4 h goat ?

[hugh]

We have always done poultry for 4H . My son wants to do goats next year. His girl friend will give him a baby pygmy. He also has 2 friends that take Boars. The one family took 29 Boars this year. (different grandkids) Question anybody got some quick tips if we do this.? We have 3 acres and 1 goat already. How big a headach would a Boar be? They have some really nice ones. thanks

[motdaugrnds]

When I hear of 4H projects, I always think of Marvin. Frosty Marvin started out as a 4H project, was housed in the child's bathroom for first few months of his life, then bought for $50 by a lady who brought him to fame!

As for "pigmy" goats, I saw a black "grown" pigmy following a grown dog down the highway, getting off the road as cars passed, waiting for the dog to start traveling again, then continuing to follow the dog. It was the cutest thing I had seen for awhile.

As for boers, they give alot of good quality meat for the dinner table and do not require milking. In fact, sometimes they have a difficult time providing milk for their offspring; but if you put another type "milking" goat among your heard, that probably would not pose a problem.

Starting off with a very small herd is always best no matter what type you decide on. Also, you might want to make sure your fencing on those 3 acres is good and that no wild dogs are around to harm the goats, especially if the goats you wind up getting have been disbudded. (Horns are nice to keep if your herd is open to attacks from predators.)

[deetu]

I like my Boers. they are tough, don't mind the rain, don't scream in heat and are friendly. I like the ears and when i get paints. AND I don't have to milk.

I know someone who had so much trouble with the pygmys getting out and causing problems.

Which is a better class? Our fair doesn't even show pygmys

[mygoat]

Well, you should have two goats anyways, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. If you get a boer, keep in mind if it goes champion, you HAVE to sell it at the auction - otherwise, you can take the option of keeping it. If you keep it, he can train it for cart and show it that way. At least you could at our fair.

[hugh]

At our fair IF the kid wins and there animal is up for auction, the kid gets the money + gets to keep the animal. Which is nice. They just started having pygmys as a class this year. Just have to have enough people petition the fair board.

Also someone on the golf course behind me saw 2 bob cats ( 2 weeks ago) about 40 yards behind my house which concerns me if we get a pygmy. I do lock up our big goat in a 4 foot chain link fence at night. Can bob cats jump fences?


What age goat should we start with??

[Cannon_Farms]

I have had several breeds, and boers are the one I like the best, when cared for and bred right there isnt anything as impressive looking, they are great for not only showmanship but also for market class just make sure you dont attend the terminal shows. The other breed I would look at if your wanting to attract attention is maybe a toggenburg they are large stunning creatures and attract attention.
Boers are fairly common, some will say they are sickly and there are those that are so make sure you get a good breeder and never buy from an auction, this should go for any goat breed.

[Bricheze]

I raised a boer for an FFA project (officially my first goat ever) I couldn't get him to gain weight, lol it was a nightmare. He didn't even get close to the right weight for the fair, and I ended up selling him to some people to have a barbeque.

Another idea(although I am not saying you shouldn't do a boer, because they are quick, and can be done if you have a good goat/know what you are doing) A pack goat, some fairs have pack goat shows, you get to show them with a pack on and take them through an obstacle course, and then when you are done you get to have the fun backpacking with your goat. If you get a boer goat you will probably have to sell it, and then your other goat still needs a friend

Dairy goats are fun too

[Goat Servant]

To the best of my knowledge, all 4h & FFA goats need to be disbudded. This should be done by the breeder the first week. You will probably need to make a deposit.
For Boers, they should be around 3mos when you take possesion & a good 50-60 lbs. So figure at least a month before fairtime.
Do not allow student to make any feed changes. Feed what breeder has been doing.
After sending home a bag of grain & telling them not to make changes, one of our FFA customers decided she'd improvise. That goat lost a lb & did not make weight.

[Cannon_Farms]

The disbudding is up to the local 4h club, ours doesnt care as long as the goats horns are tipped so they are not such a risk. I honestly would for a child prefer to bottle raise one after the first week or buy from a friendly herd so you can have pleanty of time to train, bottle babies are pesky in some ways but you can always call them as they will listen to momma and prefer your company.

[angelynbelle]

We are just getting into goats this year in 4-H and now somehow I have become the dairy leader! Boy have I got a lot to learn. First you need to deside meat or milk. I love the Nubians for milk goats but that is my own preference. I have 2 Alpines that my husband wanted because they are quite. That keeps him happy and helpful! lol! They really are quite compared to my very attatched Nubians! But I love them all. I have never had a meat goat, but learning more every day. My daughter is doing a market hog this year and that is fun but I know at some point she will cry when she has to say goodbye. It's all part of the learning process right? Good luck with your new project.

[Bricheze]

I'm in the FFA and boy does it teach you how to get attatched to some animals but NOT attached to others! Like last year I walked my lamb everyday twice a day (ended up in a class with 70 other kids tho! so I didn't have a chance...)and I didn't even cry when I left him for the buyer. Same with that meat goat I told you about, and last years pigs.

I could never give up one of my dairy goats tho!

[3crow]

Get the program's rules and regulations. Read them, understand them and know them. The rules do vary from area to area. Some even have breeding programs for the kids, that allows the kids to keep or sell the animal. It all depends on the type of rules that is set up by the extension office and/or 4 H club. In the rules, there usually guidelines that with tell you the requirements of the animal, like age, type, sex and so forth.

As for the Boers, they aren't a problem. Concentrate feeding can be tough but everyone has an opinion on that. Keep close with the breeder, most of the time they can help you and give you advise. Also invite the breeder to the show, many come to watch.