Many Spanish goats are black, but they can come in any color that goats come in. Most people will be shooting for 80-100 pounds for a market goat, keeping in mind that is an individual preference. Picture this - The grocery store is closed, your garden failed, and you still need to eat. Boer goats are generally weaned off of their mothers from 10-12 weeks of age. Although you will typically focus on one goat when raising a Boer goat to show, selling Boer goats is most profitable when done in large numbers. Our Afrikaans farmers are called boer (singular) or boere (plural). Chickens are easy but a larger animal seems daunting. When selecting a Boer goat to show for the first time, it is always best to try and take along an Ag teacher or extension agent to a reputable breeder. Both dairy and meat goat genetics can produce a good market kid. While he was a sweetheart with us, he was a bully around them and the place has been just that much less chaotic the last few days. Until then, use the tools you have available to help you. Myotonics (Tennessee Fainting Goats or Tennessee Wooden-leg Goats). Several breeds of dogs are specifically bred to be livestock guardian dogs (LGD's) and are now used in conjunction with raising goats. Many ethnic restaurants serve goat meat and certain minorities buy it regularly. As a person who personally knows several Boer goats, let me begin to correct this assumption. I would worry about the person that gave it no thought. If you're a beginner to goats, not everyone can afford a barn right off the bat. Most people want to know which of these are the best meat goats. That will be great tasting meat! Since goats are relatively small animals, not as much processing is required as for, say, cows or pigs. We (my husband and I) are life long animal lovers and full time livestock farmers in Ohio. The lifespan of a Boer goat can range from 8-13 years of age. After that, we'll go deeper into the details of raising Boer goats for show and showing your goats. However when it comes down to marketability, meat cuts, and which breed is the most economic to raise, the best goat breed to raise would be the Boer. While you are around these magnificent creatures, you will always be fighting the urge to go for a ride. Not only will you have a great time and meet a lot of new friends, but you will also be part of a potential new business opportunity for yourself. They fall over as a result with their legs stiff and unable to move. Because of their small size, many people just keep them as pets. Looking for more information about getting started with a herd of goats? Once a doe has been bred, the average time before kidding is 5 months or 150 days. The 8-10 months figure is for a market goat. Below freezing and it doesn . Neck- the neck does not include the head and stops just short of a goats shoulder. ", Oberhasli Goat Breed: Characteristics, Facts and Origin, Raising Goats: 11 Most Important Things You Need to Know. It is possible for her to deliver a baby backwards, but it will not be good if a front leg or the head is in the wrong position. Of course, once you eat a goat you can't milk it anymore :) But seriously, if you want to explore the possibility of using your meat goats for dairy production as well, check out our free information, "How to Raise Dairy Goats for Milk: The Ultimate Guide.". Ivermectin, Cydectin, Prohibit, and Safeguard are some of the best wormers that can be used on goats. I enjoy the shorter milking window. Even if you do not have Boer goats, it will still be helpful. They are snack hogs and chronic personal space abusers. There is little more endearing on a farm than a fluffy, chunky, boundary-pushing animal trying to get at the crackers in your jacket pocket because she knows she can get away with it. Myotonics don't "faint" until they are several months old. Metal Comb- Used to pull the leg hair up. Fat can be turned to muscle by exercise. After the moms have their kids, they dont just become obsolete for another season. 12 . If you'd like to see a detailed step-by-step "how to . The size of the barn needs to be large enough for the goats to have some room to walk and lay down. Health papers are only good for 30 days, so make sure that you know what dates you will be at the shows. Or you may also want to get involved in showing goats yourself. I run a herd of Boer crosses specifically for this reason. You need to begin by understanding some of the factors that make meat goats so valuable. I think I could do it though to feed my family. Once you have them in good body condition, you will want to run them every other day. If your goal is to make money with meat goats, you need to consider who you are marketing your goats to because you have several options. Fitting show goats can be a complicated endeavor. Free wooden pallets are commonly used by most goat keepers to build affordable, simple shelters for their goats. A Boer doe's gestation, or length of pregnancy, is 5 months from the day she is bred or roughly 150 days. Boer Goat: Care Guide, Varieties, Lifespan & More (with Pictures) Take an objective look at your goat, meaning pretend its not your goat, and ask yourself what you see? We hope this guide has given you a good overview of some of the things to expect if you are getting into raising Boer goats for show. A goat neck roast is an idea, we'll trim it out for ground goat today.15:00 - Goat shoulder. Depending on the quality of feed that you are providing, goats will need anywhere from 2-4 lbs of feed per day in order to reach slaughter weight. Note: Kidding comes after breeding and pregnancy. Kidding season is a stressful time for even the most experienced of goat owners. Boer Goat: Breed Info, Characteristics, Breeding, and Care - MorningChores They do not waste as much feed as they would in a feed pan that goes on the ground. Raising Meat Goats 101: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Goats for Meat It is important to know that the goal is for any 4-H and FFA wethers to resemble sprinters, not body builders. After washing, use a rice root brush to stimulate hair growth by brushing the hair towards the rump. A good line of Boerswillreach butcher age by three months. Boers have a very creamy, rich milk. These abscesses can also be found internally, which causes goat meat to be bad for human consumption. If it is bulging, then more than likely the goat will have a more muscular look as it grows. Its main purpose is to provide meat, unlike many other breeds that give milk. How do you tell? It sounds like it probably isnt worth the cost of raising the goats for that small amount of meat. It is important to remember that market prices can fluctuate on any livestock species. If you want to, you can go over the brush marks with a metal comb. Sheep are becoming more popular and for good reason, they are a family friendly livestock that fits well into many situations, even folks with minimal acreage available. Each time you set foot in the ring, you should learn at least one thing that you can use to make you better at showing. Despite the fact that goat meat is a red meat, it is healthier for you than consuming either beef or poultry, such as chicken. The key is to pick a good feed and stick to it when raising Boer goats for show. Boers are also excellent goats for showing. 0:00 / 14:21 Which Goat to Butcher and When Arms Family Homestead 773K subscribers Join 43K views 4 years ago I have been getting a ton of questions about butchering goats. Certain traits allow you to produce the highest quality meat goats. The best shelter for your goats doesn't have to be fancy, because they prefer the outdoors. ", "Goat Health Care: Diseases, Symptoms and Treatment. Soap can dry out the skin causing dandruff or skin irritation. They have very friendly temperaments. That is a tough question to answer, since the real answer is "it depends". Macro minerals are needed in small quantities, and trace mineral are . This is because some ground is deficient in copper or selenium, that goats need in order to function properly. Students who are in FFA may wear their official jackets or an FFA long-sleeved shirt with the correct emblem. Myotonics "faint" because their brain and neurological system works different than normal goats. But those are subjects that are involved enough that we aren't going to dig deep into those topics right here. Remember, you will be eating muscle, so more muscling on the goat means more meat in the freezer. When a new goat is purchased, the first thing that needs to be done is halter breaking the animal. Hay Ring - This ring covers a large round bale and keeps the hay in a contained area. Although a typically considered a meat breed, something I hear often is,Can you milk Boer goats? My answer? Most breeders have websites and social media pages that can be viewed. Savanna goats are a popular meat goat because they are fertile, mature early so meat can be harvested sooner and they are parasite-resistant. To be a successful goat farmer, there are several pieces of equipment that you will want to have. Pygmy goats can come in every color imaginable - white, red, tan, black, gray, etc. Tracy Potter-Fins ||| Bethany Stanbery ||| 24275 Mullan Rd Huson MT 59846, countyrailfarm@gmail.com ||| 406.207.7299 The horns of Spanish bucks are very large, long, and have twisted ends or tips. This will give you an idea from an evaluation perspective what to look for. She says the billies taint the flavor of the milk because the nannies release hormones to attract the billies. What is the approximate percent crude protein that goats should be fed? If you arent seeing the muscling you think you should, give your goat more time to grow and fill out. Pygmy goats were originally brought to the U.S. for zoos. Lay the goat down and ask your fellows to tightly hold the goat's limbs. Savannas are thick and long-bodied. Again. Ive never felt so judged by a goat for being a slacker until I met Wednesday, but I amsograteful she can handle the job without me. When they see a dog or other intruder they will race off after it. When it comes to raising goats for meat, the Boer goat is still king if your focus is profit. Cutting up a pig. A Kiko's temperament can be somewhat cantankerous, as they are not afraid of people and can be quite lively. There should be no headgear on, although some shows do allow cowboy hats. If taken care of properly, the females are able to breed past 10 years of age. Goats with primarily dairy genetics are going to have a lower hanging weight percentage than goats with meat breed genetics. There are many different brands of feed out there that cater to show goats. She will often paw the ground and make a "nest" for her new kid or kids. Old plastic water tanks are also great homes for goats. It is also a good idea to set out a feeder for your goats with free-choice minerals, just in case they aren't getting what they need in their feed. Boer goats are loving. The goal is to get the leg hair to stand up naturally for fitting. Good quality females range anywhere from $1200 up as doe kids. My husband and I have talked about the possibility of raising goats for meat in the future, so I was curious as to how exactly the butchering process was done. Nice! I show you all catching the goat and the lamb and taking them in to the. This helps to keep the goats' metabolism going all day long. ", "15 Best Breeds of Goats for Milk Meat and More. Also, they tend to be hardier, and less prone to problems with parasites and disease than some other meat goats. A trimming table will help you turn the goat onto its side to make hoof trimming easier. Credit: Stockshow Confidential How to Take Care of Boer Goats. The e is silent. The more width from stifle to stifle, from one stifle across the body to the far edge of the opposite stifle, the better. ", ethnic and religious holidays and celebrations, "15 Best Breeds of Goats for Milk, Meat and More. Photo Credit: ForeveView Farms Due to the extra muscularity of meat goats, it's important to have a tall, strong fence to . Kendra, actually there is a big market for goat meat and alot of times you could raise them to sell for meat and the buyer is responsible for butchering. 5 lbs. You can also use your hoof trimmers to snip the ends of the horn off and go over it with sand paper to smooth the horn up. Required fields are marked *. 2. They can be cream colored, white, black, brown, red, or a variety of other colors and mixes of colors. Show goats tend to do better with hanging feeders. You will need to listen to the ring help or follow the goats in front of you to know where to set up. She will begin to push very hard. Some of these items are the following: There are many guides online that you can find to help you learn to clip hair when raising Boer goats for show. If it does not resist, it will see that the halter relaxes and is more comfortable. With anything, there are some downsides to owning Boers.