I hear this question from many people. How long do goats live? It must matter to them, although I wonder why.
In my opinion, there are very rarely some goats that live too long in my herd. Most do not live long enough. Sometimes this opinion depends on what is happening that day.
Drucilla
My Nubian doe High Reaches Silk’s Drucilla looks so old now. This is not surprising since she is old. It happens that way.
When people get old, they start looking old. Of course, some people do their medical best to pretend they aren’t getting older. Goats can’t do that.
Once upon a time, Drucilla was a cute kid. I had to really go back in the archives to find her baby pictures.
Taking Pictures
Since I first got a digital camera, I’ve tried to take pictures of all my goats several times a year. They are not impressed by my desire to get a picture. There are many times I see the perfect pose, raise the camera and see a goat butt.
Since the pictures are all stored on flash keys, I don’t look at them often. Partly, I suppose, is that looking through them reminds me I am getting old too. And I miss many of the goats in the pictures.
Seeing Changes
Looking at pictures of the same goats over many years, I can see how they change. Bucks and does age differently.
A buck takes almost three years to get to his full height. Another year goes by before he is finished filling out. He lives life in the fast lane after that.
A doe finishes growing in about two years. She fills out the next year. Although many goat owners breed their does before their first birthday, I prefer not to.
Whether or not early breeding affects their growth depends on the doe. My experience is that most does bred early are much slower finishing their growth and don’t seem to quite get as big as they might have otherwise.
How Long Do Goats Live?
Goats get sick. They have accidents. Dogs may attack them. So many things can cut their lives short.
Drucilla is lucky? She has survived to old age. Her teeth are going bad. She has occasional seizures. Her legs are stiff. The herd has moved her down into last place in the pecking order.
She is fourteen.
To answer the question: Bucks usually live ten to twelve years. Does live twelve to fifteen years. If they are lucky?