Meat Goat Blog

Goats Make Good Weed Whackers

Goats make good weed eaters according to Cheryl K. Smith, author of Raising Goats for Dummies. Smith says,

" Goats are well-known for their ability to wipe out weeds. In fact, some people have made businesses out of renting out their goat herds to cities and other municipalities to clean up areas that are overgrown with weeds or blackberrybushes. These leased goats decrease the need to use herbicides, improve thesoil’s fertility, decrease the risk of fire, increase the diversity of plants in thearea, and control weeds in hard-to-reach areas, such as steep hills. "

She also points out " Because goats are browsers, they can share a pasture with sheep or cattle, which prefer different plants. Goats eat brush, leaves, and rough plants. They can improve pasture by removing noxious weeds, clear areas to be replanted with trees, and control leafy spurge, knapweed, Himalayan blackberry, giantragweed, sunflowers, and other weeds. "

Smith's book is $19.99 if you go to http://www.dummies.com/store/product/Raising-Goats-For-Dummies.productCd-0470568992.html.

 

 

How To Butcher A Goat

Somehow last year All Things Goat linked to a video on the butchering process. It's a good video if you are interested in how to carve up a carcass. The goat is already dead and skinned so the video starts in the butcher shop for those who might be a little reluctant to watch it.

We found it to be a nice overview of the process and  the various cuts of meat. Take a look http://allthingsgoat.com/2010/08/butchering-a-goat/.

All Things Goats Are Back Again

Our friends at All Things Goat are writing the blog again. Hooray!!! These ladies do a wonderful job of covering the goat industry in the daily blog. If you haven't seen it or if you have been to it recently, then check it out. www.allthingsgoat.com

Where Do You Sell Goats?

Raising goats is a business, hopefully a profit making enterprise. Professor  Jodie Pennington and Arkansas Extension Agent, Mike McCarter, found,

"Most producers will not tolerate a nonpaying hobby operation. The enterprise must sooner or later become a paying operation, or it will cease to exist. A producer who cannot successfully market what he/she grows will not be in business for an extended period of time. A few people keep goats as pets and companion animals; however, the economics of goat production is such that most producers sell the animals, either for meat or for breeding purposes."

 They explain the different ways to market or sell your goats explaining the process is divided into two broad categories: on-farm and off-farm markets. Both types involve selling by the head like other livestock such as cattle. One difference is there is a penalty imposed for fat goats. According to Pennington and McCarter,"The standard Boer buck in show condition would be considered extremely fat as would many dairy does at the end of lactation." An experienced buyer would pay less for a fat Boer than healthy Spanish or Kiko.

If you want to know more about the various ways to sell your goats, go to http://ar.marketmaker.uiuc.edu/uploads/da0c52ec76dbd91858d6f9e35adf9897.pdf.

 

 

 

 

 

Raising Meat Goats: The Short Version

The short version of raising meat goats is " Don't ".  It's hard work. But if your hard headed ( like some people we know ) and think you want to give it a try, there is a nice summary on the subject at http://ohioline.osu.edu/as-fact/0014.html. The authors,Tony Nye and Robert Moore, Extension Agents, address the major points in an easy to read and well written text.

If you are considering raising goats, take a quick look at the article for an overall analysis.

Water Supply Is Critical In Winter Months

Goats require water 365 days per year. Summer is a given and most people readily understand water in the heat is necessary to survival. New goat breeders may not be as aware of the importance of water in the Winter.

During cold periods the water supply can freeze and leave your goats without proper hydration. Since it is cold, some people may think the goats don't need water. While it is true they don't drink quite as much, water is every bit as essential. Water helps keep the goats warm and aids in warding off disease and illness. Without the proper amount of moisture in the body, it stops functioning.

Goats require fresh water at all times. Don't forget to check their water just because it's cold and don't think eating snow replaces the ability to drink.

New Meat Goat Production Report Complete

" The increasing economic importance of meat goat production in the U.S. can be attributed both to a strong demand for goat meat and to an interest in ecologically sound forms of vegetation control. Many ethnic groups - including Hispanic, Muslim, and Caribbean peoples - enjoy goat meat, called "chevon" by some and "cabrito" by others. Demand is currently about double the domestic production, so there is ample room for expansion. Meat goats fit in well with other enterprises, particularly cattle operations, and may be used to control noxious weeds and brush to improve pastures for other livestock. " according to Linda Coffee, NCAT Agriculture Specialist.

Good news for goat ranchers! Simple economics tells you that when supply continues to outpace the reproduction rate that prices will rise.

A print version is available at: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/meatgoat.pdf.

Texas Cat Kills Goats

"Carson County Sheriff Tam Terry says the tracks left behind after the Tuesday morning attack in Skellytown were larger than a bobcat. He tells the Amarillo Globe-News, "Everybody thinks it's a mountain lion, but we don't have a way to verify that. There are tracks, indications it was a cat larger than what we normally see." according to the Associated Press on December 29,2010.

LGD's are an essential part of predator protection. While one dog alone may not be enough to deal with a big cat, one will certainly discourage attacks. Multiple dogs are really more than most cats want to tackle. Goat ranchers require predator protection to economically avoid the losses that come from looking for an easy food source.

Leasing Bucks - What about diseases?

The question comes up when you start thinking about leasing a buck, what if we get some weird disease that affects the entire herd? It can happen. Of course, the odds are greatly reduced if you lease from a reputable ranch with healthy goats to begin with. The risk can be further reduced if you quarantine the buck for a week or two and observe him. As with most livestock, illness usually manifests itself fairly quickly if it is contagious.

Your own life experiences tell you that sick people, just like ill goats, are recognized by the way the act, eat, sleep, or function. While we don't want to ignore the risk, sometime folks get anxious about things that aren't as likely or dangerous as you might think.

Most contagious diseases show up with visual signs in a few days. Parasites are harder to protect against and the bigger concern in our estimation. If you lease from a ranch that uses a lot of pharmaceuticals to control parasites, you could end up with parasites resistant to the wormers available at this time.

You have to reach your own conclusion. If you artificially guard your herd against disease by keeping a closed herd, you lose the immunity developed by exposure. Sort of like the child kept at home until grade school, then suddenly put in public school. The child is sick for the next two years with every cold, virus, and flu that comes his way.

There's nothing wrong with leasing a good buck to improve your herd genetics. Use some common sense, general precaution, and you'll be fine. If you want extra protection, you could always have your vet examine the buck.

Best wishes for the New Year!!