{"id":103954,"date":"2022-11-21T13:00:17","date_gmt":"2022-11-21T18:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/?p=103954"},"modified":"2022-11-17T16:24:07","modified_gmt":"2022-11-17T21:24:07","slug":"meat-goats-are-great-for-small-farms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/meat-goats-are-great-for-small-farms\/","title":{"rendered":"Meat Goats Are Great For Small Farms!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A<\/span>s soon as you step outside the farmhouse, you can hear the happy little cries of a newborn goat in the north pen. With just a shake of the grain bucket, a herd of goats will come running over to inspect whatever treat you might have for them this time.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\">Goats are popular animals to have on any homestead thanks to their more compact size and the diversity they offer among the breeds. You can raise goats for meat, milk, fiber, show animals, pack use, transportation and so on.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">There are so many different uses for goats that it\u2019s helpful to take a little time and plan out exactly what purpose you\u2019d like to raise them for. There are several questions you should think about when you first decide to pursue getting goats.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p3\">Are you wanting to raise your own goats for meat to put in the freezer? Or would you prefer fresh milk every day?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\">How much time do you have to commit to your herd?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\">What is your budget for not only the initial purchase of the goat(s) but also the upkeep and vet bills that will likely come later?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\">Are you looking for a pet for your kids or a 4-H show animal?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s3\">Once you know what the main priorities are for your goats, you can begin the exciting task of researching different breeds to see which one suits you and your family best. Keep in mind, as you look that for an easier experience with your first few meat goats, it might be helpful to stick to a breed that is common or well-known around your area.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">There may be a reason why people mainly keep one or two specific breeds. And if you\u2019re going to breed meat goats later, this could make it easier to find a buck to rent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Do your research, and ask plenty of questions before you jump in. Sometimes, it\u2019s helpful to go spend some time around someone else\u2019s herd and just get a feel for how the goats act and how comfortable you are with them.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p4\"><b>Getting Ready<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\">When you\u2019ve decided what breed you want to get, it\u2019s time to get your facilities set up and buy your first goat! While you don\u2019t need anything state-of-the-art, it\u2019s helpful if you have a tall (and sturdy) enough fence that they can\u2019t jump out at the drop of a hat. You also need a shelter for them to go inside during bad weather and a few other basic things such as medicine syringes, feed buckets and feed, and water troughs.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">If your meat goats are out on pasture most of the time, a simple shelter such as a three-sided shed will be perfectly fine for them to get out of nasty weather or rain. The size of the shelter will be somewhat determined on how many goats you have and how much time they must spend inside of it. If they live out on pasture and just step inside to get out of occasional bad weather, they should be fine to crowd together for a bit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">If it\u2019s going to be more of a daily occurrence, they\u2019ll need to have access to plenty of room. Too much crowding can induce stress and, in some cases, even sickness.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\">Be mindful of what materials you use to build your shelter with or those that are in an existing building. Try to build with solid wood and\/or metal such as tin. Avoid pressed wood such as plywood and particle board as goats can get a sudden appetite for even these strange snacks.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Fences can be constructed from a variety of materials, including hog and cattle panels, combination panels or even an electric fence. The main problem with cattle panels is that, if you have a breed with horns (and many of them do), they tend to reach their head through to the other side and get stuck.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">While this can commonly be rectified by just pushing them back through the panel, sometimes the other goats can get aggressive with the one that is stuck and cause damage to their backside. While not known to happen very often, it\u2019s an unpleasant possibility.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\">If a hot wire is used, it\u2019s a good idea to run enough strands that it can reach tall enough that the goats won\u2019t be tempted to jump over it. Typically, at least a 4-foot fence is suggested.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Read more: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/sheep-goats-year-round-small-farm-value\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sheep and goats bring year-round value to the small farm!<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 class=\"p4\"><b>Best Breeds<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\">When it comes to picking your breed of meat goat, there are many different options. Here are just a few:<\/p>\n<h5>Boer<\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\">Originally from South Africa, <a href=\"https:\/\/goats.extension.org\/goat-breeds-boer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Boer goats<\/a> are one of the most popular breeds of meat goat. Both bucks and does tend to be large-framed animals with a laid-back disposition. It\u2019s not uncommon for a doe to give birth to not only twins but sometimes even triplets.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_103961\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-103961\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-103961\" src=\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2070136628.jpg\" alt=\"meat goats\" width=\"800\" height=\"462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2070136628-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2070136628-623x360.jpg 623w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2070136628-600x250.jpg 600w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2070136628-433x250.jpg 433w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2070136628.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-103961\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">LGA FSM\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h5>Kiko<\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/goats.extension.org\/goat-breeds-kiko\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kiko goats<\/a> are known to have massive horns set atop muscular bodies. They came from New Zealand and are considered a \u201cteachable\u201d breed with a calm, although fearless, disposition.<\/p>\n<h5>Myotonic<\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s3\">Known for the common trait that causes them to \u201cfaint,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/goats.extension.org\/goat-breeds-myotonic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Myotonic<\/a><\/span><span class=\"s3\">\u00a0goats or Tennessee fainting goats are also good meat goats. They are great mothers and typically will have twins or triplets.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Other Purchase Considerations<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\">As you move forward, keep in mind that g<span class=\"s3\">oats are herd animals, and it\u2019s best to not get just one when raising your own for meat. Once you\u2019ve figured out what your purpose is for them, start out with at least two, maybe even three depending on your family\u2019s needs.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">It\u2019s usually best not to buy your meat goats from a sale barn, as you won\u2019t know any of the history of the animal (unless it\u2019s called out at the time of sale); what animals they\u2019ve encountered during sale day; or if they\u2019re sick, pregnant, etc.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Sale barns can be a dumping place for sick, injured or otherwise undesirable animals that people just want to be rid of. While this isn\u2019t always the case, someone just starting out should ask around and find a reputable breeder.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">There are several ways to find local breeders.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p3\">Check out the community bulletin boards for any advertised goats for sale.<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\">Ask your local vet.<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\">Go into a local coop or feed-supply store and ask around<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\">Put up \u201cin search of\u201d flyers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Look for a seller with a good reputation in the local goat community. When you finally meet them, observe how they answer your questions. Are they forthcoming with information and tell you about both the good and bad of whatever animals you\u2019re looking to buy?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Notice if you\u2019re only shown the select animals you\u2019re considering purchasing or if they\u2019ll let you observe the entire herd. Just like when buying cattle, seeing the herd as a whole will help give you an indication of problems you could possibly run into in the future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Do any of the animals look sick or suffering from a disease? Are they scrawny or malnourished? Do they look bloated and tight like they might have a bad case of worms? Do you notice any limping due to possible foot rot?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Even if you don\u2019t notice it yourself, ask the seller about these things. Don\u2019t be rude, but kindly ask about the health of the herd and if any have been infected. After all, you\u2019re looking at purchasing some goats from this herd. You\u2019re entitled to know the health history of them.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\">If you\u2019ve never worked with the seller before and aren\u2019t sure how honestly they\u2019ll answer you, take along a knowledgeable friend that can help you accurately see any flaws in the animals. Don\u2019t forget to ask the reason that they\u2019re selling. Note the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\">Is this how they make a living? <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\">Are they just downsizing the herd? <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\">Have these goats been pulled from the herd for a particular reason?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p3\">Try to avoid kicking off your goat-owning experience with a project goat or one that isn\u2019t particularly healthy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">A healthy goat should be alert with bright eyes. It should move around easily without appearance of joint or leg problems and urinate clear urine. A healthy appetite should be present, and it should chew cud after eating. If buying a doe, even though it\u2019s not specifically a dairy goat, you should check its udder for anything out of the ordinary. The udder should be soft with no hard lumps and normal teats.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_103959\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-103959\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-103959\" src=\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1749.jpg\" alt=\"meat goats\" width=\"800\" height=\"462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1749-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1749-623x360.jpg 623w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1749-600x250.jpg 600w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1749-433x250.jpg 433w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1749.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-103959\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ashleigh Krispense<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"p4\"><b>Home, Sweet Home<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\">Once you\u2019ve made your purchase, it\u2019s time to get them home and settled into their new space. It\u2019s best to have everything ready before you bring them home so it can be an easier transition for your goats and you.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\">Depending on if you\u2019re keeping them in a dry lot or out on pasture, the pen and fences should be set up and the shelter cleaned out and ready to use. Water troughs can be disinfected and filled, and a feeding regimen will need to be figured out. Goats should have access to good prairie hay or brome that\u2019s not moldy or musty, and then be supplemented with high-protein pellets and eventually grain, depending on what your plan is for fattening and butchering.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s3\">Goats tend to love good weeds. When given the option of quality grass or weeds, they\u2019ll often choose the weeds. This is one reason some ranchers put out cattle and goats in the same pasture. While the cattle will graze on the good grass, the goats will act as though they\u2019re on clean-up duty and eat the brush and weeds.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">When it comes to the health of your goats, one of the most common issues people run into are goats getting infected with worms. Goats are very susceptible to worms and will get them by ingesting the larvae that the worms have laid on the lower leaves of a plant. The closer to the ground the goats graze the plants, the closer they get to eventually eating the worm larvae.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">For this reason, it\u2019s a good idea to employ rotational grazing and move your goats from pasture to pasture over a period of time so they don\u2019t graze the grass (and weeds) down too far.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">If goats are kept in a dry lot, worms don\u2019t present as much of a risk. Goats with worms can certainly be treated, but it\u2019s best to lean heavier on the side of prevention than it is to wait until the goats show symptoms.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Treatment can range from natural supplements to a pour-on drench that goes over the backs of the animals. Talk to your local vet to see what the best timeline is for treating your goats for worms. Some people do it just once a year. Others might wait until they notice an issue, although this isn\u2019t recommended.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s3\">If you\u2019re turning the goats out to a pasture, walk through it beforehand and look for anything <\/span>that could potentially be hazardous or deadly to your goats. Some plants can be poisonous to goats (such as hemlock). Old or damaged structures could possibly injure a goat if it were to get stuck in something and stranded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">A stranded goat is very vulnerable to wild dogs or coyotes.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s6\">W<\/span><span class=\"s6\">h<\/span><span class=\"s2\">ile a freezer full of fresh meat is certainly rewarding, harvesting your goats is a difficult task to do on a homestead. From the day you bring the animal onto your place to the day it leaves, you\u2019ve done your best to give it a good life and raise it well. That\u2019s what makes this such a bittersweet job. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s2\">Be thankful for the home-raised meat that will feed your family and look forward to next year, when you\u2019ll get to start all over again.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>More Information<\/h2>\n<h5 class=\"p1\"><b>Raising Kids<\/b><\/h5>\n<p class=\"p2\">Goats are generally cool-season breeders, although Boer goats can be bred all year long. The gestation period for a goat is around 5 months and some goats can even have up to three kiddings in a year. This can be rather extreme for the does, so some ranchers prefer to let their herds kid just once each spring.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">A doe\u2019s cycle lasts 18 to 21 days. When the time comes that your meat goats are ready to be bred, a buck can be turned in with the does for an allotted amount of time. For some, this would be two months, so that he would be present over two to three cycles and given plenty of opportunity to service all the does. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The number of does that one buck can service depends on his age. A mature buck <\/span><span class=\"s2\">(2 years and older) can service around 25 does.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s3\">When five months have passed and it\u2019s time to give birth, a doe will typically become restless and alternate between standing up and laying down. She\u2019ll be slower moving than the rest of the herd and eventually wander away in search of a quiet spot. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s3\">Ligaments around the tail head will begin to loosen and her udder will grow extremely full (if it hadn\u2019t already in the previous weeks and days leading up to the birth). Eventually, the ligaments will be so soft or loose in her spine that before she gives birth you will be able to wrap your hand around the end of the spine or tail bone and almost touch your fingers together.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">When the time comes to push, the first of two sacs will make an appearance. The second sac will contain the baby. In a normal delivery, the kid will come out with its face tucked between the two front hooves. A breech delivery is when the baby is born backwards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Once the kid is on the ground, keep an eye on mama (especially if she is a first-time mom) to make sure that she gets it cleaned off in time. Once clean, it will need to get up and nurse to get that first dose of colostrum into its system.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_103958\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-103958\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-103958\" src=\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1691.jpg\" alt=\"meat goats\" width=\"800\" height=\"462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1691-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1691-623x360.jpg 623w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1691-600x250.jpg 600w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1691-433x250.jpg 433w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/163A1691.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-103958\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ashleigh Krispense<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">When a goat is about 8 to 12 months old and has reached its target market weight, the time will come to butcher. No matter what the breed, a goat should have a good amount of muscle and be well filled-out before it\u2019s butchered. Some people like to castrate the bucks while they\u2019re still young, others find that it\u2019s not an issue so long as they\u2019re butchered before they reach full maturity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"p1\"><b>Read More<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abga.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b style=\"font-family: NonBreakingSpaceOverride, 'Hoefler Text', Garamond, 'Times New Roman', serif; letter-spacing: normal; font-size: 21px;\">American Boer Goat Association<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\"><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.americangoatfederation.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Goat Federation<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kikogoats.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>American Kiko Goat Association<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.animalagalliance.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s3\"><b>Animal Agriculture Alliance<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.faintinggoatguild.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>Fainting Goat Guild<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.faintinggoat.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>International Fainting Goat Association<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iga-goatworld.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s3\"><b>International Goat Association<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.meatgoatsociety.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>Meat Goat Society<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myotonicgoatregistry.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>Myotonic Goat Registry<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NGCgoatsNGC\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>National Goat Consortium<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.animalagriculture.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>National Institute for Animal Agriculture<\/b><\/a><span class=\"s1\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalkikoregistry.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>National Kiko Registry<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usaha.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>U.S. Animal Health Association<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usbga.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>U.S. Boer Goat Association<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>This article originally appeared in the September\/October 2022 issue of\u00a0<\/em>Hobby Farms\u00a0<em>magazine.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sure, goats are great for milk and fiber, but many breeds can be raised on small and compact farms to provide healthy, delicious meat for the freezer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13133,"featured_media":103960,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[424,57,10458,428,10455],"tags":[622,724,6957,10484],"class_list":["post-103954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-animals","category-beginning-farmers","category-farm-garden","category-homesteading","category-large-animals","tag-goats","tag-livestock","tag-meat-goats","tag-ruminants"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.0 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Meat Goats Are Great For Small Farms! 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