Is this a bad idea?

[ailsaek]

I've done a fair amount of work in the area that is going to be goat pasture on our property this last week. There is a lot of forage down there, and very heavily of the sort that I'd be perfectly happy never to see again. I don't want to start out with a huge dairy herd, because I want to be able to keep some of the babies and have fun with breeding and all.

DH and I had considered getting a bull calf to raise for baby beef if we moved to some place with decent pasture, but our back woods is so not cow pasture. I think goats will love it, though. I'm pondering the idea of buying a couple of Boer or percentage Boer wethers to help eat the brush, and then slaughtering them come fall. Looking at Boer breeder websites, though, the only bucklings I see for sale are herd sire prospects, no wethers. Is my idea just something people don't so, or am I looking at the wrong breeders?

[fishhead]

What about dairy breed wethers? They seem to be reasonably priced in many areas.

[Patty0315]

You are going to pay alot of meat wethers. Dairy buckling are cheap and easy to get. they wont give as much meat but you wont pay as much either.


Patty

[ailsaek]

Problem is, around here dairy breeders are quite upfront about refusing to sell to anyone who wants to eat their goats. That's why I'm thinking about Boers. And Boer bucks look so much like bulls, at least to me.

[Patty0315]

Dont tell them you want to eat them ! I know Jillis sells here buckling pretty darn cheap. It would be worth the drive to get a few. I would sell mine without papers for 50.00 -75.00 My stock is tested cae free and no cl shots deworming etc. Its not worth it for me to sell under that I would just eat them myself.


Patty

[ailsaek]

Now I feel like I ought to assure Jilis that I want that buckling of hers for his eating and carrying capacity, not because I want to eat him.

If I buy sale barn Boers, am I risking passing something nasty on to my dairy herd? I've found that there is a sale barn semi-locally, and I think percentage Boers turn up there (no idea from where, though).

[Patty0315]

Yes bringing in animals from the sale barn almost assures you disease will come with them.


Patty

[mwhit]

I bought my Boer and percentage Boer doelings for $125 each, which is about what you pay for an unregistered meat goat kid around here (wethers are a little less)... it is worth it to spend $25 or $50 more for a meat wether if you can find one IMO.

Michelle

[PygmyLover]

personal experience.............. comercial herds don't do websites. So look in your local paper for goats etc.