Why kiko goats?
About the kiko breed
01
Established as a breed in 1986, "Kiko" comes from the Maori word meaning meat or flesh. This breed of meat goat was selectively breed from wild goats in New Zealand and crossed with various domestic breeds of meat and dairy goats to create the Kikos we know today. These genetics were introduced to the United States in the 1990s. Kikos are a performance breed of goat. At 10-Fourteen Farms, this means registration of an animal is based on: growth weight; parasite resistance; mothers maternal instinct, udder attachement, and performance; teat correctness (1X1); genetics; and overall hardiness. No set standard for color, body shape, or horns exists for this breed. The Kikos here at 10-Fourteen Farms come in every color and shape. Two main registers exist in the United States for Kiko goats: National Kiko Registry (NKR) and American Kiko Goat Association (AKGA). Seed stock at 10-Fourteen Farms is registered with NKR, AKGA, or both. Kiko goats are sold using four distinct classifications: 100% New Zealand (direct genetic descendant from orignal imported animals), Purebred (greater than 93.5% or 15/16 direct descendant from orignal imported animals), Percentage (greater than 50% or 1/2 direct descendant from orignal imported animals) and Commercial. Commercial animals are those sold without registration papers: either the link to parentage is not verifiable or the animal does not meet the breeders criterion for registration.
what makes kikos unique?
02
Parasite resistance
Descendant from wild goat herds in New Zealand, Kiko goats have maintained a natural resistance to internal parasites through careful breed managament.
Less Parasites = Greater Profitability
maternal instinct
Kiko goats are natural mothers. Twin and triplet births are common. With genetic traces of dairy breeds, Kikos produce sufficient milk to support multiple births with minimal requirement to bottle feed kids.
hardiness
Kiko Goats trive in adverse weather conditions. Orginally placed in hot, humid climates in the southern United States, cold climates are just starting to see the benefits of this amazing breed.
growth rate
Kiko goat kids are known for exceptional growth rates without the need for expensive grain inputs. Throw these kids on pasture with hay, mineral, and water, and watch them grow.
multipurpose
Kiko goats are more than a meat breed. These vigourous goats attack weeds, trees, and brush making them a perfect dual purpose breed for land management. Some producers even use Kikos as dairy goats!
MAINTENANCE
Overall, Kiko goats require less maintance than traditional meat breeds: expensive feed inputs are less as is hoof and parasite maintanence. These characterists make Kiko goats the perfect homestead or part-time farm breed.