[Seven Acres]

Hi everyone,

My partner and I are thinking about purchasing some goats to raise for meat (never had goats before) though when looking around kids appear to be rather expensive with prices upwards of £80....? Can I ask if this is the average price for a kid? We have been looking at pigmy goats as we have heard that they produce good quality meat are hardier and they are obviously small than other breeds. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Anke]

Pygmies are mostly sold as pets and are therefore priced accordingly. As I have heard someone saying---- they don't even make decent gravy....

You are probably a bit late in the year, but in spring unwanted males from the dairy breeds (usually castrated by the breeder - if asked for by the buyer) can be available for a lot less money (for example from dairy herds, which obviously are only interested in female kids as herd replacements). Larger breeds - like Anglo Nubians - make good sized carcasses by 10 to 12 months but please be aware it is more expensive to feed goats than it is for sheep - goats will need concentrates as well as greenery and hay to grow well. Goats will also need a good shelter/goat shed and a good hay supply even in summer.

You can also look for Boer goats (or Boer cross bred kids), which will make a bigger carcass, but these ones are not that cheap, and most breeders will raise their own to slaughter weight.

[Seven Acres]

Oh ok, I had thought originally they were kept as pets but talking to people and Internet said otherwise...hmm ok that's food for thought, I had seen the boer goats but like you said they are expensive.

I'll have a look into your suggestion re the dairy goats, do you get much meat off them?

[Anke]

I have had (from British Toggenburg males at 10 months) a deadweight of 24kgs (didn't record live weight), which turned into about 13kgs of meat (2 hindlegs on the bone at about 2 - 2.5kgs each), rest either cubed or minced). Probably not quite the same return as you would get on a lamb (texel or similar size) at that age, but really quite lean, and as I said needs concentrates and milk for longer than lamb would. Tastes however quite different to lamb - much nicer (but then I don't like lamb, prefer mutton).

I don't really know much about carcass sizes for Boers, but the bone/meat ratio should be better.

[Backinwellies]

You don't need a breed for meat ... cross breed males much cheaper.

[harmony]

Goats of all ages and types have been good trade at our local market. Expensive? Or more than you want to pay?

[Backinwellies]

Yes I think harmony may have a good question there ... what are you prepared to pay?  They will have cost money to produce ....  £50/£60 seemed to be price for crossbreed wethers when I was looking for ours

[Seven Acres]

Ok, thanks.

With regard to my comment on expensive, I'm comparing it to the cost of our sheep. We purchased 6, 8 week old lambs for £35 each, they were more expensive than the lambs the previous year (3 days olds at £10 each) but we didn't have the bottle feeding etc so it's all relative.

When I've been looking at goats their prices vary, though pigmys are upwards of £70 and just looking at boer kids they are £100 plus....am I looking in the wrong place or is this the average price?

We really enjoy goat meat and it's something a little different but at that price to then rear on seems a little steep especially when you add concentrates etc  (more expensive then purchasing joints of goat which are around £15/kg?)

[devonlady]

You might think about buying a couple of breeding nannies, expensive initially but you can then breed your own goats for meat and keep a nanny or two for breeding. (If you have the space of course)

[fsmnutter]

Ok, thanks.

With regard to my comment on expensive, I'm comparing it to the cost of our sheep. We purchased 6, 8 week old lambs for £35 each, they were more expensive than the lambs the previous year (3 days olds at £10 each) but we didn't have the bottle feeding etc so it's all relative.

When I've been looking at goats their prices vary, though pigmys are upwards of £70 and just looking at boer kids they are £100 plus

As explained, it costs more in milk and concentrates to rear a kid than a lamb so it will cost more to rear them to selling age which will be reflected in the price of them.
Sounds about right for prices, we would sell meat kids (Boer and crosses) for £100+ and for breeding stock it would be more.

[Seven Acres]

Ok thank you

[macgro7]

I rang my local goat dairy farm yesterday and they said they don't sell small numbers of goats. Only large quantities to other goat farms   

[Dogwalker]

Are you on fb, there were a couple of boer or boerx on a livestock sales group yesterday young females £60 each.
Wouldn't have thought pygmies much good for meat but dairy cross can be great, just had 18.75kg meat back from a 6 month kid.

[devonlady]

Whereabouts are you, Seven Acres. My neighbour keeps meat goats including several Boer. He may, only may, sell a nanny or two.

[Penninehillbilly]

Ask either on here (marketplace) or FB-goats for sale and wanted, in spring, you are more likely to pick something up then, not much about yet.