Goat prices at local auction

[1sttimemom]

I always check the local paper for auction results. The 2 auctions in this area who regularly handle goats post their results each week for all classes of livestock. Goats consistently go for well over $1 per pound, frequently close to $2/lb live weight. They sell "by the head" but do weight and post the weights so it's easy enough to figure per lb prices. The best prices seem to be for young doelings (60-80 lbs) and "willies" which I think are supposed to be wethers. Most of them are listed as Boer, Boer-cross, or just by color or as "crossbred". My hubby was shocked at how much auction goats were going for when we went last yr to buy weaner pigs. He was like "holy cow, why aren't we raising meat goats??"

I have a neighbor farmer who makes living off his small farm raising hay. some beef cattle, a small flock of hair meat sheep, and I notice his boer goat herd keeps GROWING. His kids show them at fair and do OK but not frequent champions or anything. I don't think most of his are papered but he does some selling for fair kids. Most are considered commercial meat quality. He has told me he makes $$ on them and I can guarantee he would not be growing that herd if he was losing $$. He is too practical and that's their livelihood.

So I wonder, is there really $$ to be made?

[Alice In TX/MO]

If he's raising his own hay, that cuts his overhead tremendously.

[CAjerseychick]

Definitely goats can really go through the hay...