Big John
Over the years we have always had at least one or two goats around the farm. They couldn’t be more versatile, I mean, these guys are the kings of multi-tasking.
I’ve had a lot of people ask me, “Why would I want goats?” Well from a person who likes to make money, $2.00 a pound was enough for me to buy a lot more than one or two. They have so many good qualities that the meat market isn’t the only place that gets my business. From ground clearing to making milk, the uses are endless. My family decided to increase our herd to almost twenty. That changed our regular maintenance and cost of care a lot, but so far its been worth it. We’re going to take you along every step of the way and we’ll kick it off by picking out which goat is right for you.
Which goat is for you?
You might think a goat is a goat. Does it really matter? Yes, yes it does! You need to know what breed suits you best because it is a big financial decision. If you don’t have a lot of space you need a smaller breed, if you have several acres you can get a much larger breed. Do you want meat or dairy goats? A lot of people say all goats make milk and can be butchered for meat. That is true but its just like cattle. If you want to produce several gallons of milk you don’t want an angus, you want a Holstein or a Jersey. If you want some good meaty t-bones you want a Herford or a Texas long horn.
I have a little bit of everything in my goat herd so I am going to break down the best and the worst of the breeds that I know about. If you want one animal that is good for meat and milk there are a few breeds that get pretty close. One that stands out above all others as a dual purpose is the Nubian. They are excellent for milking and the weathers (castrated males) fill out quite well for a butchering animal.
One of our little Nubian’s Mr. J J
If you’re just interested in milk, the American Lamancha is my favorite. There are many different types of milk goats but I’ve personally had Lamancha and know they produce well and are well behaved. Their milk is delicious and makes great butter and soap.
If you’re interested in more of a substantial meat source, then you would do best with a Boar goat. They are the Herford of the goat world. Some are even colored the same as the Herford. They reach butcher weight fairly quickly, so they are my first choice for meat goat.
Hopefully this gave you a place to start when picking the right goat for your needs. As always, God bless you and your’s from me and mine.
