Raising Meat Goats

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Anybody here raise meat goats for market? I've been thinking about buying small young goats in early spring and pasture them in my thick brushy undergrowth on property that I currently don't use any more. Then at the end of summer, early fall process them myself for sale.

Here in the last 10 years we have had a big ethnic growth in our area. A friend of mine says that some of these people have been coming by about once a month to see if he has any meat goats for sale. I've been thinking that this could be a extra income for me.

I guess my question is would buying in early spring be enough time to gain enough weight by the coming fall? I've never raised goats before so this would be new to me. How young should I buy and How big will they get by spring?

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), October 11, 2001

Answers

Sorry that last question was suppose to be "How big will they get by fall?"

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), October 11, 2001.

Goats raised strictly on brush grow slower than fed well. My toggenburgs and nubians and the crossbreds mostly reach 60-70 lbs by fall when born in Feb. fed on alfalfa and some grain. Look into your state regulations about self processing. Many ethnic minoritys like to do the butchering themselves to save the blood etc. Sell the animal alive is my best recomendation. Young kids sell well around any religious holiday and are mostly prized as 4-6 month olds. The boer goat puts on weight faster. Check into them in your area. Remember that goats need some shelter in wet conditions as they are suseptable to pnuemonia. They do clean up brush well. are used here in Calif. a lot to clear out possible fire areas. Good luck. KJ

-- kj (k_seeker50@yahoo.com), October 11, 2001.

you can do what I do with rabbits,, sell the live animals,, and then "help" them butcher it, once its theirs,, they can have anyone they want clean it for them

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 11, 2001.

R.H.:

If you do a little more research on these ethnic groups you can find out when their special religious days/festivals are--that is when there is a high demand. Better to find out before you butcher. Let us know how it works out? I'd like to do the same some day. good luck!

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), October 11, 2001.


If you can get beyond the cuteness objection, it should work. Lambs are cute, too, but lamb is somehow an accepted, albeit pricey, dinner. I personally like goat much better, since it is similar, but milder, and to me, much better. I'll buy some, or trade you for lobster! (I'm in Maine - stop by!) GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), October 11, 2001.


I posted somewhere about the upcoming holidays and I cannot find it .I will keep looking.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), October 11, 2001.

Found it : Thought some of you may like dates for up coming holidays to get peek prices for your animals . Start of Ramadan - Nov 16 End of Ramadan - Dec 17 Christmas - Dec 25 Id al adha - March 6 {usually yearlings} Easter - March 30 Greek Easter - May 5

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), October 11, 2001.

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