[mariegold]

I had no idea how wonderful kids could be (the goat kind I mean). We have three Boer cross castrated billies and I am ashamed say that I adore them! They are so friendly and fun! My partner on the other hand would very much like to eat them.
Its unrealistic for us to keep them as we are both on fairly low income care work and the mums already eat a better diet than we do!
Is there a market for companion kids? Maybe to live with other goats? I would hate them to go to an unsuitable home or a city farm. Maybe it is kinder to eat them?
I've never had an issue taking lambs to slaughter or dispatching chickens............. How embarrassing!

[jaykay]

I think it's probably kinder to take them to the abbatoir, I always worry about good, lifelong homes for them as they live a long time. That said, one of mine did once go as a companion to a lovely home.

Fwiw, I can take my tup lambs and eat them, no problem. Kill my own cockerels and eat them, no problem. Cry when I get back from taking goat wethers and cannot eat them - I sell the meat to other folk, who tell me it's delicious.

[goosepimple]

They might find a companion home with ponies but they are likely to have a 'passed around' life and will end up goat meat inevitably.  They can also be fine when younger and become a pain in the butt (excuse the pun) in a year or two quite literally.  Don't get too attached.  Or at least wait until they start to become a pest and then you won't feel so bad when you're eating your Friday night curry.

[sokel]

We did worry about sending our first kids off but we looked at it from the point that they have had a good life for the months they are with us and if they where not going to be used for meat they would not have been born in the first place.
Once you taste the meat you will be surprised.
We still get upset when we take any and I don't think that will ever stop

[Lesley Silvester]

I dithered for ages before my first one went. If someone hadn't offered to take him for me because I am disabled, he might still be around. I did say sorry to him before he went though. The thing is, it was a week before I got the meat and it did just look like meat which made it easier. I had named him Curry so now I eat curried Curry. 


Another goat keeper I knew said that some people swap their wethers so they each take one that they haven't reared themselves and eat that one. Might be worth considering.


I've got two little girls now who will be going off to the abattoir in a few months and I know it's going to be hard.

[fiestyredhead331]

how appropriate, I was just out shutting the goats in and our castrated boy, last years and our first home grown kid, is due to go to slaughter in the next few weeks came up for a cuddle. I had a little chat with him, he's a big softy and next thing I know I'm in tears 

but I do have a beautiful commissioned made to order replica statue of him and his mum as she was our first goat and him our first kid so as I explained to him, I would still see him every day, oh crap here I go again 

[honeyend]

I have only ever had one goat and I doubt if I could ever send one to be culled. They are the most annoying animal ever, or perhaps that was just Floppy, but they are so intelligent and fun. I bought mine on a whim off the board in Tesco's and she was with us for 10 years, the vet PTS in the garden when she became ill. She shared  a stable with our old pony, he lived off her waste as she was a very fussy eater. I do keep thinking about getting another but if they are all as opinionated  as she was I doubt if I have the stamina.

[shygirl]

wev kept a 2013 billy kid for slaughter/skin except as hes a bagot , he hasnt got much meat on him, not sure when or if he will go, as he looks so happy atm. being castrated he is quite a bit smaller than the mature billies
he might get a reprieve and be a companion for the billies instead...

[jinglejoys]

I remember when I first started in goats. They still had markets in those days and I got fed up with going into market and seeing goats I'd given "To a good home and will take back if things don't turn out" , being dragged off by some foreign gentleman. Didn't make any difference if you charged for them either.
   Much rather rear them myself and take them myself

[mariegold]

Thanks for the reality check! I know I have a responsibility to have them slaughtered, but it is a heavy responsibility. A neighbour of mine has a mobile slaughter person come out to do her lambs, I could go down this route as I probably wouldn't sell the meat but give it to friends. Would this be distressing for the mums? Obviously I would do it as far away from them as possible, but I wonder as sensitive animals they would somehow know? I hope they become an annoying burden soon!!!

[Anke]

We have done ours out of sight of the female goats and no they don't know.

Once the boy gets to 8 to 10 months, he will become a real pain in the proverbial - even without his balls. Although I am usually a bit sad when they go, there is also always a huge sigh of relief, as it restores some calm to the goatshed... and goat curry is fantastic.

[Lesley Silvester]

I'll second that, Anke. 

[Melmarsh]

When I had the same problem, and I think most of us do, especially if you bottle rear, a more experienced goat keeper told me "there are worst thing in life than death" !! I think she was right. If we need to pass on animals e all try to find good homes but when I did this I mostly lived to regret it. Even if they are told all the pitfalls they don't always listen and I have taken them back before now and then kept them or put them down. Better to know what happened with them than worry !!

[jinglejoys]

Do they still have mobile slaughter in the UK!?
   Made enquiries years ago (When they stopped on farm slaughter ) and could not find anyone then I told it had all packed up because the regulations made it unviable

[Lesley Silvester]

I have been looking on the internet for one and only found a chat site where someone was talking about setting up in business as a mobile slaughterman is south Wales. Nothing to say whether or not he made it though. He referred to a relative in the south-east who does it so it looks like they are still around.


While I was googling, I did find a site that lists organic abattoir but forgot to make a note of the address.