Why Raise Goats?

Getting the Goat Bug

Goats are amazing creatures. They are smart, funny, personable, nosy, and did I say smart? They can open any latch, sometimes unlock doors, turn light switches on and off, take things apart, and they love to help! Yes, help. They will help you shovel snow or poop, they will help you put back together what they so nicely took apart, they will untie your shoe laces for you, they love helping take things out of your pockets, they love to help you change that light bulb when you are up on a ladder, but most of all they will help you fall in love with them.

And, of course, there are all the good products that they produce (with a little help from you): fiber, meat, dairy, brush clearing, packing; they are also used in the medical research fields. Goats are used to obtain certain serums used in medications (no they do not kill them to do that). Heart medications and pregnancy tests both use blood obtained from goats. Bet you thought that pregnancy tests still used rabbits! Wrong.

But, before you fall totally in love with goats, please be sure you are ready for the commitment. Answer these few questions and find out if you are truly ready for the big step of goat ownership.

Are Goats for Me?

A goat is a big commitment. Before you take the plunge, here are nine important questions to ask yourself. If you don’t answer “yes” to most of these, perhaps you should reconsider, and stick with household pets like gerbils or goldfish.

• Can I make myself available twice each day to feed, water, hay, and spend quality time with my goats?

• What is my schedule like? Will that twice-a-day time period fall at the same time each and every day, such as 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.?

• Do I have adequate shelter for these animals?

• Do I have a fenced area that is large enough for the animals to get exercise, and strong enough to keep not only them in, but predators out? Is it tall enough to keep high-jumping goats in? The old saying goes, “If your fence will hold water, it will keep in a goat.”

• Can I provide adequate health care for them, either by myself or from a local
veterinarian who deals with large animals? (Most dog and cat vets will NOT take care of goats for you!)

• Can I provide good-quality hay for them?

• Is there a grain dealer in my vicinity where I can purchase good, nutritious feeds?

• Am I prepared to teach the goats (remember, you have to have at least two goats, they are herd animals) all of the things it needs to learn, such as walking on a lead, jumping up on a milking stand, coming when called (yes, they learn their names), following you without running off?

• Goats drink enormous amounts of water, am I willing to lug water for them? When my goats are pregnant and due to kid, am I willing to give up going on vacation, going out to dinner, going shopping, going anywhere???

The Caprine Commitment

Getting goats can mean different things to different people. For some, goats are simply useful household pets. Others buy many goats in order to run a for-profit business. Here are a few of the options so you can decide which level of caprine commitment is for you.

pets

Pets: Brush clearing, and packing, and entertainment are the most common use for pets. They are voracious brush eaters. They will clear out poison ivy, wild raspberries, wild roses, and other thorny overgrown areas. Remember, they will also clean out your garden for you, so be careful!

They are also great pack animals and can learn this fun sport quickly and easily. Let them carry your backpack for you on specially made frames and take them hiking. They love it and you will have a ball.

hobby farming

Hobby Farming: Having a few goats around your farm is great! Milking goats will provide you and your family with fresh milk, from which you can make cheese, soap, and other great goat items! You can freshen (breed) your female goats with a meat buck and produce some of your own meat.

They are great at keeping your pasture weeds to a minimum, allowing other animals to graze contentedly.

goat-farm business

Goat-Farm Business: If you are willing to put in the time, a good business can be built around goats! A meat herd will fill not only your freezer, but as long as you use a state or USDA inspected processor, you will be able to sell goat meat. Marketing is a little tough because a lot of people have never tasted goat meat before, however, once they do, they will become steady customers.

Learning to make large volumes of cheese will help you turn a profit at your farm. Farmers’ markets, local small gourmet shops, restaurants, health-food stores, and fairs are always looking for purveyors of cheese.

The fiber business is a little more difficult, however, it certainly can be done. Locating the right fiber processor is the most important first step. Finding a raw fleece purchaser can be a daunting task, but, believe me, they are out there, and with the Internet they are only an email or phone call away.