Im interested in goats...?

Question

i want to buy some goats and raise them but i dont know that much about them. Is there money in it, or is it worth it?

Answer 1

First of all, refer to them as bucks and does.  People who call them billies and nannies are considered hillbillies by professional breeders.  The goat slaughter market has increased because of the ethnic market, hispanic and muslum.  Goats prefer browse such as weeds and brush and don't like or do as well on grass.  Goats on short pastures have a lot of intestional parasite problems as well.  Look up the University of Oklahoma website for descriptions of the different breeds.  Goats aren't as tolerant of cold or inclement weather as sheep are.

Answer 2

There are three types of goats: meat, dairy and fiber.  

All three take and need good care, you will need; shelter for them to get out of rain/snow/wind or heat, they must have clean fresh water at all times.  Lucky you if you have pasture for them to graze on, if not, then you will need to buy hay.  A goat will eat about 5 pounds of hay a day.

They will need  to have their hooves trimmed on a regular basis.  Fiber goats like; angoras must be shorn twice a year and are susceptible to externial parisites like lice (yuck). Cashmere goats are combed out starting in late winter, but are not as susceptible to externial parisites and can also be sold as meat goats.

All goats have internal parisite problems, some parts of the country are worse then others.  Be prepaired to worm your goats on a very regular schedule or work with you vet on a program.

Dairy goat will need to be milked twice a day, what are you going to do with all that milk?  

If your goats get out of their pasture, they will eat the bark off your trees, your flowers to the ground, the leaves off your shrubs then go to your neighbors and do the same thing. It's just how they evolved.  They are browsers.

I raise angoars, dairy, cashmere and I did raise meat goats but couldn't keep them in my pasture.  I don't make a lot of money from them, but I get a lot of enjoyment from them, they all have names, come when I call, go on short hikes with me and love getting attention and special treats.

Answer 3

Looks like M/F Goat names are PC.

"Hillbillies", as well.

They wish to be refered to as "orthodontically challenged".

Find out the demand in your area.

Are there people in your area that eat goat.

As the one person above mentioned.

Muslim, Hispanic, Filipinos, esp. around their holiday times.

Goat prices can vary greatly depending on the time of year.

The "goats are good for weed eating" aspect is often a misconception.  

2 goats cannot maintain a huge area.

They stomp down more weeds than they eat.

They will prefer to eat the better stuff in your or your neighbor's garden, fruit tree leaves and bark etc.

They will reach, climb, and jump to do so.

So need to keep them contained with proper fencing.

Don't confine them with ropes,

eventually they will tangled and strangle themselves.

As for breeds.

The Boer continues to grow in popularity.

It is a large, commercial butcher type breed.

Spanish, Boer X Spanish, and Boer X Dairy are also popular.  

Ideal for the live market ethnic customer.

If you are serious, consult a reputable breeder.

First read up on feed/nutrition, care, diseases.

If all you want is a couple at a reasonable price for exploration etc., could just buy at a livestock auction,

but it is a genetic and disease roulette.

Best Wishes

Answer 4

Other than getting first hand information from someone like bohemian_garnet who really is an expert on what you are looking for, this article is about the best I have read on advice for raising goats.

http://www.countrysidemag.com/issues/88/...

Answer 5

As previously stated, containment is going to be a chore.  The ideal fence would be solid with no place to break out or get their head stuck in.  Second to that, a sheep and goat net wire fence with 4" square would be acceptable but can still be climbed. A more expensive climb proof fence would be better, but gets real expensive for larger areas.

You won't make hand over fist money with goats, unless your into breeding pure stocks.  Then it would help to understand genetics, embryo transfer, s***n collection and other breeding techniques.  

They are very effective for control of weeds and brush. If you have a lot of trees, they'll clean up the area creating a browse line (i.e., eat a uniform amount of canopy as high as they can reach). They'll also kill off smaller trees, so they'll need to be protected by exclusionary fencing.  

The goat meat industry is constantly growing and you can make a few hundred dollars off a few goats. Goat milk can be collected, especially from dairy goats, and sold. However, there is a limited market for such.  Some people have gone into niche markets using goat milk in soap and skin cream production.  

There are several opportunities for profit, but like pretty well any farming and ranching operation you won't get rich.  

FYI  There's an old saying that "if water can get through your fence, then a goat can too."

Answer 6

I have 5 Boer goats be prepared to buy at least 2 they hate 2 be alone they aren't the cleanest animals they really smell bad if u don't clean their pen and buildings Boer goats are a breed bred 4 show and meat a good size stud billy can cost 700-  1000 dollars some times less  bred nannies can cost 100- 900 if its your 1st time get 2 to start with

Answer 7

Chad I wish you had put down a bit more information.

Do you want to raise meat, dairy, or fiber goats?

I've raised meat goats since 1999.  I have about 100 goats (kidding season now so herd is growing).

I disagree with some things stated by other posters.  I've raised goats in lush, rampent growth area of Western Washington State, and currently reside with my herd in the high mountain desert area of Idaho (4700 + feet elivation).

Meat goats:

To make actual money with the meat goats your buck should cost no more than $250.  Otherwise it will take far too long to recoup your money.

Does should cost no more than $125.  Even better is you can get them for $75.

Meat goats are being dumped onto the market right and left at the moment because of the hay/grain problems accross the U.S.

If you can afford to buy goats, this is a GREAT time to get into them.  You can find quality goats at rock bottom prices.

My meat goat co-op held an auction this summer.  High quality bucks from powerful blood lines went for $35-$150 at the auction.  These are bucks that normally sell for $500-$1000.

Goats are VERY hard to fence.  Woven wire, backed with electric has worked the best for me.

Young goats (kids) and does (adult females) do NOT stink.  We keep them in a winter corral for 7-9 months during our long hard winter.  It is never cleaned that entire time.  Bedding just continues to pile up (deep bedding method).

Buck goats (in-tact males) do stink...they urinate on themselves.  Some of them REALLY reak...others mearly stink.

My current market is so strong, I sell every single one of my kids right here on my farm.  It is legal in my state to allow customers to come to my farm and slaughter here (check your state laws).

I not only sell out my herd (with about 60 does producing two kid crops a year), I sell out a neighbor goat farmers herd.  He has two hundred producing does.

If you sell directly from your farm, charge a flat price.  Mine is $75 per buck kid.  Do not charge by the pound...that is illegal in all 50 states unless you have a scale certified by the Government and they come inspect the scale every year.

I started out with three goats in 1999, and expanded to 5 goats in 2000.  I lived on 40 acres of REALLY lush growth.  10 adult goats were able to make a serrious dent in the blackberries.  Goats ARE tremendous weed eaters.

Goats prefer to browse (eat with thier head up in bushes/weeds), grazing is not the natural means of a goat filling their belly.

Goats are the top crop on my permaculture farm.  Rabbits are my very distant second. If you know what you are doing you can make a profit with goats.

You can only sell raw goat milk in states where it is legal to do so.  Example it is legal to sell the raw milk from 6 milking does (but not more than six) in Oregon.  However it is illegal for you to advertise you have goat milk for sale.

I have some Angora goats for my own amusement.  There is not much money in large scale fiber sales.

I'd answer more, but your question is about to close.  Email me if you have questions.  

~Garnet

Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

SUCESSFULLY raising meat goats since 1999

Answer 8

GOATS ARE A NICE SIDE LINE ON A FARM BUT AS A TOP PRODUCT BE PREPARED FOR DISAPPOINTMENT. PERSONALLY I LIKE GOAT MEAT A YOUNG WHETHER) BUT DON'T LIKE THE MILK. CHEESE IS OKAY.

Answer 9

Dairy goats or meat goats?

Talk to anyone in your area that knows about goats.

Breeders, veterinarians, feed store, ag extension, 4-H, etc.