Goat Auction Question

[white eagle]

I'm needing some help here. Here in 3 weeks there will be a goat auction coming up an I was thinking of going to it to see what they had. Is going to a goat auction worth my time or not?

I'm thinking of trying to find a already bred doe so later we can have goats milk but not 100% sure would a action be ok to go to.

Please be honest with me I will not get upset because this would be my first time ever going to one if everything goes as I want it to.

Thanks for your time an help.

[Starsmom]

the problem with an auction is that you never know what you are really getting. I know people that are good and regularly take their animals to auction and anyone buying theirs is getting a good deal. However, there are people that will take their sick or diseased animals there to sell so they don't have to look the buyer in the face. Also, an otherwise healthy animal can get sick from others at the auction, so unless there is no other outlet for them, I would not purchase from one, especially your first one. You would be best to find an individual that will help you with any questions that you may have, especially if you are wanting to buy a bred doe. Anyway, that is IMHO.

[NYSaanen]

Agree with Starsmom. Some at auction are OK, some are sickly. Some of those that came to the auction healthy could be picking up something from the sickly ones and bringing it to you.

Personally, have never, and likely would never buy one from an auction.

If you are new to goats, it is very difficult and defeating if you were to end up with a sickly goat and trying to take care of it, hoping it does not get sicker or die. You can end up with a sickly goat from a breeder, but your chances of it drop dramatically.

My best suggestion is trying to find a local goat person who has a breed that you are interested in. Talk with them as much as possible and try to gain their knowledge, asking lots of questions. Read through these boards to find out what types of issues you should look for or be concerned with. Most breeders will be more than happy to talk/ help/ mentor you. If you find a breeder and ask questions and don't get good answers, or they try to avoid your questions regarding health and raising issues, avoid them. If they can't look you in the eye with a straightforward answer about their husbandry practices, or disease prevention, then I would say it would be time to move on and find another breeder.

On the other hand, unless you feel it a waste of time, if you are new to goats, I would suggest going to the auction, just not buying. If there are a large number of goats there, watch each of them as they go through. You should begin to get a feeling as you eye them which ones are bright and perky, those that are listless, etc.

[topside1]

Hate to be blount, but don't bother...Most everything that walks through a goat auction is either being culled for a reason or destin for the slaughterhouse. This is not true 100%of the time, but it is true the majority of the time. Keep shopping around, I'd buy a open doeling myself, raise her your way and breed her with the buck of your choice.

[mygoat]

I will never buy or sell a goat at auction. They are full of culls and diseases. Much more worthwhile to purchase a quality animal from a local breeder who is reputable and disease free. May cost more to begin with, but you must keep in mind that it costs money to make money.

[susanne]

Originally Posted by mygoat

keep in mind that it costs money to make money.

so true
the best way to start out is a healthy animal from a breeder that has disease free healthy animals. most sales barns are contaminated with cl bacteria, to name only one. this would scare me very far away from a sales barn.

[Goat Servant]

If you do go just to look, disinfect your shoes before you walk onto your own property if you have walked on any surfaces that livestock use.

[PlowGirl]

Is this going to be strictly a goat auction (ie: registered goats, herd dispersal) or at a sale barn with sheep, hogs and cattle following the goat sale? If it's the former, you have a 50/50 chance of seeing decent to good stock that are healthy for the most part. If it's your average sale barn auction, there could be good, bad and everything in between. For some people, the local sale barn is their only market outlet, so not everything you'll see at the sale barn is going to be diseased, abused or otherwise culls. It IS a caveat emptor type of place though, so unless you're fairly knowledgeable and willing to take a gamble, you may want to pass on it. Playing the devil's advocate here, the same applies to registered sales, herd dispersals, show auctions and even buying directly from the farm.

So, now that I've straddled both sides of the fence, your ultimate goal in acquiring goats in the first place should be your deciding factor by what venue you come by your goats.

[white eagle]

That is why I came on here to ask about going to a aution because didn't know if be a waste of time or not but with all I read on here I will not even waste my gas going to it. It's not worth going to an risk bringing in some type of diease to just the few I have..

Thanks for being honest with me an no I'm not upset I wanted the plain out truth and everyone told me.. I'm not wasting my time on going.. Will search around to see if can find a good breeder to purchase a goat. Darn milk is getting to high to go to the store to buy so hope to find a doe in milk soon.

Thanks.

[Rockytopsis]

The Virginia State Dairy Goat Assn. might be able to help you find a good dairy goat in your area.

Here is the link
http://www.vsdga.org/members.shtml

Nancy

[chicamarun]

I just got some mixed breeds from someone in VA (Warrenton area) - and he has 3 bred does available! He's about to go on a cruise - but if you PM me I'll get you his email address. He was asking $150 each I think. They are crossed with boer and bred to a nice registered 100% boer!

[white eagle]

Thanks but I think I'm way to far from that guy. We live close to the KY line.. I do not even know where Warrenton is..