Starting out with goats... Need all the help I can get! Goatlovers!!!

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Thank you very much to the person above me!

What breed do you recommend I get? I know I was thinking of boer, but now that I hear that people in the meat goat business don't really care, I'm kinda hesitant to get one.

What I'm really looking for is an animal that can do very well being left alone with one of it's own kind for most of the day, one that is hardy to weather and disease. One with nice beefy males that will produce nice meat, as well as maybe pull a good-sized cart and eat loads and loads of brush.

Disease resistance and flexibility are the two traits I'm looking for. I'd even go with pygmies if they can fill the criteria. (don't think they can)

Thanks!

 

[username taken]

cmjust0, be careful with such generalised statements

the meat goat industry doesnt test for CL and CAE like the dairy industry, but I assure you that doesnt mean that the people in the meat industry do not care about these diseases, and allow them to spread willy nilly.

CL can result in the complete condemnation of a carcase ... yet because the udder is rarely affected, the milk of an infected animal can still be used. So wouldnt it make sense for CL to be just as important, or even more important, to a meat producer?

Frankly, I think CL should be a reportable disease, and that any animal found with CL should be shot and incinerated..

I think you are jumping the gun here ... both CL and CAE are very manageable diseases, and relatively simple to eradicate from the herd, if infection does occur. Johnes on the other hand, is a completely different story.

Also, FWIW, the CL vaccine is standard here in Australia, I've never seen an animal go lame from it. And I've never seen a case of CL in a vaccinated animal, seen a few in unvaxxd animals though.​

 

[loverOFchickens]

The fence really depends on the breed.

We have nigerian dwarfs LOVE them.

We pack our weathers.
Another bonus is they are cheaper to feed, fence,etc.

Good luck

 

[username taken]

Quote:
You would do best with a boer cross, not fullblood boer but something 50% boer, the other 50% can be kiko or spanish, for a really tough, hardy goat that will take care of himself.

 

[MissCluck]

I love my Boer/Pygmy cross goat Isobelle! She is beautiful, sweet, sensible and strong.

 

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What are Pygmies like?

 

[MissCluck]

I think you'll find that all goats are individuals, however, my vet told me that pygmies were more shy than some other breeds.

I have a little Nigi wether and a Pygmy cross doe. He is shy because he wasn't treated well as a youngster, the doe has become very friendly since I got her.

They all respond to kindness and love.

My La Mancha wethers are friendly little scamps...ALWAYS getting into things.

 

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I guess there's no such thing as a well-behaved goat, eh?

 

[username taken]

yes there is - you just need to discipline them otherwise they will run riot

 

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How do you discipline a goat?