Meat goat farming help?
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Question by sandman: Meat goat farming help?
i live on a small farm i finally decided to get into goat farming i don’t know a lot about them i was think about starting off with bore goats which means they’re not dairy i want to start off with 5 but i know you don’t have to milk males but for the females do you still have to milk them if they’re not pregnant.
P.S both 2 males are fixed
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4 Responses to Meat goat farming help?
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You do not have to milk meat goats.
rabbithorsegirl
January 20, 2012 at 4:57 am
No you don’t have to milk meat goats. Starting out with 5 would be should be good go with one weather(castrated male), one buck, and 3 does. that way you can breed your does. But you have to be comfortable to deal with ethnic groups, who will come and butcher the goat on your place. Unless mexican. You will have to be inspected by the state in order for them to butcher the animal. And If you are working other you can butcher the animal your self and be inspected by state to sell meat. be sure you get the money before they get the animal.
Goat Guru
January 20, 2012 at 5:46 am
You can’t even spell BOER-not that breed makes a difference…you don’t even know BASIC BIOLOGY!
NOTHING produces milk until AFTER birth & nothing needs milking at all.
Robin Hobb
January 20, 2012 at 6:30 am
I’ve been raising Boer Meat Goats and Boer cross goats since 1999.
If you have two wethered goats (fixed/castrated males) you need to sell them for slaughter if they are of good size. They are doing nothing but eating food and costing you money.
Starting small is the best way. I started with three goats, and eventually worked up to 120 breeding does. I’ve cut my herd back, and I’m at about 60 breeding does currently.
No, you do not have to milk the does (females). The kids (baby goats) will take care of the milk. Boer does are not always the best mothers.
Since you are new, you should purchase the best quality purebred Boer buck you can find. Since you are brand new to goats, you should not pay more than $ 300 for a buck.
You should then get the best quality dairy does you can find. You should not pay more than $ 150 for a doe. The cross bred kids will be healthier and grow much faster than the purebred kids. Keep doelings (female kids) of your 50/50 cross which mature well, and have good health. You will use those does to replace their dairy mothers when they get old enough to breed.
Dairy does only breed once a year. Boer goats can breed twice a year (usually three kiddings every two years).
You’ll need to learn about the salt and minerals you need to supply your goats. Hint, copper is a big deal, as is iodine. Make sure your goats have access to salt and minerals at all times, as well as fresh water.
You’ll need EXCELLENT fencing, or your goats will be wandering into neighbors yards eating their plantings, or neighborhood dogs will come kill your goats. Goats also need a snug three sided shelter, with good bedding. You can use calf hutches for just a few goats .
Go to your local auction, and see what the goats are actually selling for. Now go home and do the math. If you sell the goats at the current auction price, can you make a profit, once you subtract feed, minerals, wormer, vaccinations, ect?
~Garnet
Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years
Raising meat goats since 1999
Bohemian_Garnet_Permaculturalist
January 20, 2012 at 7:16 am