Why was the meat stringy?

[Goat Servant]

Yes it was shredded but it was stringy & very chewy. We were invited to some peoples 2nd annual goat roast.
They prepared the meat the same way about the same age.
Now as near as I can tell (there is somewhat a language barrier) last year they bought a few bags of grain from me as well as the boys themselves. I dont know if they bought them any hay but they had lots of browse.
Meat quite tender.
This yr they bought goats but no grain...from me anyway! I asked if they fed any hay he said no, just browse. (my intepretationfrom what he was saying)
Soo, Im ASSUMING the meat was tough stringy & chewie because of no grain or hay to my knowledge this year. If Im wrong it wont be the first time!

[Alice In TX/MO]

I wonder how old the goat was.

[Goat Servant]

They were 6 mos..last year and this year.

[mygoat]

I never feed grain to any animal that isn't growing, lactating, or late in pregnancy. Mine all get browse in the summer. All my meat is tender, and the wethers are all butchered by 8-9 months old (sometimes I let them go longer because they are miniatures). Nothing is stringy, though the older I let them grow I tack a few extra minutes onto the cook time. Ideally I'd do them by 4-5 months old, but a mini that age is small so often I let them go longer.

I did a doe 6 years old and another that was 4. Both were dairies and neither were that tough. We love their roasts and steaks.

It mainly depends on how it was cooked.

[Goat Servant]

See Mygoat thats what has me stumped...the cooking process was the same, the age of the animals was the same...even the breed (50% Boer & Nubie)

[Backfourty,MI.]

If everything was the same I would think like you GoatServant that it was what they ate. Just like beef, some people swear by the meat as to what the cows are fed. Just my guess too.

[hoofinitnorth]

Were they wethered? In rut? Hormonal around a doe? Did they get more exercise/activity? Where they more competitive?

[Goat Servant]

Nope, not wethered. They prefer intact males. There are currently two does, one mature & one now 6 mo old.