Criteria for Kiko breeding stock re- placement selection begins with the eval- uation of environmental effects on production. Health status of the individual goat (and the goats within the mob) plays a major role in longevity, ability to maintain body condition score and build resilience/re- sistance to internal parasitism. Consider maintaining a closed herd and practice in- tense farm biosecurity.
The young doelings are initially se- lected at weaning (three months of age) for the possibility of being retained for the future breeding mob. They must be a twin, average or above average birthweight and weaning weight, two teats (correct placement and size), a perfect bite, functioning 3rd
eyelid,
structurally sound feet and legs and correct/consistent body conformation. As the individuals approach 8 months of age they are re-evaluated: a body con- dition score of 4 to 6 must be maintained (based on a scoring of 1 – thin and a 9 – obese), and structural soundness/conforma- tion evident.
Final selection criteria for a yearling is based upon structurally correct feet, pasterns and sturdy legs, the angle of the shoulder at 46 degrees to 52 degrees, width across the withers and rump and depth of heart girth at
or below the elbow.
Spring of rib is vital as is depth and width of chest floor. To enhance kidding (parturition) and eliminate dystocia, a 5 de- gree to 7 degree angle of the pelvic cradle is desired. Bodyweight during this growth period is approximately 90-100 pounds and body condition score should be between a 5 and 6.
If an individual has a hard time main- taining that score, they are culled. These doe- lings must be athletic, aggressive browsers (always looking for the next bush) and have a pleasing disposition.
The doelings, bred to kid as a two-year- old, are expected to navigate long distances across rugged topography while browsing and grazing native vegetation. They need body capacity for the rumen and twin fetuses, structurally correct legs and feet for peregri- nation and chest capacity for lungs with in- creased intake volume. Fullness of hindquarter, inside rear leg muscling and depth of twist are also as- sessed. By waiting to breed as 18-month- olds, the doelings better accommodate a 36-day breeding season, calcium and phos- phorus deposition in their long bones is aug- mented, the immune system becomes highly functional and longevity within the breeding
mob is increased.
Does are culled for breakdown of feet and legs, not twinning or not raising twins, poor motherability and/or poor milkability, unsound udder conformation and a rapidly diminishing, hard to regain body condition score.
The udder of Kiko meat goats browsing under harsh conditions needs a tight fore and rear attachment, internal residual milk capac- ity and two teats correctly spaced and shaped. As the does dry off after weaning kids, the udder should become compact and tight against the abdominal wall to prevent damage from dense vegetation. Young bucklings are screened at weaning (3 months of age), 8 months, as yearlings and selected as a major herd sire at 2 years of age.
The bucks are selected on many of the same rigid conformation standards as the fe- males — structure of feet, legs and pasterns, width across the withers and rump, length and width of back and loin, depth of heart girth and depth and width of chest floor, as well as both the shoulder and pelvic angles and expressed muscle definition of the hind- quarter and inside hind leg. A pear-shaped scrotum that is not split containing firm testicles of equal size and two teats are major criteria.
As yearlings, herd sire potentials are bred to a select number of does. Before final “seedstock” selections are completed, progeny profiles are carefully reviewed and evaluated.
Other criteria used to help make major Kiko breeding stock replacement selection decisions include evaluation of environmen- tal effects, health status, carcass data analy- sis, pedigree and progeny profile data, breeding values and performance, heritability and repeatability of genotypic and pheno- typic traits, genetic prediction(s) and the use of sire summaries. Be ruthless in culling. Putting selection pressure on both the does and bucks, over time, will enhance breeding stock quality and performance for meat production. Kiko meat goats are an economically and ecologically sound enter- prise. They enhance land productivity, en- courage vegetative biodiversity and hang a very high-quality carcass.
(Dr. An Peischel, PhD, is the retired Small Ruminant Extension Specialist, Ten- nessee State University and the University of Tennessee. She was the first importer of Kikos into the U.S. She can be contacted at
goatsunlimited@gmail.com.)
34 Goat Rancher | May 2026
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