Is there any money to be made in goat farming?
Question by Runner: Is there any money to be made in goat farming?
Have small acreage in the country without any zoning problems, and would like to know if there would be any money to be made in goat farming. I hear of people doing this, but I don’t know where the market is, or how much money one can make. Is it work the investment or time involved? How much space do they require? What kind of fencing is required? What do you feed them, etc? Any information will help….thanks
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5 Responses to Is there any money to be made in goat farming?
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Yes there is money to be made. The people who sell hopefuls such as yourself their breeding stock are the ones who make the money.
tomewing357
October 25, 2011 at 4:27 am
I have 44 goats.
You first need to check out your surrounding population.
Do they eat goat meat? Mine does.
Would they eat goat cheese?
Even though we have a large population here that eats goat and we sell quite a few to be slaughtered, the money is really not there. You don’t need much property and your fencing has to be premium. Goats are a ton of fun but they can jump,climb and are wily.
We get our fed specially mixed locally and buy it a ton at a time. Plus they have constant hay.
They will taste every weed and many are toxic.
Get yourself a few to start-it might work.
I personally would go for chickens. Easy to acquire, easy to keep and everyone eats eggs.
Jo
October 25, 2011 at 5:10 am
Actually yes. If you buy them young, they’ll keep your land free of weeds and you won’t have to cut the grass. This will significantly reduce your feed costs. After they’re fully grown, you send them off to the slaughter house and sell them by the pound. When properly spiced and flame broiled, goats are a true delicacy.
Duflinkus
October 25, 2011 at 5:19 am
First of all are you thinking meat goats, or milking goats, milk goats are a lot harder to have the require lots of things to work with. On the other hand meat goats are a good place to start. First you need a shed and good pasture, a fence, and that is not a low price. You should buy at least 3 goats, and put them together, gradually expand your stuff, bigger fence, bigger shed, more goats etc. And you have to make sure that wherever they are grazing that there are no harmful plants and what not, I had my first goat at age 11 and one day it got under the fence and ate some wild cherry leaves, and died. You have to make sure you have time and resources, goats are not just fence, shed, pasture, done, you have to have lots of knowledge about them, like what plants are harmful, how much space they need, when they mate, when to trim there hooves,(if they are going to be on a hard surface like concrete or lots of rocks, then they wont need to be trimmed regularly). Also goats are the best in going over under or threw fences of almost ANY kind one of the only fences I recommend is woven wire,(or very expensive chain link). And goats WILL eat ANYTHING they can get there mouth on, its true. As for selling them, are there any local markets near you? Goat prices and very greatly, depending on the market. Overall goats can make great pets and good companions and somewhat a good source of money, tho most goat farmers are for hobby, some can be made into a business. Hope I helped 😀
Tim
October 25, 2011 at 5:55 am
If you do it properly, then no, you would never make money.
I have done it for 4 years, and friends have done it for over 40.
If you feed them properly, breed them how you should, vaccinate them, you will never make money, however, you occasionally will have a spike in kids, and you may make a little bit, but not enough to make it a full blown business.
They require a lot of work, its not like a regular job, you can’t call out when you don’t feel good. it is possible to make money in dairy, (large scale), however, this takes a massive investment, and is not a surefire way to make money.
with about 20 animals, it costed me over 6,000 to feed them. and most of them were miniatures. You will never make money with goats, I love them, and it is a hobby, but I have no intention to ever profit from them.
heartsnhooves
October 25, 2011 at 6:50 am