How does raising sheep for meat compare to that of raising goats?

[ksacres]

That's a matter of opinion. I have had both, and I don't like either.

Personally, I don't want my beef to taste like elk. Call me crazy, but I like my beef to taste like beef. So, it's corn fed for me.

I also like milk-fed pork. Another personal preference. That doesn't mean that it's better for everyone.

If you are planning to eat the meat, it would be better for you to taste all the types before making a decision. Find out what you like, and go with that. Grass fed animals are not any healthier than those raised on grains with a hay/pasture mix.

What's important is that grains are fed as a supplement (should you choose to use them) and not as the base ration. Both sheep and goats are ruminants and a completely grain based diet impairs their natural ability to process and use fibrous material and can lead to serious problems like acidosis. Ruminants are very efficient feed users so long as you don't ruin their ability to ruminate.

 

[greyfields]

Grass fed animals simply are healthier for you than grain fed animals. I suggest updating yorur knowledge with a visit to your Extension office. A lot of research has been put into this in the last decade. Among the advantages of grass fed:

- you virtually eliminate all chances of getting sick fro E. Coli.
- 2-6 times the levels of Omega 3 (essential fatty acids) to Omega 6 (fatty acids)
- roughly half the levels of saturated fat
- less overall cholesterol
- 5 times the levesl of CLA, which is an anticarcinogen


And these are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head!

I appreciate the fact you prefer grain fed. But, my customer base tells me that public opinion and education is swinging away from grain fed / feedlot animals both in palate and on moral grounds. I can't produce enough meat as it stands.

A lot of people are (rightly) rebelling against the factory farming which began in the 1950's during which production of meats switch from small to large scale... and consequently feedlots and grain fattening animals. If you look how public health has declined since then, it should be a no brainer. It's so awesome all the people on this website are raising their own chickens for eggs, it's a great first step to take.

And with that, you may have the last word.

 

[ksacres]

Customer demand always swings the market. About ten to fifteen years ago customers began demanding leaner pork. So, in response, producers began leaning their pigs by introducing leaner genetics. Leaner and leaner until eventually you couldn't buy bacon that would hold together in a pan. Now the pig market is recalibrated and you can (thankfully) buy bacon that won't fall apart in your pan and actually tastes like bacon. The fat makes the flavor.

The same thing happened with beef cows, except that there was a demand for a taller animal. So, producers "talled" their cattle until they realized that a tall, rangy animal is inefficient as a meat producing unit, so now we are back to our smaller sized, but efficient beef cattle.

So, as you can see, consumer preference will *always* affect the markets, though it may not be the best thing to go with.

As for health, I was referring to the health of the animals, not it's nutrition content.

Grass fed animals as compared with feedlot animals, it is not hard to say that grass fed is better, but we aren't talking (I don't think) about a commercial operation here. If they are thinking of doing grass fed, then I'm assuming they have pasture available and will be ranging their sheep on it. Adding grains or quality hay as a supplement will in no way impair the health of their animals or increase their E. Coli content. The fat content is also altered by intense confinement that you would see in a commercial operation.

 

[Dodgegal79]

Actually there is research that shows the feeding of corn to cattle produces the E.coli that is carried in ruminate animals. If cattle eat too much grain a condition called Acidosis results. Their ruman are a neutral Ph natural but the addition of grain (corn) raised the Ph and it becomes an acidic environment where this E.coli multiplies. There reason why feedlot came about was the beef is such a high demand commodity and they need to make the cows grow faster. Grain feeding is an unnatural diet.

 

[kstaven]

Better check out the dairy sites and research KS. E coli is a much bigger problem on dairies who feed high grain ratios. Pasture fed dairies rarely have this issue. Or contact Mike Taylor over at U of Guelph and he can keep you reading for days on these studies.

Too much grain is also the reason people have to keep stuffing their goats etc full of baking soda.

Wanted to add that I would go with goats for meat. Better feed conversion ratios than sheep.

 

[tberggren]

Quote:
The reason for going toward sheep for the meat, is I have purely grass pasture, hardly any scrub stuff, so I figured the sheep would be much happier on this type of feed than goats.

 

[Dodgegal79]

You should be fine with your sheep on grass. We only ever fed our sheep grain when they were pregnant and you are suppose to stop after they lamb. We fed oats, there is alot of info out there about raising sheep, so you have lots to chose from. You figure it out to as you go, experience is the best way to learn. Just find out from the local feed store or agricultural office if your sheep will need extra minerals as some soils are lacking in things. I know here in BC we have to supplement with selnium (sp) blocks for the cattle and sheep. And make sure your fencing is good, to keep them in and keep predators out.

 

[Peruvian]

I'm considering raising sheep (Katahdins) for meat as well, but would like to consider just summer raising like I do meat chickens. Assuming I find a local source, how long does it generally take a lamb to grow to butchering size (I'm assuming near 100 lbs)? I've got pasture that could easily be fenced (3 wire on stakes). I would consider raising 1-3 per year on this 1 acre pasture.

 

[Animallover606]

A good breed for market are Hamps as well as suffo/hamps also there are breeds for wool. We currently have thirteen sheep most for fair. If you get a male casterated it will be a weather, if they still are rams then they will atack you if your with their females also take this to mind that they are very stupid and are messy you can use shavings. You might want to feed them a specific diet.

 

[greyfields]

I would be very surprised to see a goat had a better FCR than lambs. Point me to some data.

My lambs at 6-8 months of age are already larger than most Boer goats at 18 months.