New- need some advice

[craftnkids]

We have just started farming this year in earnest! We lease our land and have successfully started our pastured poultry business. I pride myself on farming in a way that is beneficial to the land and is sensitive to the welfare of the animals.
All that being said- I was approached by a restaurant owner who is looking for goat meat, and I think having goats may solve some of my issues with the land. Right now we have to bush hog in front of the chickens, because they like smaller blades of grass and the electric fence doesn't work as well with tall grass.
So I am thinking: Mob grazing the goats in front of the chickens, to keep the grass low and provide something for the chickens to scratch through. I am looking at a small herd to start with, while I figure them out.
Here is what I need:
What is a good meat breed that will live off of forage alone? Is there a breed that will do that?
My market has mainly been people looking to get away from antibiotics, hormones and steriods. I have accomplished that with my poultry, but can you do that with goats?
Is there a book that you would recommend? Do I need to go and take a class or find a mentor?
Can I move them everyday with high tensile wire- maybe three to four wires? Will this keep them in? I have heard they are houdinis!
Any other suggestions you might have?
Thank you in advance-
Angela
http://www.gingersnaphollowfarms.com/

[Minelson]

When I got my first goat I found www.fiascofarm.com very helpful...and here of course. I would suggest you go to that website and read read read..... Welcome!!

[Alice In TX/MO]

No, you cannot keep them in with strands. You can use electric net fencing that is VERY easy to move like you are talking about.

http://www.premier1supplies.com/goats/species.php

By the way, goats are not, by preference, grazers. They browse, which means they eat leaves, bark, twigs, blackberry vines, etc. and leave most of the grass.

[craftnkids]

Thank you- this looks like a great site with lots of information!
Is there anyone out there who has meat goats?

[craftnkids]

Alice- if I want both lawnmower and brush eater, could I keep goats and sheep together in Mob grazing style?

[craftnkids]

the fencing looks just like what I use for the poultry! Hmmmm! That would be nice since I already know how to use it!

[HappyFarmer]

Any breed of goat *can* live off forage alone, and thrive, though milk goats would not be the best choice for obvious reasons. After all, they are foragers not grazers.

Please clarify: Will you be moving the fence every day in woods/brush (i.e. forage?)? I would think that would be cumbersome. Sounds more like you will be moving it on pasture/grazing lands? How much land? Normally a goat won't eat pasture it ate/grazed/trampled/defacated on the day before. Grazing also means more worm issues than foraging.

It's been my experience that many show/pet goats have had so much input they will not thrive on forage alone, because they have become so dependent and pampered their adaptabilities have diminished. This is a general statement and not meant to raise any hairs, it's just my experience.

Buy from herds that do not pamper, herds that worm very seldom, herds that are not locked up every night or only in the worst of the worst of storms, herds that are currently on forage alone, maybe just minerals or other minor environmental based additions. These are hardy goats, goats bred to survive in the scenario you describe, because those that didn't thrive either died or were culled leaving the hardiest to multiply. Management style is key.

Yes they are out there, you have to find & select them (or breed towards your goal) though some management by you will be needed for basic care & longevity.

Ditto the Fiasco Farms website, it is a good place to start.

HF

[Alice In TX/MO]

I have a good friend who mobs her sheep and goats. They sort of hang in the same area, but keep with their own kind.

Sounds like a plan!

[Slugmar]

Ill give this a shot with some input and somethings to think about.

I raise Boer, I roatate them between three pasture every 30 days and I dont feed them they forage for there own food.

Goat is starting to emerge into some restaurent markets but it is very popular with different ethnic groups.

With proper managment goats can be raised with out using antibotics, hormones or steriods.

There is always storeys guide to raising goats, meat goats for profit if you want to look at them, I would look for a mentor also.

a good outfence and a three strand hotwire to seperate each padlock will work.

The goats will take longer to get to market on grass a lone so your looking for a year or more till the first kids would be ready.

How many goats does he want a month ? can you keep up with his demand monthly ?

You might need alot of goats to make up for his demand. Is he going to pick them up from your place and take them to slaughter or do you have to find the USDA inspection plant to have the meat processed and shipped to him.

is it all possible I would say yes.

Anthor option you might have is just picking up weathers at different stages of growth and feeding them out.

hope this helps a little.

[craftnkids]

Intensely helpful!!!!
We will move them everyday- in the afternoon and keep them 4-5 days ahead of our chickens. I have a processor and a basic idea of how that will work.
I have not discussed the details with the restaurant owner yet- I am still trying to find out if this is possible for us.
Is there anyone in the Northeast area of Georgia that would mind if we came out and checked out there operation/farm?

[craftnkids]

We could also go into the southwestern part of South Carolina!

[Haven]

Originally Posted by Slugmar

There is always storeys guide to raising goats, meat goats for profit if you want to look at them, I would look for a mentor also.

Great book. I am in the researching phase for meat goats also and picked up that book at TSC.

I was hesitant to spend the $ on a book, with so much info available on the web, but I find it really helpful, detailed, and packed full of good info.

[Goat Servant]

Finding a good mentor or two is one of the best things you can do. Mine is an invaluable blessing & has talked me thru stuff when I dont have the time to wait for a half a doz answers that may or may not be the solution.
Talk to the resturant guy...does he want 5 or 50 a month? On the other hand until you get some hands on experience under your belt you may not want to be overwhelmed with the learning curve all at once with large numbers to manage.

Another good web site is Jack&Anita Maudlin.

All our best to you!

[ACountryMomma]

We have kept our goats in with 3 strands of hot wire for the last 3 years. BUT we do have a perimeter fence around the entire property just incase we ever run into a goat who doesn't respect electricity.

My question would be how many animals you would need to produce each month to supply them with enough meat? I would imagine it would be quite a few... If so, do you plan to breed your own each year and feed them out? You will be moving a lot of goats around every day to have your breeders and your feeders...

[mabeane]

Go slooow....
Breathe.

Better to be successful with fewer than overwhelmed with too many.

[craftnkids]

Slow is exaactly what I am thinking! If I overwhelm the family it will not be fun, and then all the chores will be a nightmare.
I need to find a mentor in my area, and then I will go back to the restaurant owner.
Thank you for everyones input it has been very helpful!
Angela

[thaiblue12]

Goats need copper and sheep do not and it is deadly to them so that is something to keep in mind as minerals are very important to goats. Chicken feed is can be deadly to goats so you would have to make sure that they cannot get to it. Oh they will want to and badly. They seem to love the stuff.

Is it green the whole year round in your area? If not in the winter months you will need to feed them hay. Not cow hay that is moldy or cheap junk hay but good hay. I am not sure about meat goats but I do feed my dairy babies aside from hay to make sure they get what they need and grow well. So that might be another cost to consider.

Goats do not need anti-biotics unless ill with a fever or what not. Just make sure they really need it before using it. I prefer to keep a close eye on them and their temp before using it. I never heard of goats needing steriods.

But the one thing you have to make sure of before you get into meat goats is the CAN you butcher them? I cannot so I went dairy. Goats have alot of personality and can win you over quickly, especially bottle kids. I was going to go the meat route since it is very popular out here but I really thought hard about it and knew I would end up with a herd of Boers that could not be butchered. So I chose not to do meat goats, yes I am a sissy lol.

Maybe start out with two and see if you like them and can butcher them. Just make sure that you start with healthy stock. Out here meat goags are considered terminal and they could careless what they have wrong with them and they will be butchered in the end. I personally would rather have healthy stock having healthy babies.

[Slugmar]

Alot of what your going to do will be determined by how much meat he needs per month,
lets say he needs about 5 goats a month and you do a 8 month cycle in breeding, I would say you might start with 70 does total breeding 10 goats a month.

That would give you anywhere from 0 to 20+ babies a month, from there I would start weeding out momma that don't preform to your standard. Ones that are not very good mothers or if there past there second kidding only producing one kid and momma that require more maintince then the others.

your going to need to find an outlet for your other kids that you have auction yards, other restuarents, replacment breeding stock and the list goes on and on.

[craftnkids]

we already have a reputable processor- so no worries there! Slugmar- 70 does, wow! I think I will start with far fewer than that to start. I need to get the feel of this first, and decide if I can make this work.
Thank you again, all the comments have been super helpful.
Still looking- anyone in Georgia or South Carolina raise goats on here?
Angela