The Cost of Raising Goats (Part 1)

[@jodibrandl7522]

What you're pointing out about the cost is why I said what I commented on the "first kids of 2021," I believe , where I left a message. I just don't have that kind of money plus the other necessities they need like vet checks, pens to birth in, fencing to hold them while they're out in the field grazing, barrels w/ lids to store their feed, water pails, feed troughs (I think that's how it's spelled), vitamins, bedding, birthing boxes, ect... It just wouldn't be fair nor logical to the goats to get them w/o being able to afford them properly! I'm glad you made this video, I've got a much better understanding about the cost of just one goat and because I've got a better idea about the cost of food for 2 goats (times 2) Thanx so much!

[@LetsTalkGoats]

Yes very true

[@rockinbboergoats156]

I have my feed cost per doe at $219 per head. I feed round bales so I have $98 a year per doe in hay and my show feed I buy I get for $10.88 a bag if I buy a ton at a time. So I have $121 a year in feed per doe but to get my kids to yearlings I have another $200 in each kid so if they have twins my break even is roughly $350 per yearling doe but for wethers at weaning is $200 figuring in creep feed. People need to realize their costs and buyers need to realize goats aren’t cheap even at the sale barn.

[@brandonm6052]

Good basic run down, My wife and I need to run our numbers over again. The vast population in our area think goats should be $75-100 and almost can't fathom paying $300 for a supposed weed eater.

[@LetsTalkGoats]

We run into that all the time but we have decided them people are not our customers. We set our prices based on what we think they are worth and other are sell the same quality animals for you will find your customer. Thank you for watching.

[@ErnieHatmaker]

Great assessment here.

[@chrstnvela888]

What should you be spending on your initial goats to start out?

[@LetsTalkGoats]

That’s a hard question to answer but this is what I would do if we was doing it over again. I would build a relationship with a good breeder then I would buy the best animals I could afford 2 or 3 great does 1 1/2 to 2 years old then instead of spending money on a buck I would then find me a breeder with some nice bucks that would improve on what I have pay the live cover fee and breed to their buck. Do that for a few years till you get 7 or 8 does then think about investing in a buck or keep on out of one of your live covers. Hope that helps.

[@marijasiveida8687]

Wow

[@michaelbobbiharris2587]

Good video

[@muscovyduckchickenbreeder2656]

Wow i spend about 18.00 for a 70-lb maybe 80-lb bale of Alfalfa hay I don't trust are local hay suppliers as they buy there hay locally and are area don't have good hay. so i think it is well worth the price. Although right now i only have 3 Lamancha Dairy goats. I will be picking up 1 pure bred Boer buck and 3 to 5 pure bred Registered Boer doe's the buck is registered as well. But this buck is only 2 weeks old but he is built like a tank just like his father. His father is pushing 200-lbs at a year old so i can't wait to see what this buck is going to be when he is 6 months old. His name is Tubs and it fits him. I can't wait to pick him up end of August next month. I had one boer doe before but she was very poor quality and didn't even produce any kids i think she couldn't or she never gave me any before i sold her i was going to eat her but i told the person i bought her from i wouldn't so i rehomed her. But I plan on weathering all the buck kids and raising them up for meat I don't sell buck kids as they tend to either be abused or killed inhumanely or they get tossed from home to home and i can't bare to see that for them so i would rather raise the bucks humanely and butcher them for my own meat sense I LOVE goat meat.

[@LetsTalkGoats]

Great to hear congratulations on the new goats that are coming.

[@muscovyduckchickenbreeder2656]

@@LetsTalkGoats thanks yeah this is a dream come true i always wanted boer goats but couldn't find quality animals in my area.

[@ambertaylor5146]

Man where can i get hay for $5 a bale!?! Lol twice that fot second cut in my neck of the woods. Alfalfa #1 runs about $15 for a 3strand bale

[@LetsTalkGoats]

We use a grass hay but it all depends on where your at because I have had people tell me my hay cost is to high.

[@fefifiddlr]

Unless I missed it, what about your time? No one should work for pennies, or nothing/per hour. Good job!

[@LetsTalkGoats]

So true but it’s so hard to put a price on your time because people will say your paying to much or not enough

[@deckyBWFC91]

That's what my bank manager asked when I applied for a loan and he wanted a business/financial plan. I showed him I was making a profit, and he said you are giving up a job €500 before tax to a job that on average is €399. I said well yeah a) I get to work from home, b) I get to see the kids more, c) get other stuff at home done in-between farming activity d) less travel expenses and less risk of car crash, e) can plan and live a more self sufficient lifestyle, thus saving more money in long run f) my farm isn't going to close down due to economy issues (pandemic etc) I left my job to be a farmer in February. The job I had is now obsolete, last month, so now I've a nice enough income from an established farm, instead of being unemployed coming into winter