Input needed from seasoned goat owners

$200-300 for a nice dairy doe is a good price with or without registration papers. You may be able to pick up a kid for a bit cheaper but just keep in mind that you get what you pay for in many cases. It's well worth it to spend the extra money and get an animal with proven genetics if you are looking for anything more than a pet.

I've raised animals of various types all my life, I'm not one of the people who buys a cute pot bellied pig and gets rid of it when it isn't lap size anymore. I have a farm full of well cared for animals and just wasn't prepared for the steep prices I've encountered on goats as I'd never heard of them being that high for regular milk stock before. My uncle has raised goats longer than I've been alive and never paid more than $75/$100 for one of his kids.

I have the shelter and fencing for the goats handled. The feed store from which I purchase feed for the chickens, pigs, rabbits, pigeons, pheasants and horses has got me covered for food and my vet has handled all of these animals plus nearly every exotic I've tossed at him over the years.

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Michael

And thank you all for your input. I've been so impressed with the tight-knit nature of this message forum since I signed on and I knew you'd be able to give some good feedback!

twospirit, times have changed a bit due to regulations on milk and, most especially, raw milk.

One of the things that the International Goat clubs, associations, societies, etc., have complained about is that due to the fact that folks can't just sell their milk to their neighbors here in the U.S., the keeping of dairy goats has gone WAAaaaYYY down...

And that has led to most of the dairy goats in this country being kept for show purposes.

And while this may sound really mean, it is still a common saying among breeders of many different kinds of animals in Europe, Africa, and Asia: If you REALLY want to mess up a breed of animal, let American breeders get a hold of it.

(Germans will NOT ship Rottweiler puppies to the U.S.; they don't want their lines screwed up like that. Go ahead and try to get an Alpine shipped from Switzerland or France, I dare ya. Breeders there won't send kids to the U.S. because they feel that all we care about is size... and they feel we have messed up the ones we did get. Hungarian Kuvasz? Again, even though it is a rare breed here, the first thing that the U.S. did was start breeding for larger size, and then mess up their coat. "Kuvasz" means "curly coat" in Hungarian, it is one of the main breed traits...so why is a curly coat bred OUT of U.S. Kuvasz?)

Okay, off my soap box for a while. At any rate, dairy goats are so expensive now because mostly they are either show animals or commercial animals. Either one is a pretty penny.

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Peace,
Caliann

"First, Show me in the Bible where it says you can save someone's soul by annoying the hell out of them." -- Chuck

Goat prices have increased in recent years because of an increase in demand for goat meat and the trend of going local. The recession has helped to boost dairy goat prices in the Southeastern United States because so many people are wanting to produce their own food, as well as wanting a more healthful source of dairy products.

Topside I Loved your pictures!

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http://mmsmiracle.com/EnjoyBetterHealth

I think 125 that i offered for one of mine is reasonable as we test for cae, johns and cl plus they have great genetics I just dont have the papers in hand otherwise they would be allot more. I paid about $400 for each of my nigerian does it took me a long time to put my herd together, I have not been able to show this year due to life in general but next year we will be competing.
Now, I have two saanen does, one has a double teat and the other is quite large, the other has ideal teats but bad rear attachment, i got them and a nice buck for 500 for all three but they are not going to be show animals, but I get a gallon out of each milking from each doe almost so Im ok with there issues but they will not be milking several years down the rd where as my nigerians will be.

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I'm a goat person, not a people person,
De @ Udderly Southern Dairy Goats
we will be adding a new breed in the spring

75/100 dollar goats around here is meat prices fyi. You might contact Brandy on goatfarmcentral as shes in Alabama and has nice goats most from the same breeder as mine, but i can tell you that shes going to want a bit more money for hers because they all have papers in hand.

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I'm a goat person, not a people person,
De @ Udderly Southern Dairy Goats
we will be adding a new breed in the spring

What if you advertised on Craig's List for grade does? (I typed CL first, and then thought NOOoooooooooo! Couldn't do it.)

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Je ne suis pas Alice

http://homesteadingfamilies.proboards.com/

Please understand that I am not belittling anyone nor am I calling into question any of your for the prices you charge for your goats. Again, I am just new to purchasing goats (it's been upwards of 20 years since I bought one) and wanted some input.

To those who offered to talk to me/meet me about your goats I will definitely be in touch with you in a couple of weeks.

Thanks everyone.

From what I have seen on here...goat prices vary more by what aea of the country you are in than it does by the breed of goat.

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"When you are having dinner with someone and they are nice to you, but rude to the waiter, then this is not a nice person.".....Dave Barry

That is true. I have two registered LaMancha/Alpine cross doelings that I can't get $100 for here in Southern Missouri.

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Alice
* * *
"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

Thats my favorite Lamancha cross......good goats.

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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence

Wow, Alice! And that is a really great cross!

Emily, you should SEE the does out of Princess (LaMancha). They are both with friends of mine and producing LOVELY kids with great udders.

Princess's granddaughter - Kate - Alpine/LaMancha


Last year, we got Saanen/LaMancha cross kids from her, and we are going to repeat that breeding this fall.

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Alice
* * *
"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

hey Alice coming east any time soon?
I hope that twospirt you didnt take me the wrong way at least, I dont come off clearly sometimes. I was hoping to give you an understanding why the prices are the way they are and I think it was Alice that said just because its a certain breed doesnt mean that its a good goat.
I have been able to get some good deals being in the right place at the right time, but have also lost what was to me great investments.

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I'm a goat person, not a people person,
De @ Udderly Southern Dairy Goats
we will be adding a new breed in the spring

Truly Alice, if my barn wasn't so full already........stop tempting me!!!

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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence

I have to throw out a quick THANK YOU to Tina from Laurel Haven Farm for taking the time to call Brandi at Hollowbead Ranch here in Alabama on my behalf. After a great 45 minute chat I think we may have found our Nigerians!

I'm truly thankful and a bit awestruck that someone would take the time to make that contact for me without being asked. Despite what the news might have us believe, there are some good people left in the world.

Michael

Well, maybe we could get a round robin of goats going here... I mean, if your barn is THAT full, I'm happy to help...

Let me sweet talk Nick first. Shhh....

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Je ne suis pas Alice

http://homesteadingfamilies.proboards.com/

That was who I recommended to you off the goatfarmcentral forum, shes got both nice grade and registered stock, most is out of the same lines as mine.

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I'm a goat person, not a people person,
De @ Udderly Southern Dairy Goats
we will be adding a new breed in the spring