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The primary characteristic of the Kiko goat is its hardiness and its ability to achieve substantial weight gains when run under natural conditions without supplementary feeding. In New Zealand, it has been called the "go anywhere, eat anything" goat signifying its ability to thrive under less than ideal conditions.
The Kiko is large framed, generally white (although many Kikos carry genes for color and colored Kikos are capable of registration) with a coat that ranges from slick in summer to flowing hair when run in mountain country in winter.
Mature males display substantial characteristic horns and are of a bold disposition. Mature females are ample, feminine and generally have good udder placement and attachment. The Kiko is a consummate browser and will range extensively when run in open country. The Kiko is not affected by substantial climatic variation and is equally at home in sub alpine mountain country and arid brushland.
Perhaps the defining characteristic of the breed is the rate of growth. The kids are born of average size but with considerable vigor. From birth to weaning, the Kiko displays a rate of growth at least equivalent of any other purpose bred meat goat breed, but this is achieved without the mangement and feed inputs generally required for satisfactory meat production in other breeds.
An enhanced maternal instinct (that is, protection and mothering of the newborn kid) is of considerable import in ensuring that dams rear twins. While this is a multifacted trait, it includes the ability to provide sufficient colostrum in the immediate post-parturition period to ensure survival of the offspring, innate protection of the kid against other animals which might threaten its survival, aggressive stimulation of the newborn kid to ensure that it rises and feeds in the shortest possible time and strong bonding with the newborn (and the attendant lack of abandonment of the kid). Since, in the New Zealand environment, Kiko does are never assisted at kidding those does failing to rear their kids have been systematically culled with the consequent strngthening of maternal traits. From field oberservation, it appears that Kiko does generally have kids which exhibit a marked degree of vigor at birth. The kids rise and attempt to feed at a speed not usually seen in a breed of domestic goat.
Resistance to internal parasites has a three-fold benefit for the farmer. Firstly, there is the elimination of the growth check associated with parasitism. Every parasite (whether ectoparasite or endoparasite) borne by a growing animal has a deletrious effect upon its rate of growth as the host is forced to provide for the interloper. Removal of the parasite allows the host to return to its inherent growth rate. Heavy parasite infestation can cause severe damage to the gut lining, as a consequence of which the animal's ability to absorb nutrients is severely impaired. An animal so affected never recovers its true productive capacity, even after the worms are detroyed. Secondly, there are the costs of labor and anthelminthic assocated with parasite control programs. Where programs aim at the effective chemical control of internal parasites these costs can be significant. In the New Zealand farming environment such parasite control programs are standard and costly. Thirdly, there is the infection of pastures by infested animals. Every goat that carries mature worms is shedding onto the pasture viable eggs, which ultimately will develop into larvae to infect others in the herd. The more goats carring diminished numbers of parasites, the less infective the pastures may be at times of high infectivity.
Goat Meat Facts
Over 70% of the world's population eats goat meat.
Three ounces of roasted goat meat has 122 calories and 0.79 grams of saturated fat, making it leaner than chicken.
Currently, the United States imports most of its goat meat.
The following are links to various Kiko goat associations in the United States.
American Kiko Goat Association
International Kiko Goat Association, Inc.
American Meat Goat Association
Proud members of the following organizations:
 
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