Purpose of wethers?

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Diane Rhodes
Feral Nature Farm
LaManchas, MiniManchas and Boers
Member ADGA, MDGA

pets
4-h projects
brush eaters
food/ meat for the table
pack goats
cart pullers
fiber
companions for other animals

just some uses for wethered goats

Misty

I wouldn't keep very many wethers because they eat with no return. However they are good for pets, pulling carts and cheaper to feed than a pony for small kids. Here is our farm maskot.

Thank you for all the replies! Carting, 4H, lawnmowers, companion animals all make sense. I never knew you could eat goats though...that kind of sounds odd to me as I would not imagine they have much meat on them. What is the protein/fat content...similar to? What does it taste like? Please don't say chicken LOL

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Willowynd Collies
"A breeder is at once an artist and a scientist. It takes an artist to envision and to recognize excellence, and a scientist to build what the artist's eye desires."

I don't know the info you're looking for, but I do know it is a lean meat that tastes rather like beef, and it's GOOOOOOD. And they have more meat on them than you would think, hehe.

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Dona Barski

"Breed the best, eat the rest"

Caprice Acres

French and American Alpines. CAE, Johnes neg herd. Abscess free. LA, DHIR.

They're pets and pack critters. My nubian/something or other is a big 200 pounder who hauls gear and walks along just like a dog. He also hops the fence when he sees the UPS truck and climbs inside -- he knows the driver has cookies. (for those who've been around a while, this is NewGoat, the stray goat who wandered in out of the forest. He's definitely made himself at home.)

My old Cashmere cross wether is just a nice cuddly pet right now. He did his share of packing and guard duty, now he gets to lay his head in my lap and get loved on. He still goes along on hikes (the nubian cross needs company), but he doesn't carry anything anymore.

You people really crack me up! Between "Ride 'em cowgirl" and "My goat, my friend and workhorse,"this thread has shot coffee out my nose twice!