Meat Goat Blog

Raising Goats Can Be A Gamble

Raising livestock is a lot like going to Las Vegas. The fun just lasts a little longer. Some years go well and you're ready to put everything on the table for the big win. The next year you're glad the banker is your brother-in-law, especially since you recorded the one conversation when he was complaining about your sister. Okay maybe a slight exaggeration, but folks getting into the goat business need to be realistic. If there was big money in it, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet wouldn't be in computers, insurance and railroads.

As an example, we bought a Spanish buck last year and paid to have him shipped to us. He lasted a little less than 90 days before we found him dead. We had run him with some does for a few weeks and netted one pure Spanish buckling. It wasn't exactly planned, but you play the cards dealt you.

The best part about goat ranching over other forms of gambling is you get to stay home while you do it instead of having to go stay in those fancy hotels with the good food. Ahhhhh the good life!

Breeding Season: When Is Best Time To Breed?

The best time to breed really depends on you. There is not a text book answer other than it is usually between August to December. With a roughly five month gestation, it gives the breeder the option of choosing when the kids arrive ( assuming you can keep them apart that long ).

We bred in August one year because the bucks broke down the pen and went to work. Other years we have waited till November and even bred some in December. Spring is nice for tagging and checking out the new kids. If they are born too late, the flies really create some problems. Kids to early in the year mean several months of cold weather and it's hard to tag in the dark. By the weekend, some of ours have grown enough it's hard to catch them.

This year we started Labor Day weekend so the kids will come a little earlier. We have some first year doelings that will be bred in December. It will give them a little more time to develop and we want to use a buckling that was born late this year that hasn't quite matured enough.

The best time to breed is really up to you and when you want the kids to arrive.

Be A Little Careful As Bucks Come Into Rut

Bucks in rut just aren't the same animal. We had a reminder this past weekend with one of ours. He is the gentlest buck we own as a general rule. He comes up to be petted and talks to you the whole time. Saturday brought a short period of aggressiveness. My shoulder is still sore from wrestling with him. Since he weighs more than me, he won the wrestling. It took a stout stick to convince him to stop fighting with me. Even as I tried to walk away, he just wanted to fight.

A couple hours later, he kept trying to come up like he was sorry. We don't think he is really mean, just in rut. If you are new to the goat business and don't understand what it means, you need to learn. A 250 buck with his head about knee level has a couple advantages over most people. Not only does he outweigh some of us, he has maximum strength with his head down. Bent over and hanging on to the horns doesn't give you the best position to really handle the situation.

Be a little more cautious around your bucks this time of year or grab an extra bottle of Tylenol for the sore spots.

Eat A Goat; I'd Rather Choke!

Funny some folks frown on eating goat. We like it. A favorite is sausage patties with scrambled eggs and biscuits for breakfast. Hard to beat!! But, we have friends who  start choking just at the suggestion of goat meat. Of course they haven't tried it either.

Grocery stores with shrink wrap sell "real" meat. You know the stuff on those little rectangle pieces of styrofoam covered with plastic. It's bound to be good for you cause' they sell it in the stores.

We like our goat meat because we know who raised it, who processed it, and it's not full of antibiotics and wormers. Just healthy, red lean meat with lots of protein! Hey, do you happen to know how they grow corn in those cans? I always wondered.