One of the most popular and well-known meat goat breeds worldwide is the kiko. In fact, the word "Kiko" itself means "flesh" in the native Maori tongue of New Zealand, the country where the breed first appeared.

The first Kiko goats were produced in New Zealand in the 1980s. By mating Toggenburg, Saanen, and Nubian goats with several regional meat goat breeds, this breed was artificially developed. Kiko goats were shipped within the following ten years, initially to the USA and later to every country in the world.

Kiko goats are easily recognized by their particular body shape since they have a highly distinctive appearance. This is a big, strong goat with short, strong legs and a thick, enormous torso. This goat is considered to be "big," as evidenced by its pronounced belly and heavily enlarging chest. The coats are lustrous, luscious-looking, and short to medium in length. The goats' coats extend in the winter to shield them from the chilly air. The goats' coats get thinner in the summer to better withstand the scorching weather.

Kiko goats can have a variety of coat colors, including white, red, brown, gray, or even black, as well as any possible color combinations. The head of the Kiko goat is not very big, but it seems weighty and huge. The horns on males and females typically have extremely diverse appearances. Females have shorter, straighter horns than males, who have longer, heavier, and more rounded horns. Among Kiko goats, hornless individuals are uncommon. Male Kikos have prominent beards in addition to horns, and these beards frequently become tangled and matted. The medium-length ears typically hang low.

This goat is quite huge and heavy, which is excellent for a meat goat. Male kikos can weigh up to 140–160 pounds, while female kikos typically weigh between 100–120 pounds

Kiko goats are moderately productive; a doe typically bears two to three young per litter. They normally make good moms, which is necessary because the children are frequently born with weaker bodies and require their warmth and milk. Kiko's often only generate enough milk throughout their lactation time to feed their young. Kikos are not used as dairy goats because of this.  

Kikos are a strong, healthy breed that can thrive in a variety of temperatures and environments. Both hot and cold settings suit them nicely. No matter where your farm is physically situated, you should be able to produce happy, healthy Kiko goats there.

Kikos work well in a variety of landscapes. Your property can be in the mountains or on the plains, have large pastures or merely modest pastures, and your Kiko goats will do good in either situation. (So long as you give them adequate food.)

Excellent meat producers are the Kikos. Their meat is succulent and mild-tasting, without the typical goat flavor. It is juicy and low in fat, making it ideal for weight watchers, dieters, and those with weakened digestive systems.

Only the barest necessities are left for you to do because Kiko does are good mothers and take good care of their kids.

The nicest goats on the block aren't Kikos. They have a tendency to be harsh, and some of them—usually bucks—can be downright mean. If you have young children on your homestead, these goats are not ideal. They might not be the best goat for a beginner goat owner because you need to know how to act around goats that might be hostile in order to always stay safe. Additionally, you'll need to learn how to keep the peace in a herd of rambunctious goats.

Kiko goats may be difficult to keep on a farm where many other animals coexist for the same reason. Your Kikos might not treat your dogs, chickens, cows, or other animals very nicely. To keep your goats away from other farm animals, you must fence them in. Just something to keep in mind regarding Kikos., However we raise KuneKune Pigs and the goats get along with no problems.

The menu for your Kiko goats will be heavily influenced by the prevailing seasons. If you have a pasture, the goats should spend a lot of time there in the spring. As well as newly sprouting tree and bush brushes, young grass is incredibly wholesome. At this point, you can still add some grains and vegetables. You can keep feeding your Kikos in this manner through the summer, but it's crucial to add more proteins and hay to their diets by mid-summer or the start of fall. Remember to include vegetables. Feed pellets, hay, and vegetables in the morning during the winter. You can re-feed your goats pellets and hay in the evening.

You must design a separate menu for pregnant does if you are breeding Kiko goats. It's a good idea to increase the amount of mixtures in the diet about a month before giving birth; by the time your doe goes into labor, she should be receiving up to 1 lb of specialized feed each day. After giving birth, feed the new mother some high-quality hay before reintroducing her to her regular diet.

Providing breeding bucks with high-quality diet is also crucial. Increase the amount of concentrates in your bucks' diet up to 2 pounds per day around a month before breeding if you intend to breed them. They will be more productive and motivated to cover does as a result.

Your Kiko goats will often require feeding three times per day. Like other goat species, Kikos detest stale water and won't touch it if it's even slightly dirty. Water should be provided before each feeding and replaced at least twice daily.

When it comes to environmental requirements, kiko goats are not the pickiest animals. But in order to grow, be at their most prolific, and provide you with the most meat at harvest, they do require a few things in place. Some of these relate to housing, such as how to make the nicest possible barn for your Kiko goats.

According to age, gender, and various other variables, the herd is frequently divided into different portions by many farmers and homesteaders. Each group will need its own room in your barn or outdoor space. What kind of spaces are we referring to?

Obviously, the young Kikos in your herd belong in this region. The major objective here is to give the youngsters enough room to run around. In this section, you should also provide food and drink trays. To keep your young goats free from illness and sickness until their immune systems are more developed, the youngsters area needs to be cleaned frequently.

The Kiko herd's young does are some of the more delicate "individuals." You must keep them warm and shield them from drafts. You want to stay away from drafty areas where a doe could become unwell and lose her milk. For each doe to rest in, you need an area of about 2 square meters.

Even amiable bucks should be kept safely apart from the herd in a separate area. Because Kiko bucks are some of the more aggressive goats around, it's crucial to keep them apart from the other goats and from people for everyone's safety and to prevent unintended pregnancies.

Regardless of who the area is for, it is crucial that the areas be kept clean and dry at all times in order to keep your goats healthy, happy, and comfortable. Your goats will have good fertility, production, and longevity as a result. Ventilation is likewise crucial. The air's moisture content shouldn't be higher than 50% for Kiko goats to be content and at their best. In the winter, the temperature shouldn't drop below 10°C, and in the summer, it shouldn't rise above 20°C.

In the barn, windows are crucial for ventilation and lighting. Little kids will grow well with good illumination. Young goats' growth will be hampered by a lack of light. A number of goats should be able to exit the goat regions of the barn simultaneously without difficulty if the exits and entrances are wide enough. In case of a fire, this is also a safety concern.