When our family decided to start a meat goat operation, we did a lot of research. We wanted a breed that would be low maintenance, healthy and did not require a lot of assistance with kidding. These goals led us to the Kiko goat breed. No breed of goats is without flaws, but the Kikos seem best suited for the South. The toughest challenge goats face here is intestinal parasites and Kikos have proven to be more resistant than other meat goat breeds. They also demonstrate very strong maternal instincts. What this means is that they rarely have difficult births, are quick to get their kids cleaned off and up nursing. Like any breed, however, these traits can be lost if the animals are selected based on other characteristics. You have to be willing to cull animals who don’t live up to their breed standard. For us, an area of special emphasis has been on superior mothering. We have sought out specific genetic lines that have proven success in this area. We have been able to include Loverboy genetics, Sports Kat does, and Tasman Toia (for her longevity).