when you got your first goat

[dixiegal62]

how did you know you where getting a good one?

We have a few goat farms in our area. Doing searches online for ones that sell rigistered ones turn up nothng. I really dont care about papers, but figured it would be the best place to look.

So if your dealing with small local farms and just starting out and learning as you go how did you choose? I dont know anyone first hand nor do I know anyone who raises them, so thats out too

I am reading everything I can get my hands on and trying to learn and I dont plan on going out tomorrow and just buying one, Im using the time it takes to get an area ready to learn all I can before buying any., but I also know that just reading wont make me a pro and Ill make plenty of mistakes

[goatkid]

I was working on a goat farm when I got my first goats, so I knew the breeder and what I wanted. She taught me alot about what to look for. My first two doelings were a Nubian and a Saanen. The Saanen turned out to be the best kid she bred that year and went on to become a finished champion. If you don't know any breeders, I would suggest attending a goat show in your area and talk with the exhibitors. You should then have a good idea as to what breed you like best. Then, buy the best example of the breed that you can afford, making sure that you are getting goats that are free of CAE and CL and are healthy. If there are no shows in your area, perhaps your vet can recommend one of the nearby breeders.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Talk to you County Extension Agent about finding good goat folks. Ask at the feed store about who has goats. Put up a note on the bulletin board at the grocery store.

We found our first goats by accident at a surplus lumber yard! Then, we started reading here and found good goats.

[beverrlly]

We just visited a few farms and picked goats from the cleanest, most knowledgeable person, and just healthy looking goats. It wasn't the most informed choice but it ended well for us. Especially for first "learning" goats! Good luck!

[LMonty]

I found a mentor first. She helped me buy decent kids for what I wanted at the time, 10 yrs ago- backyard milkers.

Finding a mentor may be difficult if you dont have a lot of goats in your area. I'd contact the local extension service, 4 H and/or FFA and ask them if they know folks who are raising the kind of goats that you want to raise- are you looking for dairy or meat animals, or any particular breed?

Find out who the "goat vet" is in your area, and ask him/her who is raising a good herd.

Breed assosciations- like the ADGA-might be able to help also.

There are other boards and mailing lists that cover meat/milk goats. You may want to find one that you can join, and they may have contacts for you too.

[HazyDay]

I got 2 8 month old doelings, nothing good just I wanted to pet and mom was getting tried of me crying for one! It turned out the one that good bred was a VERY good grade doe. She is so small since the owners before had them in with sheep and only fed whole oats. But she had a doeling for me and she took Grand Champion in her dry yearling class (2 others) and Reserve Champion for best grade in show. (Only to be beat by my Nubian grade milker.)
So I am now kicking myself that I gave her away! But im very happy with the Nubians I am now breeding!

[Scrounger]

I got my first two goats from my wife's dad. Didn't really have a choice as to what they were, I was just glad to get them. I still have some of their decendents.

[trappmountain]

I read a lot looked at pictures, figured out what breed I wanted and headed to the auction. I ended up with 2 healthy pygmy goats that have grown into slightly tall pygmy goats but still healthy and great pets.

Your most important thing is to decide what you are looking to use them for. Dairy, meat, pets, breeding stock, etc. ask around here(we have a lot of good goat ppl here). then do your best with the info you have obtained.

[HazyDay]

If you are looking for pets, some people have *good* culls. Does with udders that just won't make it in a show herd. and some older stock can be got VERY cheap.

What ever you get

MAKE SURE IT IS HEALTHY!

[Jim S.]

Originally Posted by dixiegal62

how did you know you where getting a good one?

We have a few goat farms in our area. Doing searches online for ones that sell rigistered ones turn up nothng. I really dont care about papers, but figured it would be the best place to look.

So if your dealing with small local farms and just starting out and learning as you go how did you choose? I dont know anyone first hand nor do I know anyone who raises them, so thats out too

I am reading everything I can get my hands on and trying to learn and I dont plan on going out tomorrow and just buying one, Im using the time it takes to get an area ready to learn all I can before buying any., but I also know that just reading wont make me a pro and Ill make plenty of mistakes

No one knows if they are getting a good goat til they try it, I do not care how experienced they are or claim to be. However, you can improve your chances by:

1.) Listening to the producer talk. Let them talk and talk. Play dumb yourself. I have had goats 17 years, and I just bought a buck from a man who was so convinced I was a total newbie he said he'd be glad to help me along as I got started if I needed advice. Heh...that's cuz all I did was ask questions and let him talk. Find out as much as you can about how they raised the goat and how much extra support they provided. Fact is, the goat that raises itself is the best goat, regardless of pedigree or breed.

2.) Looking at the operation. Is it like yours? Does the producer have the same system, or a very similar one, to what you will do or are doing? The closer to the same the producer is to you, the easier the goat will make the transition. Take a bunk-fed goat and turn it out into lush pasture, and it could die for lack of knowing to eat that. Take a pampered pet goat and try to farm it, and you'll likely have a dead goat soon.

3.) Seeing if the producer makes noises of support. I have actually bought 2 weaned Boer does for $50 each and, upon remarking that they looked thin and I hoped they would live, had the man tell me he would refund my money if they died. This was after a long time of us talking, and that sealed the deal for me. It is not so much about would he really have done it, and I never found out because they live still, but the fact he was willing to do it made a difference and said much about his faith in his stock.

4.) Looking over the whole herd. Coughing? Thin? Are there all pellets on the ground, or wads of clumpy poop? Are the parents of your proposed purchase on-site? What are they like? Do the goats look happy or dejected?

5.) Seeing if your goat has acceptable conformation for the sale price, and is suited to what you need.

You are on the right track. Learn all you can to make an informed judgment. When you go to buy, prepare to spend time listening and asking questions. Do not rush to purchase, nor be rushed to it. Both are bad harbingers. Spend a lot of time studying prices before you actually step up to buy. There are a lot of goats way overpriced, and a lot of people waiting for a newbie to grab that bait.