goat ranching career report

GOAT HUSBANDRY:By: Brody Daughrity

Tuesday, April 30, 13

WHAT IT IS:

It simply is the breeding of goats, more specifically meat goats in my case. It is the selection of genetics and feeding of your animals.


SCHOOLING:

Truthfully no education is required.

BUT.. Getting a degree in animal science or Animal nutrition would be of great help.

The best schooling you can get is through hands on experiences and trial & error.


PAYMENT:

Well there is no set payment in this career field. But there are some ways to find out the cost. So say you have 35 does that are 3 years old (so they should kid twins or triplets) and they are of good genetics. We could figure out some basic math to see around what you could possibly make.


MATH..

A healthy doe can kid twice a year. ( 5 month gestation periods)

With twins to say the least for both kiddings. ( Always expect lower numbers, that way if you get higher you are doing better then you thought.)

So here is the math.

“Have the pregnant does graze a pasture close to your house, so that you can easily check them. If you supplement your does with a concentrate or hay, feed it at night. Somehow late feeding delays birthing toward the early morning hours in the majority of animals. It is a good idea to have some kidding pens ready for weak kids. It is not always easy to detect pre-kidding signs in goats: however, mucous discharge is a sure sign that kidding is imminent. Following birth, the navel of newborn kids should be dipped in iodine.” ( Smith,2011)


MATH CONTINUED..

35 (does) x 2 (kids per doe) = 70 (kids)

Now you may lose a few kids (Due to disease, birthing complications, and predation). So from there

you can predict 60 kids.Now if your using quality genetics you can

predict quality kids.So lets say your does are worth

approximately $800 each, and you have a buck thats worth $1,200

We can predict that your kids would be worth $800-$2,000


MORE MATH:

Now you have 60 kids at we will say worth around $800 each. ( To say the least.) Now we will multiply the number of kids by the their predicted money amount.

Now that is saying you sell does and bucks for the same price as market wethers. Does and bucks usually go for more money. (Because of their Breed-ability. )

“According to numbers compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, meat goat production has risen by some 383 percent over the last decade nationally, from about 590,000 head in 1995 to more than 2.26 “million in 1995.”(Horecka, 2006)

60 (Kids) x $800= $48,000


2ND QUOTE:

“Boer goats were popular because they wean faster and heavier than Spanish.” ( Lackey, 2010)

This quote describes a profit based off of this breeds advantages.

“When you look at the production between Spanish and Boer goats, the Boer goats are going to grow faster, get heavier, have a higher average rate of gain and be more efficient in feed conversion,”


BENEFITS:

Profits can all be for you.

Working on your own property.

Your the boss.

If its what you love it all is for you.

“Goats don’t require flat ground, they can be kept anywhere making them easier keeping” (Ryun,2013)

“Plus, people can run a lot more goats in a lot less space. Shurley estimated he could raise as many as nine goats per unit of land, whereas cattlemen might be able to sustain one animal in the same area.” (Horecka,2006)


WHY I WANT TO PURSUE THIS:

This career is something that I am already pursuing through the FFA. I love doing it, and it allows me to combine my mental and physical strengths, and since you can never breed perfection, you can always keep going to breed the best you can. It is profitable, and truly is fun!


THE IDEAL MEAT GOAT:


FACTS/QUOTES/WEBSITES/VIDEOS:

“Americans of Hispanic, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Eastern European, African, Middle Eastern and Southeastern Asian origin are clamoring for goat meat, as are a burgeoning number of health-conscious buyers who favor goat meat's lean, high-protein goodness. However, American producers are so unable to meet those demands that a staggering amount of chevon (goat meat) is imported each year.” (Weaver,2006)

“Sixty-three to 65 percent of the red meat consumed globally is goat meat.”( Weaver,2006)

http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?v=f2r8JT-gqOU

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005722777167&ref=tn_tnmn








CONCLUSION:

This is an extremely beneficial career that offers so much to the individual who chooses it. I realize that there are many challenges (such as the rising feed cost) but despite those I want to overcome those. I want to breed the ideal meat goat that is functional in the show ring and in the feed lot.


WORKS CITED:


goat ranching career report

Career