# Normal Temperature, Heart Rate & Respiratory Rate of Goats (Does & Kids)

> Normal vital signs of goats: rectal temperature 38.5–39.7 °C (101.3–103.5 °F), resting heart rate 70–80 beats/min (MSD), respiratory rate and kid values from two more references.

- Source page: https://wevet.in/normal-values/goat-2/
- Type: Normal values
- Publisher: WeVet
- Updated: 2026-11-01
- Audience: veterinarians and veterinary students

Reference ranges for the vital signs of goats from the MSD Veterinary Manual tables, adapted from *Dukes' Physiology of Domestic Animals* [1][2], compared with Virginia Cooperative Extension [3] and the UC Davis California Veterinary Emergency Team [4], including kids. The MSD respiratory-rate table does not include the goat.

## Reference ranges

| Parameter | Goat | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rectal temperature | 38.5–39.7 °C (101.3–103.5 °F) | [1] |
| Resting heart rate | 70–80 beats/min | [2] |
| Respiratory rate, adult | 15–40 breaths/min | [4] |

## How the references compare

Published reference ranges differ between sources. Each range below is printed as its source gives it; °C values marked * are converted from the source's °F. Virginia Cooperative Extension gives one range for sheep and goats together.

| Parameter | MSD Veterinary Manual [1][2] | Virginia Cooperative Extension [3] | UC Davis CVET [4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature, adult | 38.5–39.7 °C (101.3–103.5 °F) | 102.2–104.9 °F (39.0–40.5 °C*) | 101.5–103.5 °F (38.6–39.7 °C*) |
| Heart rate, adult (beats/min) | 70–80 | 60–90 | 70–110 |
| Respiratory rate, adult (breaths/min) | Not listed | 12–20 | 15–40 |

## Kids

| Parameter | UC Davis CVET [4] |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 102–104 °F (38.9–40.0 °C*) |
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 120–160 |
| Respiratory rate (breaths/min) | 40–65 |

## Measuring

- Temperature: a veterinary thermometer in the rectum, removed after 2 to 3 minutes or after the interval recommended by the manufacturer [3].
- Pulse: place a hand on the inside of the thigh — the saphenous artery runs down the inside of the hind leg [3].
- Respiration: count flank movements or breaths at the nostrils for one minute at rest [3]; respiration rate is influenced by stress, exercise, temperature and other factors [3].
- The UC Davis chart lists rumen contractions with a soft rumen as normal [4].

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the normal temperature of a goat?

The MSD Veterinary Manual table gives 38.5–39.7 °C (101.3–103.5 °F) [1]; the UC Davis chart lists 101.5–103.5 °F for adults and 102–104 °F for kids [4].

### What is a normal heart rate for a goat?

70–80 beats per minute in the MSD table [2]; 60–90 in Virginia Cooperative Extension [3] and 70–110 for adults in the UC Davis chart [4].

### What is the normal respiratory rate of a goat?

The UC Davis chart lists 15–40 breaths per minute for adults and 40–65 for kids [4]; Virginia Cooperative Extension gives 12–20 for sheep and goats [3].

## References

[1] Normal Rectal Temperature Ranges (table) — MSD Veterinary Manual. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/normal-rectal-temperature-ranges
[2] Resting Heart Rates (table) — MSD Veterinary Manual. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/resting-heart-rates
[3] Monitoring Livestock Vital Signs — Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech and Virginia State University) (2020). https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/APSC/APSC-169/APSC-169.html
[4] Normal Vital Signs (vitals chart) — California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET), University of California, Davis (June 2024). https://cvet.sf.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk13661/files/inline-files/CVET%20Vital%20Signs%2006_2024.pdf

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Numbers in [brackets] cite the references above. For veterinary professionals. Information supports — never replaces — clinical judgement; always check the current product label and local regulations.
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