“Packgoats are the premier pack animals on the planet,” said Dwite Sharp, who breeds, raises and trains packgoats in Morris County, Kansas. Goats raised to be pack animals are used for backpacking, camping and other outdoor recreational activities. Although does may be used, packgoats are usually wethers, or castrated male goats.”
Source: Midwest Ag Journal, August 29, 2016.
One of the biggest challenges for goat owners is finding a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about goats, Sharp said. ‘There’s a lot of well-meaning vets who try but don’t understand the physiology of goats, and instead they treat them like cattle.’
Wethers are susceptible to urinary calculi, which block the goat’s urinary tract and can cause bladder ruptures. Sharp said there is misinformation about how to prevent urinary calculi and correct the condition.
INSIGHTS: There are several benefits to using pack goats rather than traditional pack animals. It will be fun to watch this use of goats develop.