and water, and other maintenance tasks.
Provide the Correct Environment
The Gulabi goat breed comes from a relatively dry and arid environment. Therefore, for Gulabi goats to be comfortable, you will need to replicate their natural environment as much as possible.
This means providing your goats with ample space to forage and exercise as well as a shelter where they can stay warm and dry.
Decide Between Open Housing or Confinement Housing
Open housing, also known as loose housing, is a management practice that provides your goats with protection from weather elements while also providing them access to an open pasture.
On the other hand, confinement housing is a practice that confines goats within a structure while also having a separate adjacent outdoor space that can be used for exercise.
No management practice is better than the other– they each come with their own pros and cons. Deciding which management strategy you want to deploy for your goats is more about which one you know you can execute better so your goats can live happy and healthy lives.
Feed Your Goats Properly
Proper nutrition is essential for a herd of Gulabi gots. What your goats require in terms of feed will vary based on the age and size of the herd and the foraging space you can provide.
Generally speaking, a goat's diet should consist of fresh forage and high-quality hay. Good hay is characterized by a soft, green, and dry appearance and sweet-smelling odor. The hay should be free of mold and excessive dust.
In addition, goats that have a higher energy requirement, like those that are growing, pregnant, or lactating, may require supplemental concentrates or grain. You can feed concentrate once or twice a day. It’s important to separate goats based on their consumption needs to avoid competition.
Provide Mineral Supplements
Extra minerals are as important for sheep - as they are for goats. Free-choice minerals should be available to your goats at all times. Always only select minerals formulated for goats. Provide your goats with minerals via a feeding tube or bowl mounted to the wall or fence in their allocated housing area.
In addition to hay, concentrates, and minerals, it’s important to provide your goats with baking soda that they can snack on. Baking soda helps them regulate the pH in their ruminant digestive system.
Allow Free Access to Water
Clean drinking water and adequate hydration are vital for your goat’s health. You must provide free access to water for your goats at all times.
Common Issues Raising Gulabi Goats
The issues you may run into raising Gulabi goats are similar to those of raising other domesticated breeds of goat. In general, challenges with your goats’ health and managing their living conditions should be at the forefront when considering how to avoid issues when raising Gulabi goats.
Sickness and Disease
Most notably, issues related to disease and parasites are the most common. In goat production, every case of disease results in productivity losses, be it meat or milk. Sickness can cause symptoms like diarrhea, weight loss, weakness, fever, anemia, and even depression.
To prevent sickness and disease, it’s critical to treat your goats before they get sick. For example, always ensure your goats are properly vaccinated. In terms of parasites, the best strategy to deploy is to put your goats on a parasite-prevention medication plan (i.e., deworming) before any parasitism can make your herd sick.
Inadequate Fencing
Of all the domesticated animals you can raise, goats are the most notorious for getting out. That’s because they are so cunning and curious. Therefore, when raising Gulabi goats, you want to ensure you have adequate fencing.
Fencing for goats is similar to fencing for sheep. The most effective fencing for goats is woven wire or fixed knot fencing. This fencing is strong and won't collapse. Plus, the panels are small enough so that small goats and kids cannot get stuck.
Neglecting Routine Care
Raising Gulabi goats is a lot of work. It requires ongoing care and maintenance. To properly raise Gulabi goats, you need to adhere to a strict protocol of regular maintenance to ensure your goats remain healthy. Tasks like trimming, grooming, deworming, watering and feeding, and other medical-related tasks are pivotal for your goats’ longevity.
Not Enough Space
When it comes to space, the more, the better. However, sometimes space is hard to come by. Therefore, you should only ever raise enough Gualbi goats with enough space to keep them healthy and happy. Always avoid overcrowding.
Gulabi goats kept in confinement barns require 15 square feet per animal. Individual stalls need to be at least six- square feet. Regarding an outdoor space for exercise, you should strive to provide 25 square feet per animal.
Not Enough Ventilation
In confinement housing management practices, inadequate ventilation is a common problem. Inadequate air exchange can cause respiratory problems from the respiration of gases from manure, mold, dust, and excessive moisture.
Natural ventilation is the simplest and most reliable. However, extra mechanical ventilation may be required depending on your specific housing scenario.
Final Thoughts
The Gulabi goat is a super unique breed of goat originally from Pakistan but is now more commonly raised in other parts of the world. Gulabi goats are popular because they are dual-purpose– they can provide high-quality meat and cheese. Plus, they look extremely unique and are raised as show animals.
Like other goat breeds, the Gulabi goat is clever and curious. They are relatively intelligent and trainable, making for good pets. In terms of raising, Gulabi goats require all of the same things other goat breeds also do, like adequate space and ventilation, feed and water, a medical prevention and treatment plan, and routine maintenance.
So, if you want to add goats to your homestead in 2024, why not consider Gulabi goats?
Pro tip: not enough room? Just try pygmy goats!
Want to learn more about raising sheep and goats? Check out these featured articles!
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