Goats for meat??

I read your blog; I love it !!

When I was a kid we raised bull calves to eat. I had no problem going from bottle feeding 2 day old calves, to eating the steaks when they came back from the butcher (I was the youngest at 9, but my brother and sister had a problem with it- at least at first).

I've just got back into raising my own animals and started with chickens. My neighbors were not happy with the roosters, as I am the only one within crowing range with them. I explained I would butcher them, and they looked at me like I was insane! They of course refused the offer of a prepared rooster once the deed was done.

I now have 2 milk goats, LaManchas, and I understand from reading here they are pretty good for meat as well. They are both still in milk, FF and I plan to pick up a young buckling to breed them this winter. I will try to sell any males, but am planning on butchering if they don't sell.

We plan on raising a bull calf, but are having a problem because here in NY they don't have mobile butchers (or kill trucks). Like OP said in her blog, the humane slaughter of any animal is important. I can think of no better way than to be at peace and unaware of anything bad right up to the very end. My SIL suggested I rent a UHaul to take a steer to the butcher and who cares if it breaks a leg.... I DO !

I've explained the difference between pets and livestock to my kids. They did not partake in the chicken as they didn't want to eat the "first ones."

I live in a rural area, but most of my contacts are with "city folk" who are totally hooked on the styrofoam packaged meat and eggs, and jug milk and they give me some strange looks when the topic comes up.

I get $1/lb for my boys. I enjoy them for their first 6 months and then they go to a local business, out of my hands, for their next job.

I loved your rant . . . I prefer to eat venison for the same reasons in your post

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Cathy Westbrook, Tallabred Soaps, Inc.
Purebred Nubians

No matter what the breed on my farm, whether it's a sheep, goat, or calf; It's going in my freezer if there's room. Some of the best goat meat I've had was a lamancha wether that had been on his dam from birth til weining and then on alfalfa hay and corn chops til he was about 80lbs. Now that my friend was some good meat!

People just don't get it. I can't see how city slickers or tree huggers can rationalize the origin of the meat they eat.

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Francismilker

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16

Sorry, Francismilker, but I am one of those "tree huggers", however I do know where my food comes from. I produce the vast majority of it right here on my farm. I don't think that I could eat my goats, but I raise cows and chickens for food, and it's wonderful. Who knows, I may change my mind about eating my extra males one day, but for now I sell them.

Thank you! And no, I don't mind one bit if you link to it Is your blog on blogger as well?

I hate to admit I've had the stupid chicken conversation more times than I care to count!! One of the office ladies at hubby's work was "tsk tsking" me for only buying pullets (3 are roos so far..)
"Honey, if you bought chickens for eggs your going to need a rooster silly!"

My reply: "Ma'am, do you need a man in the room to ovulate or can you do that all on your own? My chickens sure can, I only need a roo if I want those eggs fertilized, silly"

This one always gets me! What do eggs & feces have in common? Nothing! Hence separate parts of anatomy deliver them...

Ranger, nothing wrong with being a "tree hugger" as long as you don't freak out on me for eating goat (or any meat..... I caught alot of outrage when I had the meat bunnies!) everything is peachy.....Well unless you say something insane like "I would never kill an animal to eat it, I only buy my meat from the STORE" Then I would feature you on my blog....

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Best Wishes,
Crystal
http://noodlevilleadventures.blogspot.com

Keep up with Noodleville Goats on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/NoodlevilleFarm

That was my thoughts exactly on the "tree hugger" comment. Sure wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers.

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Francismilker

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16

I'm a TREE HUGGER, too!
Even have a shirt that says so

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"Perhaps I'll have them string a clothesline from the hearse I am in, with my underwear waving in the breeze, as we drive to the cemetary. People worry about the dumbest things!"
by Wendy

Mine's on Word Press. I can PM you a link to it if you'd like to see it

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"Perhaps I'll have them string a clothesline from the hearse I am in, with my underwear waving in the breeze, as we drive to the cemetary. People worry about the dumbest things!"
by Wendy

Yes please, I follow a few blogs on wordpress

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Best Wishes,
Crystal
http://noodlevilleadventures.blogspot.com

Keep up with Noodleville Goats on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/NoodlevilleFarm

We raise strictly dairy goats and don't have any problem putting a few of the bucklings in the freezer. I do sell most of them to others who want to do Goat-BBQ. The doelings get names, the boys don't. The only animals on our farm that we don't put in the freezer are the dogs, barn cats, and horses.

I love the little baby animals in the spring. They are so cute and bouncy and lovable! but I know that the boys are only here temporarily and try not to get attached to them. While they are waiting on their turn to go to Freezer camp, they will get the best life I know how to give them. They will graze on lush green pastures and be safe from predators and cruelty. They will never experience the terror of a slaughter house and they will never experience hunger or pain. And then they will feed my family. I;d much rather know where my meat comes from and that it was raised and slaughtered in a humane manner. Anyone who can eat meat and yet condemn someone for eating that "cute fuzzy little creatures" they raised is missing something something really important.

I started raising dairy goats in 1976. It was about 1977 when I started butchering or having the local meat processor butcher the wethers and the cull milk does. The cull milking does made wonderful "goatburger" and I fed my family well.
Hey I eat rabbit too. You should hear what some people think of me killing and eating those adorable fuzzy bunnies!!!!

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Living the good life in Kansas.

I was also told, very disdainfully, by a "dairy goat breeder" that people who were serious about dairy goats never would raise Boers and that if she saw a Boer on a dairy goat breeders farm, she could no longer take them seriously as dairy goat breeders. Of course, I had Nubians and Boers! Snobbishness is rampant in some areas....LOL!!

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

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

some people just want to turn everything into a pet. still you gotta wonder if these people have any idea where their big macs come from (read retired bulls & barren dairy cows among others, but definitely NOT the prime beef steers)

You sure there is actual meat in those things?

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Judy
Oat Bucket Farm
Central Kansas


The past is valuable as a guidepost, but not so if used as a hitching post.

I plan to send one or two to freezer camp in time. The first two wethers I raised were sent to the stockyards. I know where they ended up, but the first time around is a bit tough. I'd like to cross my two dairy girls with boer bucks for this purpose. But one of my does is a bit small (especially in the hip/pelvic region) and I worry about her at kidding time. I might wait til she has produced a few more kids before trying that.

I've had a few people actually get mad at me when I mention taking turkeys to the processing plant or raising a goose for the freezer. And when I mentioned I had to go to the stockyards with my goats one woman I worked with refused to look at me or speak to me! (And no, she is not a vegetarian or vegan.)

Can bucks be eaten or is thier meat tainted? I ask because I have a buckling that was born a week ago and plan to keep him whole and wondered if in the future I have one born that I like better if he can still go to freezer? Or would he need banded and then wait for a certain period. I am not even sure if I will like goat or if family will even try it, but if not- they can go to dogs, then I suppose it is a mute point. But I would at least like to try it.

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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."

Unless you are accustomed to eating goat, I'd suggest you try a young buckling or wether first. About 4-6 weeks is a good age to eat them IMHO. Big enough to be worth butchering, but still tender and mild. I would not start the family on an intact buck if you want them to ever eat goat again.

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I believe in God's willingness to heal.

Cyngbaeld's Keep Heritage Farm, breeding a variety of historical birds and LaMancha goats. (It is pronounced King Bold.)

Well according to a blog commentor my eating animals I raise is "kin to murder" I guess I will just have to accept that I can't understand some people's view points...One of those agree to disagree type of things...

Well shoot Emily! And here I thought your were serious about your dairy goats!

I don't think a big mac has actual meat....though I think they do have some of that pink slime.

I agree, you don't want to try an intact buck for your first sampling of goat meat. We did ours at 4 & 6 1/2 months old.....good amout of meat that was still tender & mild.

__________________
Best Wishes,
Crystal
http://noodlevilleadventures.blogspot.com

Keep up with Noodleville Goats on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/NoodlevilleFarm

yeah, they're like 10% actual meat (just enough to legally call it meat) & 90% filler.