Raising Meat Goats - Getting Started in Meat Goat Production

If one has no experience raising meat goats and would like to get started, the first step is to learn from others' experiences. One can learn from producers who are raising meat goats. Visit their farms and visit with them at shows, seminar and other events. On our website we have recorded detailed information about what we have learned from our experience with goats and we have included links to the best meat goat information available on the internet.

The second step is to decide what type and what breeds one would like to raise. One would need to decide whether to raise registered breeding stock or nonregistered commercial meat goats. If we were younger, just staring out, and had adequate resources we would raise both. Next one would need to decide which breeds and/or crossbreeds one would like to raise. Descriptions and histories of all of the breeds of meat goats, available in the United States, can be found on the Critter Ridge website. In cattle and sheep, producers have been able to achieve hybrid vigor by crossing different breeds. All of the breeds of meat goats available in the United States (except for the Arapawa and San Clemente Island breeds) are composite breeds of very recent origins. They have very diverse genetics and do not breed true for most important economic traits. Composite breeds are breeds developed by crossing several diverse types of goats. Very little line breeding has been done within any of these breeds. I seriously doubt whether much hybrid vigor could be achieved by crossing them. Genetic differences for important economic traits within these breeds are far greater than the differences between the breeds. One will usually do best with the breeds that that appeal to one most.

The last thing to do before purchasing any goats is to inventory resources available to determine how many goats one can start with. These resources include pastures, fences, and shelters. Good information on these items along with links to more information on the internet can also be found on the Critter Ridge website.

How many goats can one keep per acre? This is a question that can only be answered after one has tried raising some on a given acre of ground. The answer depends on climate, type of soil, the fertility of the soil, the steepness of the ground (steep ground doesn't hold moisture as well as flat ground,) and the type of vegetation on that ground. It is always best to be under stocked so one doesn't have to purchase much feed. So, it is better to start with just a few goats and gradually increase the size of the herd as the pasture is improved. An area of trees and brush that has recently been cut will put out a lot of sprouts for a few years utilizing energy stored in the roots, but sprouts have a very short growing season, late spring to early fall in northern Arkansas. While spouts make good summer pasture for goats, one needs to have cool season grasses and legumes to get through late fall, winter, and early spring. See the Critter Ridge web site for more information on pastures.

Ken Ziemer, author, has a bachelor's degree in agriculture. He started breeding dairy goats in 1962. His wife Candy was raised on a dairy goat farm and has worked with goats all her life. They have farmed and raised goats in northern Arkansas since 1967. They started breeding full blood Boer meat goats in 1999. For more information on raising meat goats