Let me begin this article by stating that I am not nor do I claim to be an expert on the Boer Goat industry or the goat industry. My wife and I started this business as a hobby where my wife would have the ability to stay at home with our new son, and if we were lucky enough to raise some good quality animals, possibly sell a few to pay for some feed bills. We did not get into this business as our primary source of income.

Both of us really enjoy raising animals and working on a farm. We have enjoyed bringing the goats to the farm and the excitement each time that we have an expectant mother where we try to guess how good the babies will look when they are born. it is hard for us to part with many of the animals that we raiseFirst let me say that we both love raising goats, and animals in general. a vet and do not claim to know nearly as much as anyone else out there, I just know what worked for us on our farm.

We also feel like the goat industry in general and the Boar Goat industry especially are currently very strong. The demand for meat goats in the US is currently greater than the number of goats being produced, therefore the demand for new farmers joing the goat industry is high.

As with any business, starting out in the goat business requires a plan. First you have to decide what types of goats you are trying to raise:

• Meat Goats, to take directly to the local stockyard
• Breeding stock, to increase herd quality
• Show stock, this can either be show wethers for 4-H or other sanctioned show

Each one of these areas requires a different business strategy and a different financial investment, but all of them have a really strong market right now.

Here are a few tips for getting started.

• Before you buy the first goat, decide which market that you want to be in. It is possible to be in more than one market at the same time
• Build good fencing and good facilities. We are constantly adding on and improving areas around our farm. Next on the project list is to add more shelter to kid in during the winter months.
• Make sure that you invest in good guard dogs, (prior to buying goats). When we got our first goats we did not have any guard dogs, that led to many sleepless nights because of worrying when something was going to break through the fence and into the pen and destroy our herd.
• Make sure that you have researched goat sickness and disease. Adding on to this, buy your first goats from someone that can help you diagnose problems when they arise. Make sure that person is willing to help you at all hours, if you are new to the business there is a good bit to learn and the only way to do that is time and practice.
• Keep good records. Record all dates, times, and any other information that you can think of when you are working with your goats.
• If you happen to sell a goat for breeding stock, pass those records on to the next person so that they can have some history on their new addition.
• Join a local or regional goat association, we currently belong to several different organizations.
• Ask questions
• Invest in the right feed for the animals that you are trying to raise. We are raising breeding stock and show animals, when we first started the feed that we were feeding did not make the goats slick off as well as we thought they should. We changed the feed that tehy were on and within a month, the goats looked like completely different animals.
• If you are going to show, go to some shows to determine what the judges like, if you get the opportunity, talk to a few of the judges and let them show you the difference in animals
• Keep a very close eye on your animals, it doesn't take long for a goat to go from completely healthy to bad. We have also found that animals getting the correct nutrition (free choice minerals and feed) are more healthy and have less complications.