The A to Z of Meat Goat Production Russell Ramsey, Regional Agriculture Business Management Specialist, University of Missouri Extension SARE National Conference-August 15-17, 17, 2006 Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
The Goat Market In 2009, there will be 22 million people of ethnic origin in the U.S. and 4.2 million goats will be needed to feed this number of consumers. quote by Marvin Shurley
Advantages to Meat Goat Production Brush Management. Utilize low quality roughage. Can be inexpensive to raise. Small with good disposition. Suitable for home slaughter.
Goats-Not A Get Rich Enterprise Goats are not a get rich quick enterprise. Demand for goat meat chevon chevon is about double the domestic market. Prospective goat producers should investigate market conditions, estimate costs, and work out a rough budget for their farm.
Missouri Goat Budget Budget for Spring kidding program for one hundred meat-type does and three bucks. assumptions 1 170 percent kid crop raised; 20 doe kids saved as replacements 2 Does purchased at $150 each; bucks at $300 each 3 Limited supplemental feeding of hay to does during winter; limited grain feeding during late gestation amd early lactation. Kids fed 1.0 pound per day for 100 days postweaning. 1/2 lb/hd/day for 100 days = 50 lbs. cost $10 Income amount/doe type price total kids 70 lbs. x 1.25/lb x1.5 kids $131.25 cull does 100 lbs. x.70/lb x 16 cull does $11.20 gross income/doe $142.45 Expenses Pasture cost 5 goats per acre @ $25 per acre $4.60 Hay 194 lbs. x.0232/lb $4.50 stockpilled fescue can reduce this Grain 50 lbs. @.20/lb $10.00 Veterinary Dewormer 6 times per year $4.80 vaccinations $0.42 insecticides $0.24 Salt & Mineral 43 lbs. @.22 per lb $9.46 Buildings & Fences 6 wire fence + interior + alley $10.00 Marketing & Hauling $7.50 Vehicles, Fuel, Utilities & Misc $6.00 Operating Capital Interest 200 days x 6.25% X $15,900 (100 does three bucks) $4.98 Operating cost per doe $62.50 Net Receipts per doe $79.95 by University of Missouri Extension Livestock Specialist Randall Saner
Agriculture Industry Wall Street Journal: goats have become one of the fastest growing U.S. agricultural industries. Goat meat consumption is increasing. Goat meat has lower fat content than lamb or beef. Goat meat is consumed by 80 per cent of the world population.
Profitability One of the key questions to answer before starting an enterprise is, will it be profitable? Sample budgets will help sort out the various categories of expenses to consider.
Goats per Acre? 6 doe goats and 9 to 12 kids per acre compared to 1 cow-calf calf pair per acre. Raise 60 does and 90-120 kids on ten acres compared to ten cows and ten calves on ten acres.
Multi-Species Grazing Can add 1 to 2 goats per head of cows grazing the same pasture without reducing beef production according to North Carolina State University. Goats consume plants cattle avoid. Suppression of brush allows more grass to grow. Use management intensive grazing.
Improving Odds of Success Start with good-quality, healthy breeding stock. Purchase from reputable breeder-avoid the auction barn. Avoid high-dollar stock until you have gained experience. Don t buy more than you can afford to lose, and don t borrow money to the learn the business.
Bob and Lana Bare 4054 Slack Pike Maysville, Ky. 41056 606-759 759-75737573 lanabare@alltel.net www.elmspringboe rgoats.com
Bob and Lana Bare Feed hay to their goats year-round. round. Use grain ration mix developed by University of Kentucky. Goats on open pasture land.
Bob and Lana Bare Ton Mix Ration 10 % Cotton Seed Hulls 30 % Whole Corn 40 % Soy Hull Pellets 20 % Distillers Grain 150 lbs. Wet Molasses 10 lbs. Ammonium Chloride 2 lbs. Vitamin Pack-Selenium Mix 10 lbs. Salt
Bob and Lana Bare Farm Closed herd of 350 goats on 50 acres of pasture. Purchase bucks and quarantine them for 35 days. Wethers are marketed at local livestock auction. Does sold as breeders.
Parasite Control Use FAMACHA technique to determine parasite load and natural parasite resistance of individual animals.
FAMACHA FAMACHA measures levels of anemia or blood loss (not fecal egg counts) and treatment decisions based on these levels. Proper training is imperative before using this system.
Bob and Lana Bare Utilize farrowing crates for kidding.
Utilize Existing Facilities Bob and Lana Bare use beef show barn in their goat operation. Alley way of barn serves as a working area for their goats.
Predator Control-A A Must! Maximize income by maximizing the number of animals for sale. Concentrate on kid crop born and keep the kids alive and well through good nutrition, health care, and predator control.
Marketing Goats Southeast Missouri Meat Goat Association Pooled Sale. Nearly 1400 goats were marketed in December of 2005. Goats were weighed & graded. Sent to Pennsylvania.
Marketing Different ethnic populations will prefer different types of goats. Size, sex, breed>>>>they Matter!!!!! Strongest markets along Eastern U.S. Coast and Florida.
Pooled Sale Day One goat or a trailer load.
Pooled Sale Day Trailer load or even a double-deck deck trailer load.
Improving Odds of Success Keep expenses to a minimum. This is accomplished by using forages as much as possible, keeping equipment simple, and using a preventative health care plan.
Marketing Peak demand for goat meat occurs at Easter, on Muslin holidays, on the 4 th of July, and at Christmas.
Sales Manager Coordinates the pooled sale. Serves as the goat grader. Bill Sheehy, Ironton, Missouri. 573-546 546-3536.
Utilizing Old Auction Facility Collection point for pooled sale in Southeast Missouri. Certified Scales a must.
Conditions for Success Must have a viable market. Market price must exceed cost of production. Goal of 1.5 kids weaned for every doe bred.
Marketing Farm Gate-market at the farm if you only produce a few kids each year and ethnic populations are near you. Muslins and Hispanics may want to slaughter the animals on site.
Attention Goat Producers The Missouri Meat Goat Association, Southeast Division, has planned an open pooled goat sale for December, 2006. You do not have to be a member to consign goats. Sell per pound- certified scales.
Marketing Your Product Over 1000 pounds of goat served during the annual homecoming. Puxico is in Southeast Missouri. Tradition since the end of WWII.
Marketing Your Product We can be like the dairy producers!