GETTING IN THE BUSINESS

So you want to get in the goat business; well just go down to the nearest auction, buy a few head, go home and turn them out in the field or pasture. I can think of no greater chance for failure than the above scenario, yet this is all the thought some producers give to the idea of raising goats.

Just as much as any other business venture the production of meat goats really warrants a little more forethought. First and foremost is deciding for what reason you want to raise goats. Do you only want a few as pets because you like goats, or is it to be a profitable enterprise? Also many people get goats to control unwanted brush and are not interested in raising stock. In either of these two cases quite probably you would be best served by purchasing wether or castrated male goats. For the pet deal a bottle baby would be ideal, while for the brush control part probably weaned kids weighing 40-80 pounds would be best. The bottle babies will bond to their feeder and would make a good pet. And the weaned wethers would for brush control purposes be ideal as they could be force grazed on the undesirable plants by concentrating them. They wouldn’t grow as much in the force grazing program but then you aren’t growing out breeding stock either.

If you are going into a commercial production system I’d recommend talking, not only to your local Extension service personnel, but also the any existing goat producers in your area. Both of these sources can provide valuable insight into what you might expect in regards to problems with raising goats in your home area. And believe me there are as many different climates across the U.S. as there are production systems. It really pays to do your home-work there where you are before you buy goat one.

One very important thing is your facilities such as are your fences capable of holding goats? If not you will quite probably be the seller’s favorite person as goats are great escape artist. There are many types of fencing available but for cost and effectiveness net wire is probably the best way to go. Electric fencing is another good alternative and is cheaper, but will also require more maintenance to keep it goat proof. No matter where you live some type of shelter for your stock should be considered also. It may be as simple as a wind- break or open shed in the warmer states or as elaborate as a heated barn up North. But believe me you need to provide some cover for them in times of inclement weather.

When it comes time to buy your livestock be sure and look at the seller as hard as you look at the stock you are buying. A good set of goats is a joy to own while a bunch of poor quality ones will quickly sour you on the goat business. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the seller, most will be more than happy to help out a "newbie" to the business. This is possible when you buy from a broker or individual and in my opinion this is the only way to buy breeding goats. Not all the time but many times those at the commercial auctions are not what you want as a starter herd. This is more evident with adult nannies than it is with kids. Most of the older goats have been culled for one reason or another by their owner. If you don’t know goats try to find someone who does to help you buy them even if they want to charge a small fee. It may well be some of the best money you will spend at your startup.

Since you know you are going into commercial production of goats I assume you know where you will sell them? If not it might be a good idea to explore the marketing possibilities in your area before buying any goats. There are myriad possibilities limited only by the producers’ imagination when it comes to marketing. And according to where you live, the market varies as to what type of goat sells the best. Color, weight and sex are all important issues to different ethnic groups. And to be honest the biggest buyers of goats here in the U. S. are your various ethnic groups. The easiest way to assure success is to provide what they want. The old adage "the customer is always right" comes into play. The good thing is most of these groups are close knit and once you are in, you can find yourself unable to keep up with the demand. You may, if the market is present in your area, want to raise some kids for the 4-H market goat show arena. I know here in my home state of Texas the show wether market is big business with many breeders focusing their efforts into producing number one show wethers. And I suspect as the 4-H goat projects increase in other areas this market will grow there also.

Another outlet for animal sales is the sale of brood stock to other producers. One does need to be aware though that to cash in on this potential market you need to have some really superior stock. I also don’t want to dissuade you from entering this end of the business, but your initial cost for your seed stock will be higher than the cost for a straight commercial/slaughter type operation.

Often it is best to start out light as the learning curve can be a little rough on beginners. If you are comfortable, confident, and capable however, the returns on this type of operation are nominally higher than straight meat sales. If you do go this way you also need to be prepared for managing your herd fairly intensively. Sales may also be a little slow at first until you have become well established and recognized as a provider of good breeding animals.

Regardless of your level of expertise and experience a good working relationship with your local veterinarian is a necessity. Hopefully you will be lucky enough to have a vet in your area familiar with goats, if not there are several good books on goat medicine on the market. Buy yourself one and one for your vet if he will use it. Unfortunately goats are a relatively new livestock enterprise in many areas and as such most vets don’t have a lot of experience with them. You and he or she can learn together. Also networking with other goat owners is invaluable in treating health problems as many home remedies are effective for treating various ailments. I suppose this is because only the ones that work are important enough to remember. There are also not many drugs FDA approved for use in goats so off label usage of antibiotics and such seems to be a fact of life in the goat business. When you do get started though you will never meet a nicer bunch of people as a whole that your average goat rancher/farmer. And who knows, you may even grow into enjoying owning goats as much as myself and all of the other members of the American Meat Goat Association and may possibly even become a member of this organization in the future.