[cambee]

Hi all we are coming to the end of our first proper year of smallholding and having got the lambing of our small Ryeland flock over with are planning to sit down and have a review. We don’t expect to make money but to try to break even eventually and to be feed ourselves. The lambs will be sold either live or for meat and we have chickens laying eggs the surplus of which we sell at the farm gate. We have 3 pet goats (Pygmy mix).  We also have a 2-3 acre of steep gorsey bank at the back of our house that is used as winter turnout for 5 livery horses as it’s no good for sheep. Several people have said to us that goat meat is ‘all the rage’ and why don’t we put goats on the bank to raise for meat. I wondered if those of you that raise goats for meat (not on a commercial scale) could advise? Did you find it easy to find a market for it and in what way? I wouldn’t want to sell to the halal market just because I don’t approve of non stun slaughter. I know that boer goats are good meat makers? Would they thrive on steep gorsey bank? I’d just be really interested to hear your experiences as there’s always such a great range of views on here. Thanks

[Scotsdumpy]

Hi Cambee, if you are aiming to generate an income then I would say that your pygmy goats would make more money than meat goats. There are plenty of keepers that raise goats for the meat market but I think that most of them do it on a large scale. I've attended many livestock auctions over the years and my observations are that pygymy goats fetch higher prices than bigger goats. The same goes for fancy chickens too! Are you on facebook? Have a look at goaty friends on there as there are a few commercial goat keepers who contribute regularly. If you want to keep a few meat goats for yourself then your conditions would seem fine - as long as they have suitable shelter. Boer crosses are what I would aim for.

[Dogwalker]

I send my wether goats for meat.  Angora and angora x dairy.
Sell to friends the same as I do for mutton.  I send three or four a year and never had a problem selling them, I haven't tried selling to a winder public as I don't want to get into breeding to sell meat they are surplus to fibre production.

A gorsey bank sounds ideal for short coated goats.  They'd clear the gorse after a couple of years and improve it for your sheep and horses.  I only had one gorse bush sticking into the field from a hedge the dairy goats would head for that first even the older tough prickles.  It's no longer there.