A couple of questions for fellow New York Meat goat producers

[NChemungGuy]

Hey folks,

I am thinking of getting into raising Boers for meat to market to our areas increasing Muslim community. In fact, I already have a couple people waiting for me to start and want to "reserve" a goat. I currently own just three Pygmys that got me hooked on goats. So while I am researching this, I though who better to ask than those already doing it.

1) How do you prefer to market your goats ? Direct to customer or through a middleman, and why ?

2) What advice would you give to someone looking into this market ?

3) How have you set up your farm to best take advantage of any tax benefits when that time of year comes around ( ie: tax deductions )

I guess this is a pretty open ended thread, so feel free to put in your 2 cents on anything you would like to impart on a newbie.

Thanks !

Chris

[Patty0315]

Join the NYS meat goat association to start.

Dirrect marketing = more $ in your pocket

Set a long term goal 5 year min

Attend Cornells Caprine outing near cortland in Sept.


Patty

[nubiansinny]

Your location will have a lot to do with how you sell.
Everything patty said!
i think empire meat goat as. has a webb site.
Cornells web site has some links too for meat goat marketing and some help with setting up a small farm. classes and workshops on tax and legal stuff.
They are addictive little buggers arn't they! Good luck with it.

[deetu]

Oh, I have been doing this for 10 years and I still haven't found a direct market and you have people waiting and you already haven't started

Get percentage Boers unless you plan on showing. They are less expensive and you are selling the meat anyway. Also, paints and solids are cute but the white bodies and red heads sell better.
Don't bother to neuter or dehorn because alot of ethnic groups like them intact. Less work and expense for you. And it's easier not to fall in love with the horned goats.

I have six acres so I have farm assessment in NJ. Unfortunately, my tax assessor put my 5 acres at a low value since my property is deed restricted. I don't make any money either (except for one year I made $36 woo hoo) so it's written off of my taxes too.

Have fun and if you need extra goats to sell to your direct people, call me

[NChemungGuy]

Yeah believe it or not, I have two doctors I work with who have assured me they will buy from me rather than the frozen goat product imported from Australia. (They're already egg customers ) Many of the doctors coming to our area are Muslim and apparently while they prefer fresh goat, it isn't readily available, which is a suprise to me as there are several goat farms in the area. I guess it goes back to who you know.

The Cornell Caprine weekend is definitely on my agenda, however there is no information on the Cornell website regarding it. The lady who runs that dept. told me in an e mail she was gonna get it on there, but as of yesterday, nothing.