Your herd numbers

[Jagerland Ranch]

I'm researching starting our herd and brainstorming a business plan, I would love to hear what kind of numbers you guys have.

1. What breed(s) do you have?
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers?
3. How many do you breed a year?
4. How many do you sell vs retain?
5. Where do most of your buyers come from?
6. Where are you located?
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market?
8. Do you show or LA?
9. How long have you been held captive by goats?
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive?

I hope this is not too personal, but inquiring minds what to know.

Please & Thank You

[Alice In TX/MO]

1. What breed(s) do you have?
Alpine, Mini-Alpine, LaMancha/Saanen, Mini-Mancha
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers?
Milking does (3)
Bucks and bucklings (5) Please buy some!
Doelings (2)
Companion does who will not be bred due to health issues (2)
3. How many do you breed a year?
Depends on whether I have a doe who is milking through. We are working on the LaMancha/Saanen line to be multi-year milkers without having to breed them every year. Bred five last winter, sold one doe and her kids, and had to put down one elderly doe.
4. How many do you sell vs retain?
Varies, but I am working to sell all but two bucks now. Want to retain three milkers.
5. Where do most of your buyers come from?
Everything from the Hispanic cabrito buyers to local dairy goat owners
6. Where are you located?
The coastal plain of Texas from November thru April
South central Missouri from May thru October
Yes, the goats migrate with us.
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market?
No.
8. Do you show or LA?
No.
9. How long have you been held captive by goats?
Four years.
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive?
They are the most intelligent, funny, friendly, and delightful animals I've ever had the pleasure to be involved with. Their bond with humans goes back sooooo long that they can read our body language, and we can read theirs. I love them to pieces.

[Reed77]

1. What breed(s) do you have? Boer, I'm looking into nubians
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers? 1 buck & 3 does
3. How many do you breed a year? I'm just starting out, haven't bred my own yet
4. How many do you sell vs retain? I will only retain those who improve my herd, rest will be sold
5. Where do most of your buyers come from? No buyers yet (I haven't even advertised yet)
6. Where are you located? Northern California, USA!
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market? Not really
8. Do you show or LA? not sure what LA is, but I'm getting into showing
9. How long have you been held captive by goats? about 3 years
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive? For now

[Alice In TX/MO]

LA = Linear Appraisal

http://thegoatspot.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10229

[dosthouhavemilk]

1. What breed(s) do you have?
~~A little bit of this, some of that, and some more of those... Our bucks are Nubian and Boer (basically). I did an outside Alpine breeding this year and will likely breed the resulting doeling Alpine as well. Our doe herd stems from 2 Saanens, 7 Nubians, a Togg, a Pygmy, a couple of Alpines, a MiniNubian, three Boers, a Fainter cross and a goat of unknown ancestry (I suspect Alpine/Spanish). The sires have included a LaMancha/Alpine, Boer/Saanen, Boer/Togg/Alpine, Kiko (?), Purebred Nubians, Alpine/Boer, Boer/Nubian, Fullblood Boers, and a couple Boer/Dairy.
2. How many? A lot. 231 currently. Assuming we haven't lost anymore.
~~Does? 98 does born from 2001-2010. 68 ->2010-2011 doelings. So 166 currently.
~~Bucks? Breeding- 8 (4 Purebred Nubians, 2 Fullblood Boers and 2 High % Boer crosses) Intact Dud- 1 (teaser buck- Fullblood Boer); Five bucklings to sell- One yearling Purebred Nubian, a Polled 2011 American Nubian, a grade 2011 Alpine and two already spoken for 2011 Nubian cross bucks; 19 ->2011 buck kids left to castrate
~~Wethers? One buck companion wether (10 year old Nubian) and 31 ->2011 wether kids.
3. How many do you breed a year?
~~It varies, but we have been aiming for 75-100. 83 this past year. Not sure how many this year.
4. How many do you sell vs retain?
~~It has varied. We have been expanding the past few years so have been retaining more doelings than we might normally. The market has also called more for does in milk, than doelings. We still have 29 of the 73 doelings born last year. I sold a good dozen as bred does this past Fall and this Spring though. We want to maintain our doe herd around 75 or so, but we hold over a number of doelings and sell a number as bred doe/lings. Still finding what works.
5. Where do most of your buyers come from?
~~The vast majority of our goats are sold for meat through Eighty-Four in PA. I've sold a number of milking does this year and last to the Amish and to a few families in IN/OH/WV. I have buyers for the first three Polled Purebred Nubian bucklings I can produce (one from KS and two from MI).
6. Where are you located?
~~SE Ohio. 40 minutes from Wheeling, WV. The rolling hills of Appalachia.
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market?
~~Yes. Prices for goats has gone up the past few years. Where we would be happy to get $75 a head for 75-85 pounds goats, we now can get $130 for 65-70 pound wethers. We changed where we send ours to and our husbandry has improved, along with the quality of what we sell. We ask more for our does as well. We would rather ship them for slaughter (and we have) than have our prices be too low and our goats undervalued.
8. Do you show or LA?
~~Not yet. I would like to show if I could find the time, money and the proper goat(s). We used to show our Jerseys. The goats started out as a 4-H project for my younger sister and so a couple were shown locally. LA would be much later on. It does not make sense yet.
9. How long have you been held captive by goats?
~~Misty, a grade Saanen, came home in 1997, I believe.
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive?
~~Honestly. No idea. It has been working for us. I have knowledge and there is just something special about them and their quirky, obnoxious antics. When you can just sit down in a pen and they come and circle around, nibbling and nuzzling. A nice summer afternoon laying in the field reading and watching the goats browse. Nothing quite like it.
Owning goats is full of heartache, disappointment and pain, but also joy, hope and surprise.

[PrettyPaisley]

1. What breed(s) do you have? Saanen & Saanen/LaMancha cross
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers? 4 does
3. How many do you breed a year? none-still learning
4. How many do you sell vs retain? none so far
5. Where do most of your buyers come from? N/A
6. Where are you located? NC
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market? N/A
8. Do you show or LA? huh?
9. How long have you been held captive by goats? 1 wonderful year!
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive? because they are the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me-almost even moreso than having children!

[houndlover]

1. What breed(s) do you have? Lamancha, Oberhasli, one Obermancha
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers? Currently 6 breeding age does, 3 dry yearlings, 6 kids that are all pre sold, 1 buck
3. How many do you breed a year? I bred 8 does, 2 were killed in a dog attack.
4. How many do you sell vs retain? I am not retaining any kids this year, retained three does last year. May sell one of those.
5. Where do most of your buyers come from? Most of my buyers come from craigslist because I advertise very few goats. Most of my sales come from show circuit friends and are presales.
6. Where are you located? Western Oregon
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market? Not really. My market is high end. Wethers and not show quality goats go on craigslist and prices are up slightly. They go quick.
8. Do you show or LA? Both, and milk test.
9. How long have you been held captive by goats? Pre internet.
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive? I ask myself that all the time.

You need to check out this website. The woman is local to me and writes books specifically about marketing goats and other farm products.

Beyond The Sidewalk

[Donna1982]

1. What breed(s) do you have? LaManchas and Boers
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers? Here At the house 1 doe 1 buck. At my moms a few boer does and at the breeders a LaMancha doe waiting to be weaned. Still looking for a good LaMancha buck since Louis passed.
3. How many do you breed a year? none I've done but had goats for years before moving to Oklahoma.
4. How many do you sell vs retain? na yet.
5. Where do most of your buyers come from? again na yet.
6. Where are you located? Oklahoma
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market? Yes goats cost twice as much in Kentucky then here.
8. Do you show or LA? fixing to start showing.
9. How long have you been held captive by goats? years.
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive? Because they are not like any other animal out there. You can have the worse day go outside for two minutes and they will make you forget.

[Creamers]

1. What breed(s) do you have? Saanens, Nubians and Nigerians and one Mini Nubian
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers?2 Nigi bucks, 1 Nubian buck, 1 Mini Nub Wether, 4 Nub does, 5 Nigi does, 4 Nigi doelings, 2 Saanen doelings
3. How many do you breed a year? not through - still breeding some Nigis, so far, 6 does
4. How many do you sell vs retain?I did not retain any except the wether and only him because of an injury that hasn't healed - sold or traded 8 or so
5. Where do most of your buyers come from? Ohio
6. Where are you located?WV
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market?Not really
8. Do you show or LA? Doing LA next year
9. How long have you been held captive by goats? 4 years
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive?They make my heart sing

[mabeane]

1. What breed(s) do you have?
Nigerian Dwarfs this time around.
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers?
4 does, 2 doelings, 1 buck and 1 wether
3. How many do you breed a year?
This year I hope to get all 6 bred. Three are already bred for Sept and Oct

4. How many do you sell vs retain?
I am looking for milk and ease in milking so I sell poor milkers and wethers and some doelings.

5. Where do most of your buyers come from?
Local
6. Where are you located?
Maine
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market?
No
8. Do you show or LA?
No
9. How long have you been held captive by goats?
I have had goats on and of over the past 33 years.
These miniatures are by far my favorite. The milk is great and the handling is easy.
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive?
We love goat milk and then there's the entertainment factor and all those cute kids!

[mygoat]

1. What breed(s) do you have? Some 'miniatures' (pygmy crosses that I started with and now am too attached to get rid of), Alpines, and Boers.

2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers? 4 Mini does (butchering one at the end of the season when her kid is butchered), 2 mini bucks (considering butchering one), 2 Alpine does, 3 alpine bucks (only keeping one purchased buck and another as a companion until test results come back - the otehr is a companion to my boer buck who is also still in iso), 5 boer does, 1 boer buck, and 4 wethers and 2 doelings (One is my 3 year old cart goat, the rst are all slated for butcher).

3. How many do you breed a year? This fall will be 10.

4. How many do you sell vs retain? I keep a doeling here or there, most of the time I sell or butcher though.

5. Where do most of your buyers come from? I advertise online many places and have great sucess selling them that way. With our boers, we're considering starting to sell them at auction as meat sales.

6. Where are you located? Lower MI, about an hr north of OH.

7. Have you seen recent changes in your market? Not really, though it's observation only. I've been seeing lot more tested herds lately, so prices have gone up slightly on average I would guess.

8. Do you show or LA? No shows, too scary for disease transmission. I will be LA'ing for the first time this year! My alpine ladies are also on DHIR this year!

9. How long have you been held captive by goats? 9 of my 21 years on this planet.

10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive? Started out as a hobby for an 11 year old kid, and has gravitated more toward sales of quality breeding stock and HOPEFULLY profits. They are such pleasant animals to be around and for my age and size, were the best bet for handling and care. We get the best meat, milk, and enjoyment out of them.

[yarrow]

1. What breed(s) do you have?
ADGA Purebred Nubians

2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers?
DOES- 22 (from Sr. does down to this spring's doelings) 2 lamancha x nubians does (mother/daughter duo)... BUCKS-3 to 6 depending on the year

3. How many do you breed a year?
I plan on breeding 18 or so this fall, to kid mid march-april

4. How many do you sell vs retain?
I plain on retaining 2 or so doelings.. 4 doelings is the most I've ever kept. I usually retain a buckling to grow out as a possible jr. herd sire

5. Where do most of your buyers come from?
Most of my sales come from my website, repeat buyers & recommendations from former buyers.

6. Where are you located?
MO. Ozarks

7. Have you seen recent changes in your market?
the demand for healthy Nubians, just seems to get larger every year. We were *sold out/via reserves* BEFORE kidding began for doelings.. the demand for bucklings was also strong this past spring.. I could have sold TWICE the number of doe kids, we had born.. I had NO milkers for sale this year and was having to turn folks looking for milkers away, time after time after time

8. Do you show or LA?
NOPE... I have no desire to show...(that said, I have bought from some of the top show stock breeders..I like producing show quality does, just, rather their new owners be the ones showing LOL.... we *may* LA on occasion -if the LA schedule for our area.. fits OUR kidding/milking schedule)

9. How long have you been held captive by goats?
8 years

10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive?
We moved to the Ozarks.. totally because of my desire to have a herd of dairy goats...(had friends back in OK. who had nubians).. Our land here in the Ozarks, is very well suited for goat raising. The goats are able to browse for much of the year..summers are usually (not this year ) not overly hot or dry.. winters are rarely harsh.. I started with and have stayed with my true love... Nubians.. Love the personalities, those long basset hound ears.. the roman nose.. We've had in the past, horses.. jersey cows... but now it's pretty much just the goats, they are the PERFECT size/temperment for ease of handling/moving/vetting.

susie, mo ozarks

[Heritagefarm]

\

1. What breed(s) do you have?

We are looking to stay at Oberhaslis and LaManchas. Currently we have a couple Alpines and Saanens that we need to get rid of so that we can better focus our attentions on the main two breeds.

2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers?

The numbers bounce around rapidly. Currently, about 14 does. 10 are in milk, and we have 12 doelings. We have an Oberhasli buck, and a Saanen and LaMancha buck that we need to sell. Otherwise we have 8 bucklings that we are raising for breeding. I also have a pet wether, who is a brat and needs working.

3. How many do you breed a year?

As many as possible...

4. How many do you sell vs retain?

We are primarily a commercial operation, so we sell quite a bit, usually half the herd every year.

5. Where do most of your buyers come from?

We sell most of the animals locally, but we're looking for ways to expand our market. The local market does not seem to be able to support our herd very well.

6. Where are you located?

It's in my title bar...

7. Have you seen recent changes in your market?

Well, it gets easier to sell things as our lineages and reputation continues to grow better. The market fluctuates alarmingly, and is a constant gamble. (Of course, that's true anytime.)

8. Do you show or LA?

We look forward to doing LA, but the shows are probably not going to be in the budget for some time.

9. How long have you been held captive by goats?

Only about 3 years. Since then our herd has gone from bottom-of-the-barrel to almost show quality (as well as some that are).

10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive?

I'm signing up for a psych exam next week, we'll see then.


Just kidding.

[Oat Bucket Farm]

1. What breed(s) do you have?

Purebred LaManchas

2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers?

Just two does right now with a third coming in September. I don't have any bucks right now, but by next year that is probably going to have to change.

3. How many do you breed a year?

Usually two or three

4. How many do you sell vs retain?

We usually sell all

5. Where do most of your buyers come from?

Craigslist

6. Where are you located?

west central Kansas

7. Have you seen recent changes in your market?

No, the market for dairy goats still kind of sucks out here

8. Do you show or LA?

No

9. How long have you been held captive by goats?

since 2006

10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive?

I love their company, their milk, and their antics.

[hiddensprings]

Here's my input:
1. What breed(s) do you have? I have Nubians, Angoras, and 1 little Nigerian Dwarf
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers? Does:8, Bucks: 1 (well, I have 3 bucklings too but they aren't staying)Wethers: 2, these are my angoras
3. How many do you breed a year? usually 5 does
4. How many do you sell vs retain? Currently retaining my does so I can build my herd, all of the boys go.
5. Where do most of your buyers come from? word of mouth, from my newsletter, and some times craigslist
6. Where are you located? Tennessee
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market? market price has gone up
8. Do you show or LA?no
9. How long have you been held captive by goats? We've had goats since 2005. Started with Boers, added the angora, and then fell in love with the Nubians. The boers were all sold last summer. I hated those things (no offense to anyone who raises them, they were just not for me)
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive? I love milking, making stuff from the milk, and watching them. Love my angora fiber and my boys are super sweet.

[chewie]

Originally Posted by Jagerland Ranch

I'm researching starting our herd and brainstorming a business plan, I would love to hear what kind of numbers you guys have.

1. What breed(s) do you have? saanens and crosses thereof
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers? 5 does in milk, one wether for my one buck, and one doeling to show at 4H then will be sold
3. How many do you breed a year? 5
4. How many do you sell vs retain? selling all, my does are young and I need no more!
5. Where do most of your buyers come from? usually the sale barn, but this year a private buyer bought all the doelings, they were half boer, so start a meat herd
6. Where are you located? lower part, central south dakota
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market? meat is better, have had calls for dairy goats too, but they are usually those who think they will cost $50 and will give a gallon a day wandering free in the yard eating trash.
8. Do you show or LA? DD14 shows 4h, but that's it.
9. How long have you been held captive by goats? 6 years
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive? they provide our family with wonderful milk and the personality of each one is varied but delightful. easy keepers, and much easier to handle than a cow in sooo many ways.

I hope this is not too personal, but inquiring minds what to know.

Please & Thank You

interesting to hear everyone's anwers. I thought most here had had goats for many years, kinda nice to know i'm not the only one with just several years into it.

[cmharris6002]

1. What breed(s) do you have? ADGA Purebred Registered Nubians
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers? 11 Does 2 Bucks and I never keep wethers
3. How many do you breed a year? 8-12
4. How many do you sell vs retain? I only keep 8-12 does so for every kid I keep I have to sell a Sr. Doe
5. Where do most of your buyers come from? Local
6. Where are you located? North East Kansas
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market? Steady Market
8. Do you show or LA? I've shown in the past but now I prefer to keep a closed herd. I do LA most years
9. How long have you been held captive by goats? 8 years
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive? Because we love each other

[chukashtamoa]

30 Boer does,2 Boer bucks and 4 Boer wethers

[RedSonja]

1. What breed(s) do you have? Nubians
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers? 4 does, 1 buck, 1 wether, (and 1 buckling but he's sold)
3. How many do you breed a year? Only 1 this year but plan to breed the other 3 does as they come in heat.
4. How many do you sell vs retain? So far retained none. Would retain a doeling a year if they were what I want to have in my herd.
5. Where do most of your buyers come from? My one buyer came from here on HT
6. Where are you located? Northeast corner of Alabama, USA. Near Huntsville.
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market? Not doing market research, just home milkers.
8. Do you show or LA? Don't want to show, might LA or DHIR in future.
9. How long have you been held captive by goats? Since my early teens but just now back into goat captivity after decades away. Had them a year so far.
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive? The milk, the cute kids, the brush clearing, and the awesomeness that is goats.

I hope this is not too personal, but inquiring minds what to know.

Please & Thank You

[Pony]

1. What breed(s) do you have? Nubian and Snubian (Saanen/Nubian cross)
2. How many? Does? Bucks? Wethers? 2 Nubian does; 2 Snubian does; 1 Nubian buck
3. How many do you breed a year? This year, I'll be breeding at least 3
4. How many do you sell vs retain? Sell most, only retained 1 doeling this year. All bucks are sold or frozen
5. Where do most of your buyers come from? Craig's list
6. Where are you located? NW MO
7. Have you seen recent changes in your market? No idea.
8. Do you show or LA? Completely closed herd
9. How long have you been held captive by goats? Coming up on 3 years
10. Why do you allow them to keep you captive? Can't escape!