Author Topic: does anyone do goats as a business?  (Read 3059 times)

highhorse

  • Joined Feb 2014
does anyone do goats as a business?
« on: May 01, 2014, 06:19:27 pm »
 :goat:

hi

i just wondered if anyone does goats as a business and if so what do you do?

:)

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: does anyone do goats as a business?
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2014, 09:14:09 pm »
plumseverywhere on here makes wonderful goats' milk soap via It's Baaath Time :thumbsup:

Lesley Silvester

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Telford
Re: does anyone do goats as a business?
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2014, 11:26:48 pm »
Mine are pets and for milk production for me.

fiestyredhead331

  • Joined Sep 2012
  • NW Highlands
    • Facebook
Re: does anyone do goats as a business?
« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2014, 11:28:50 am »
We have a goat herd as part of our business. A selection of varieties for milk which we make cheese and this years kids are going for meat when they reach a decent kill weight.
keeper of goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, chickens, turkeys, dogs, cats, goldfish and children, just don't ask me which is the most work!

benkt

  • Joined Apr 2010
  • Cambridgeshire
    • Hempsals Community Farm
Re: does anyone do goats as a business?
« Reply #4 on: May 02, 2014, 11:39:46 am »
Our goats are part of our business but only a very small bit honestly. I think value-added direct sales is the way to go, either like Plums with soap or with cheese - both ways have some fairly hefty regulations to contend with.

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: does anyone do goats as a business?
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2014, 12:12:59 pm »
I think in certain places, there's a good market for goat meat. My butcher said he'd take all we could supply - which is none, but you get my drift.

For meat, the Boer seems to be the breed of choice.

fifixx

  • Joined Mar 2010
  • Shillingstone, Dorset
    • Bere Marsh Farm
Re: does anyone do goats as a business?
« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2014, 05:48:36 pm »
Yes, started with 3 Boer x cashmere goats 4/5 years ago.  69 on the farm today!  20 males for meat this autumn as we are still keeping the females to increase the herd size.  Lots of interest in Goat meat - Countryfile did a piece on the dairy billies a couple of weeks ago - the Boer goat is designed for the meat market so fattens faster.

But - we still only really cover the vet and straw bills and don't cost our labour!  The kids sell for around £150/carcass direct from the farm.  I did have the skins tanned 2 years ago and sold them, last year I didn't but I will again this year.

www.beremarshfarm.co.uk and the FB page has all the photos www.facebook.com/BereMarshFarm

 

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