The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: plumseverywhere on August 29, 2010, 11:18:36 am
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Am getting prepared for our first mating season with the goats - please bear with me for any daft questions but I want to get it right and would prefer to ask people here than rely on books as I know you have been there and done it and are very honest and helpful!!
My concern today is what to do with boy kids. My doe is a cross breed so any kids she has will not be pure bred and not likely to be going off to be studs for anyone! with this being the case, is there much call for pet castrated billies? I know I have one of my own but he was originally intended for slaughter for meat just we kind of fell in love with him and can't (!) and it was not our plan - he came with his mum who I now milk.
sorry for sensitive question but trying to become well informed now
thanks :)
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my mother had goats, sold the milk, home made cheese and the meat to local shops. all the young billy's went for meat.
if you time it right, and slaughter the right way, indian restaurant owners will give you a good price, for their own use, not for the restaurant use, we found.
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Goat meat is becoming very popular - not just with indian restaurants (our local does a great goat curry!) so you may be able to sell to butchers.
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:wave: we rear male kids for meat it always sells very well at a good price, but check the slaughterhouse will kill goats we have 2 that will and 1 that wont around here.
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Thank you for your replies.
do you know the reason why the 1 slaughterhouse won't do goats?
don't you find that you bond easily with goats (I know that sounds soppy!!) but I found that the sheep last year didnt' interact with us (unless there was food involved) but the goats are almost dog-like!
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:wave: no i dont get attached its all mind set the billys would have been killed soon after birth if we did not rear them for meat, you have to set your mind to the fact they are meat.
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I have had no problem selling my male goats for meat - a local man to us, would take as many as he could get. We just reared them to about 12 weeks. There is no way I could have them killed at birth. If I was not absolutely sure I could sell them, then I would not rear them. There are a lot of castrated males of all breeds available for rehoming as pets, so thats not a sure way of finding homes as there as so many.
This is obviously just my opinion, but I do feel there are far too many goats being bred nowadays, and people are struggling to get homes for them all - probably due to people's financial problems, they cannot afford to feed them!!
I have been fortunate this year that we have nanny kids. One male born at the end of last year, but he has become our intact billies companion, as was the intention from the start with him.
I think the selling for eating is the best option, and the one I would be happiest doing.
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We are rearing a GG wether for meat this year, and unless someone wants him as a pet (and he is an "only" one, so highly unlikely) he will go for meat after Xmas (as by then there should be space in the freezer). I am not advertising him, but people know I have him. My girls have asked to keep him as a pet, but I will be firm, and there is no space for him in the goathouse by next year's kidding time anyway. (We have also two BT female kids)
We bring our pigs, lambs/mutton to the abattoir every year now, and it has not been a problem. Slightly different though due to goats having a different nature to sheep and their way of interacting with humans. I think when you are breeding goats for milk you need to have a strategy re boys from the start and then stick to it. Not sure I could kill them at birth, but what would I do if I had many more males than females - don't know...
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And now the dummest question of someone who has never been anywhere near a goat: what exactly is a goat like as a "person"? From what I read here they're friendly and playful, a bit like dogs? Or are some the headbutting type?
Just wondering, as there's a small goat farm nearby and I was thinking of getting some males for meat next year but prefer to learn about them before getting any ;D.
Eve :wave:
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I have 12 goats and would easily keep more as they are loving, friendly, nosey and cheeky things. As with any animal you get back what you put in to it.
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I totally agree with James - my 3 are pet goats (although the milking goat is my business partner now!) and they are intelligent, interactive, funny, cheeky - and intuitive. On a bad day I have been known to sit and have a chat with them and my saanenX will try to climb on my lap for a cuddle ::) they just seem to know when I'm a bit down which is lovely and they are good listeners lol.
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That is so sweet! I want one..or two...or three..... :goat:
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Sounds good - I didn't know that you could actually connect with them (if you know what I mean), or if they were 'nice' in the sense that pigs are if you are good to them. (My pigs spend hours sitting on my lap for a cuddle! ;D)
Eve :wave:
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you can hold a conversation with them but they always like to get the last 'maaaa' in - neighbours must think i'm bonkers maaa-ing at my livestock but the goats like it.
i've also had some children from troubled backgrounds (happily in good homes now) visit and the goats make a beeline for them and you can see the connection and a soothing happen
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Sounds very promising. And uuuh... Plumseverywhere: do you sell soap made from goats' milk or am I reading that little line at the bottom of your posts wrong? ???
Eve :wave:
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:wave: just read in a goat newsletter goat meat is going on sale in harrods this week £19.95 kg :o
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:o how much chickenfeed?!!!
Eve - I do indeed sell goats milk soap! its made from my toggenburg nanny's milk and I am now making bath bombs from goats milk too.
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What a great idea! Have you got an online shop?
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I do - it www.itsbaaathtime.com
LIsa x
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Looks great - and I've found my Christmas presents!
Eve :wave:
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plums,
Sorry everyone- I know I'm keeping this off topic. Have you tried to make liquid soap at all yet? I mean like a handwash type? I am tempted to try, but I haven't seen any recipe's around. I haven't looked very far for them yet though!
Beth
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I have a liquid soap book with recipes - got it for a couple of quid in countrywide - haven't tried any yet though.
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Hiya Beth - no not tried liquid yet but am trying to find out how to make shampoo without loading it with preservatives and its not an easy task! book Sharon mentions sounds good - was that recently Sharon? I'll have a look in our local one if so. I think there's an equally good market for liquid soap as there is for solid :)
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Lisa - don't buy it - you can have mine! There are some shampoo recipes in there too. Swap you for a pack of your mini soaps? ;) :P
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ooh its a done deal ;) shall I stick in a slice of zombie brain soap too? its smells really nice (honest!)
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I'll email you later xx
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Please do choose your abattoir carefully! There are, or used to be, regulations regarding the slaughter of goats i.e. that they should not be slaughtered in front of other animals and not have others slaughtered in their presence.
Whether or not this still holds true I don't know.
Goat meat is as good a meat as you can get, tender, tasty and lean.
Taking anything to slaughter is not nice, even killing a chicken at home is stressfull, but if you can do it calmly and with the animal's welfare in mind you will find it's not the dreadful ordeal you imagined!
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was only saying to hubby yesterday that now Reggie has a real personality - and is probably around the age he would be slaughtered - I just could not do it!! he likes a tickle behind the ear and has these big eyes that look up at me. total wuss I am!!! the sheep last year - no problem as they ran away as soon as looked at us but this little man - awwwwwww!
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My wife and i got a couple of goats last year of a lady we bought our cheese from, she knew we were rearing for meat but i think she was happy to get rid of them as she didn't know what to do, unfortunately no boys this year.
Rob. ;D
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If you look at rehoming there are always lots of animals on offer. Some people simply put their traditional livestock through slaughter rather than rehome because of meat prices, but the point is that they were still unable to stay at their home for whatever reason. Goats are a smaller meat market and you naturally spend more time with your goats if you milk. It would then be like putting your dog to the slaughter. If you want to breed then you should read up, take a course etc and have a go. If you end up with all males you can advertise them for pets if they don't sell you can take them to the slaughter. Keep your mind open from the start and hopefully you will find it easier. It would be such a shame not to breed, you may end up with all females, if that's what you should prefer. Good luck with your venture, whatever your choice.
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thanks Buddy :) you have reflected my feelings in your post completely x
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I am still mulling this over too.
It makes sense to raise them as meat rather than "hope" they find a forever home. As goat keepers we should promote & encourage a holistic approach to our Goats therfore providing the meat industry with our billys should be ultimately a proud acheivement. When I put away fat lambs, I think, they are looking fab, they had a fabulous life & now they will provide a splendid meal for someone.
However, i talk the talk but I havent walked the walk regarding my Goatys! my No1 concern is how they will be slaughered?