The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Hevxxx99 on June 05, 2016, 09:23:34 pm

Title: Buying goats
Post by: Hevxxx99 on June 05, 2016, 09:23:34 pm
So, if I were to venture into goats, where would be the best place to look for them?  :thinking:

Sheep and cattle have markets, but I've never seen a goat one, outside Rare Breeds sales.
Title: Re: Buying goats
Post by: silkwoodzwartbles on June 05, 2016, 09:37:13 pm
There are lots for sale on Preloved :wave: :goat:
Title: Re: Buying goats
Post by: Hevxxx99 on June 05, 2016, 09:41:47 pm
Maybe I'll have to be patient.  All the ones on Preloved at the moment seem to be either billys or about as far away from me as is concievably possible. 

There seems to be a glut of lovely goats in Wales and Cornwall!
Title: Re: Buying goats
Post by: Talana on June 05, 2016, 10:26:02 pm
Various local  goat clubs and breed society's have a stock secretary who can help you and give you details of local goat keepers who may have stock for sale, this time of year there starts to be more for sale after kiddings over and people know if they have some for sale. Most people sell their stock privately contacts via clubs , Facebook pages Goats for sale and wanted and pedigree goats for sale and wanted are useful, here on TAS also ukgoats web page. Research what kind of goats you want and for what purpose you want a couple of goats - pet, dairy, meat, fibre, breed/ type you like the look of.  There is a list of clubs / breed society's on the British Goat Society website.
Title: Re: Buying goats
Post by: Sbom on June 05, 2016, 10:33:32 pm
I have two gorgeous girls for sale...in the Midlands  ::)
Title: Re: Buying goats
Post by: Hevxxx99 on June 05, 2016, 10:36:55 pm
I'm wanting milking goats. Ideally, I'd like Anglo-Nubian for the high buttermilk content (and floppy ears) as I want to make cheese but I'd be happy with anything milky and reasonably docile for a newbie so would be more than happy with a crossbreed.

I'm not really in any big hurry: I've got a lot of goat research to do first!
Title: Re: Buying goats
Post by: Anke on June 06, 2016, 06:32:37 am
Try and fiind a local goat club - any shows within reasonable distance from you will have local-ish goatkeepers there and most of use love to talk goats....

Even if you do not intend to breed pedigree goats, if you are interested in milking them it reallly helps if you buy in goats with a known (and preferably recorded) milking history in their family. I don't want to start a whole new discussion about the merits of buying pedigree vs preloved, but there could be gallons of milk difference between a goat from preloved and one from a family bred for milk... and it costs the same to keep them.

If you do find a goat that the owner says is registered, pm me her ear tag no or registered number and I can check for you. Also one thing to watch out for - goats can only be registered until the age of 2 years and by their original breeder...
Title: Re: Buying goats
Post by: cuckoo on June 10, 2016, 04:48:37 pm
I see you are in Yorkshire - I might be able to help -we are near Selby

Title: Re: Buying goats
Post by: Backinwellies on June 10, 2016, 05:34:41 pm
We too are thinking about going into goats .... so tapping into this thread
Title: Re: Buying goats
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 10, 2016, 11:59:26 pm
We too are thinking about going into goats .... so tapping into this thread


Even more reason for me to visit.  ;D