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Goats: The Diversified Farm Stock

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by Regina Anneler

Meat goats have grown exceedingly popular here in the U.S. in recent years.  The Boer breed is now the most common and the easiest to quickly identify in the United States.  Its white body with colored head makes it a visual stand out in pastures.  However, the Kiko and Spanish breeds are also becoming more commonplace and accessible.  Meat goats have a larger frame and thicker build than other types of goats. This is due to the fact that they are bred specifically for meat production and the build demonstrates that fact.  

Goat meat is low in fat and is a nice tasting alternative to chicken and fish when looking for meat with lower fat levels.  Goats do not store fat within the meat, rather, the fat is separated with the skin at the time of processing.  This is what results in lower fat levels associated with the meat.  It also means that it is not similar to mutton in taste or smell, so for those of you who don’t like lamb, do not make the mistake of thinking that goat meat is the same thing as mutton.   

Meat goats are a great choice for those wanting to raise their own meat while keeping their investment costs at a minimum.  The initial costs of goats are much less than cattle  and goats require much less feed as well.  They also have the benefit of producing young twice a year compared to cattle calving only one time a year.  Goats are also ready for butcher at approximately 80 pounds on average, which a good meat goat is able to attain at 5-7 months of age. 

We have approximately twenty-five head of meat does and we are never at a loss to sell kids.  We always have more calls for sales than we have kids available to sell.  When comparing cattle to goats, our personal experience has proven that we have less invested in our goats than we do in cattle and that the goat return is a much higher overall percentage. 

In recent years goats have become a popular means of pack transport and have proven themselves to be as good as, or even better than, horses or mules for carrying baggage and equipment.  They are definitely more surefooted and user-friendly than horses, mules or llamas.  Packs are loaded from above on a goat, so it's not necessary to be able lift loads high to place packs on them.  This can be a great help for people that might be handicapped in some way from lifting heavy loads into higher positions for the larger animals.  It also makes it a great and an accessible hobby for children.  Add the fact that goats can be transported much easier than horses or mules and you begin to see the advantage that they can offer to the backpacker seeking assistance or companionship on the trail.

Goats can also be trained to drive and pull carts.  Not only has packing and cart driving become a rather varied hobby for goat owners, it just helps to give another boost to the versatility of one of nature’s most diversified species of livestock. 

Goats also make great companions; no matter the breed, goats are curious, personable animals that love attention.   Goats work well for company for both people and animals.  It is a common practice to use goats as companions for all types of livestock that do not do well alone.  There are even many racehorses whose stall buddy is a goat.  Countless people love to watch and photograph their goats just for the antics that they pull on a daily basis.  We have one doe that as a kid would sit on the four-wheeler and ride around the farm with us.  It was great fun and quite a show for our visitors, as well.  Even today she will still comes up to the four-wheeler while the other goats run away from it.  

Currently, the word diversity is preached endlessly to both the farmer and small homesteader.  It is generally understood that diversification has definite benefits when looking at what all we can do and produce ourselves, for less cost.  While many animals work well and have a defined purpose on the homestead, goats have most definitely proven themselves to have very diversified purposes, and deserve considerable consideration when choosing what types of livestock to purchase and raise.

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