Raising meat goats pdf

The book has plenty of pictures showing goats doing goat things, all accompanied by great, well thought out information. This is not meant to be a complete reference on raising kids on a commercial scale, but rather a sharing of successful practices used by commercial producers. Lauren arcuri is a freelance writer and an experienced small farmer. The facility designed for meat goats should include plans for building fences, shelters, a catch pen, a working chute optional and a. Pdf how to raise goats download full pdf book download. Download storey s guide to raising meat goats ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Goat meat is one of the many products of the goat farming business, which is very highdemand livestock meat, and very popular among africans.

Boer goats were first imported to the united states in 1993, from. As with any farming endeavor, knowledge and skills are essential. This means less time feeding young goats before sending them to the butcher. The facility designed for meat goats should include plans for building fences, shelters, a catch pen, a working chute optional and a storage shed. Where possible work with your nutritionist to utilize the grains and feeds available. Keep in mind that a single doe will produce 90 quarts of fresh milk every month for 10 months of the year.

Some producers choose one type, while others combine all three systems in their operation. A major factor that makes boer goat production easier is the goats fertility rate. When it comes to raising goats for beginners the first step is choosing what type of goat you want. Boer goat crossbreeds are highly desirable to improve the characteristics of other goats. Whether your intentions are to raise goats for dairy, meat, fiber, or to raise goats as pets, this post will help you get started. Pdf boer goat is considered to be one of the most desirable goat. The book has plenty of pictures showing goats doing goat things, all accompanied by. The complete guide to raising meat goats for profit. My name is curt rush and my wife and i have been raising meat goats boer goats for 14 years, starting with commercial does and a commercial buck. In a study conducted by a government agency, it was found out that goats are multipurpose ruminants producing 58. You will have to put forth the effort if you want to raise goats.

Raising goats for mizk and meat international goat association. The goat farming business provides food and several other products to everyday consumers. The foods which you feed your goats, play an important role in their overall lives and production. Food is the main element for goats, which directly increases production on your goat farming business. Goat farming is a subset of the livestock agricultural industry. Many ethnic groups who live in the united statesfrom hispanic to eastern european to southeastern asianrely on the lean, tasty meat as a protein staple. The best way to raise goats for profit is to start either a goat meat farm, or a goat dairy farm. This is part one of a series about meat goat farming. The fact that goats are comparatively small animals and cost very little for maintenance has led goat. This may seem like a minor point, but, as in their feed preferences, goats are rather picky. Storeys guide and raising goats for dummies give very good information on a lot of topics. A friend of mine raises a lot of goats for meat and she never has a shortage of customers. As of 2007, usda reported that 52% of all goat farms had fewer than 10 goats nearly half of which were meat animals.

Over the past six years, i have learned so much about raising meat goats. So you want to be a goat farmer commercial meat goat farming. The above opportunities have stimulated a number of people in illinois to investigate raising meat goats. Litter size is affected by breed, age, season, and nutrition. Meat goats have a reputation for high fertility, averaging 98 percent of does bred under good management and nutrition. I learned more about goats in general from this book than i have from others. Goat raising guide how to raise goats in the philippines. Goats are very adept at selecting the most nutritional plants or parts of plants because of foraging characteristics, meat goats fit well in many grazing areas including those that are of poor or fair quality goats can efficiently convert vegetative matter into meat and milk, requiring little need for other feed. If you are raising goats for meat, you dont need to buy a show goat in fact, you shouldnt show goats and meat goats are raised differently you dont need to buy registered stock most meat producers will find a good, full breed buck and breed him with mixedbreed does finding the right market for your goat meat will. Raising meat rabbits is one of the most space efficient means of growing livestock for meat. S selected for meat production are heavy rumped, deep chested animals. Since boers are highly polyestrous, they could mate as much as they can all year round.

A farmer raises an average of one to two head goats. Solaiman, phd, pas the single most significant variable cost in any livestock operation is feed cost. Download pdf storey s guide to raising meat goats free. The decision as a youth project, meat goats are po pular because of the comparably short time, small investment, and minimal facilities that are needed for success.

While goats are enjoyable to raise and may be profitable, they are not a way to get rich quick. Specific breeds are discussed later in this manual. How to raise goats raising meat and milk goats for. An introduction to raising meat and dairy goats is available for purchase today. The american boer goat association is the main registry for boer goats in the u. Where possible work with your nutritionist to utilize the grains and feeds available off the farm, this will help to reduce feed costs. How many goats can i run per acre is one of the most commonly asked questions on my channel. Other goat breeds well suited for meat production include spanish, pygmy, kiko. Goat production handbook heifer international south africa. Mature does weigh 190230 pounds, while bucks can weigh 200340 pounds. There are also additional sources of income from raising goats, such as breeding stock sales, sales of excess males from a dairy operation, and leasing out meat goats to clear brush.

Stay tuned for more advice from curt rush, such as breeding and nutrition, dealing with health issues, and marketing meat goats for profit. While water is usually made available to kids, its cleanliness and freshness are often not a priority. Raising goats for milk and meat new revised edition rosalee sinn paul rudenberg illustrations by barbara carter. Nutrition of meat goats introduction feeding is an essential aspect of goat raising and may be the highest expense of any meat goat operation. Click below to download the contents page of the goat meat production business plan pdf. Oct 05, 2018 how many goats can i run per acre is one of the most commonly asked questions on my channel. Selected for meat production are heavy rumped, deep chested animals. Raising goats can be quite rewarding and pretty entertaining. All goats require water in order to live, grow and produce milk, but water is often overlooked when considering a goats nutritional needs.

Youll find out what it means to be a goatherd and how to get started. Are you looking for goats to milk or meat goats to sell. Boer goat guide final draft boer goat profits guide. You dont need expensive squeeze chutes for goats, and its easier to own a buck than a bull and to artificially inseminate a doe than a cow. Registries are also looking for the following characteristics. Raising goats for beginners i used to tell novices to buy one goat absolutely no more than two. Getting started with meat goat farming backyard goats. There are nine species generally accepted as true goats with around three hundred breeds. Currently, in the united states, there is a higher demand for goat meat, also called chevon, than there is a supply. If handled properly, goats are less likely to become stressed and obtain injuries that can seriously affect productivity in the herd. The goat kids tend to gain the most weight while they are on the doe, still nursing. Boer does reach sexual maturity at about 5 months of age. Feeding good foods to your goats will not only increase the production but also keep them healthy and productive.

There are a few things that are necessary for keeping goats healthy and happy. Returns for raising boer goats are generally higher than for cattle. Meat goat production in georgia university of georgia. As with any venture, there are cons to raising goats as well. While goat fibers are also a source of revenue, the profits realized from angora, mohair, and cashmere have decreased in recent years, and many farms that once raised goats for their fibers have converted into raising goats for meat. Raising meat goats for profit is an enjoyable, nononsense tool for new goat raisers, with important, updated information for experienced breeders as well. I am sure there are other books that work well also. Goats are one of the oldest species of domesticated animals. Kelli griffith 1, glenn rask2, kraig peel 3, steve levalley 4, and celina johnson 5 1 graduate student, extension education 2 associate professor, extension education 3 assistant professor, animal sciences 4 extension sheep specialist 5 youth livestock specialist.

If you grow crops on your farm, youll be glad to know. Myotonic goats tennessee fainting goats or wooden leg goats indigenous to the u. Before purchasing meat goats contact a couple of feed companies to see the type of feeding programs they offer and if their protocols fit with your feeding plans and available storage. But it takes less time to feed 100 goats than to milk ten. Since boers are meat goats a sturdy frame, wellsprung ribcage, and fleshy, compact appearance are the breed standard. Unlike other goats, does are polyestrous, and can breed yearround. Traditionally raised for milk and meat, goats are the source of the most widely. Everyone wants to know how many goats they can run on their property. If you are raising goats for meat, you dont need to buy a show goat in fact, you shouldnt show goats and meat goats are raised differently you dont need to buy registered stock most meat producers will find a good, full breed buck and breed him with mixedbreed does. The goat has been traditionally raised for meat and milk. Click download or read online button to storey s guide to raising meat goats book pdf for free now.

Origin and evolution of most frequently used breeds. Although meat goats are polyestrous, peak sexual activity occurs during the autumn months. It averages 45% of the variable cost of an operation including labor costs or is about 64% of the variable cost of an operation excluding labor. However, many of them are not familiar with modern meat goat production techniques. All of these goats can be used for meat production, however, with the introduction of the boer goat into many breeding programs around the u. Youll begin to see why raising and caring for goats is a very rewarding hobby. Whether you live on a full blown many acre homestead, or on a town lot in the burbs, rabbits are a viable option in your selfsufficiency and survival planning. My name is curt rush and my wife and i have been raising meat goatsboer goats for 14 years, starting with commercial does and a commercial buck. An introduction to raising meat and dairy goats is the book you need. Only a handful of commercialscale goat farms can be found in the country. Ive had the pleasure of helping other new producers get started with meat goats with the goal of helping them learn and succeed as well as growing the industry. I then came along your guide and since it gives information on raising goats for. You have to be smarter than everything that wants to kill them. This publication deals solely with meattype goats in georgia and covers their history, selection, and management from predator and disease control to reproduction and marketing.

The demand for tasty, lowfat goat meat is rapidly growing and, compared to other livestock, meat goats are inexpensive to buy, easy to handle, and less laborintensive. I purchased the book thru heifer international for only 15. Raising meat goats for profit by gail bowman boer goats. Raising goats for milk and meat nc state extension. Complete guide for feeding meat goats modern farming methods. Meat goats are very popular with many farmers, and excess kids can be raised and fattened for many ethnic groups for their holidays, mostly in the spring. Because the interest in meat goat production is new, there are few experienced goat producers in illinois to help newcomers in their desire to learn as much.

Goat meat is much like venison, it has a little different taste than beef. In this comprehensive guide, we cover all the basics of making money with both dairy goats and meat goats, including the best breeds, how to calculate profit potential, and much more in the us, goats have largely been used in dairy production, for milk and cheese, but. Good for crossing with boer or kiko can produce two kiddings a year. Whether youre raising goats for food or as the smart, lovable pets they can be, you need to know a few things about caring for your herd. This implies that you can change eg the number of goats, selling price of the goats etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change. Goats are ruminants and, as such, have a digestive system that is defined as. Storeys guide to raising meat goats book premier1supplies. You must add a little fat for cooking or if you are making sausage. Dec 06, 2019 a farmer raises an average of one to two head goats. With this good fertility rate and with proper goat farming practices, six to nine boer kids can be produced over two years. Though this book contains a ton of information about raising goats for meat that many other books do not contain. Even on the first cross, the size is greatly increased. There is plenty that you will need to know before you take on the task of a whole new world.

Sayer thoroughly explains the basics of selecting a breed, buying the goats, and raising healthy animals. Raising dairy goat kids jolene berg, department of animal science, uc davis. Goats are hardy animals, easy to care for, and you can make money with them a bunch of ways more on that in a minute. Many people raise milk goats because they like goats. Mar 14, 2019 this is part one of a series about meat goat farming. Many small farmers or backyard raisers have found that they can earn from raising goats. Guide to raising healthy goats a385805 extension learning. Goats provide milk, meat, fiber, and hide which raisers can sell or use for themselves. Now author maggie sayer adds storeys guide to raising meat goats to the popular series that has guided countless farmers through the daytoday tasks of animal care. Save the goats wasting energy and increase the amount of milk you get.

Goats raised for meat need high quality feed in most situations and require an optimum balance of many different nutrients to achieve maximum profit potential. Starting goat farming business plan pdf startupbiz global. Raising goats is very exciting and rewarding but it depends if you have the right tools and care for your goats. Im getting excited in raising goats hi gerard, i decided to raise goats when i heard how profitable their milk is. Theyre easy to handle, they produce a large amount of milk, and theyre also a source of lowfat meat. Raising meat goats can be a profitable small farm venture. They are the dairy, fiber and meat goats, which totals over 2. Given proper care, the does should be capable of maintaining a birth rate of 1. Boer goats are often used as terminal sires animals whose offspring will be sold for meat, regardless of gender. And as more and more people look for ways to live sustainably and grow their own food, goats are a wonderful option for raising meat and milk, and you can harvest their fleece, as well. How to raise goats raising meat and milk goats for profit. Before buying goats, decide whether you want to raise them for yourself or in order to sell meat or milk. As i did more research about raising goats i also got to know that the meat is profitable as well. Storeys guide and raising goats for dummies give very good information on a.