Managing Meat Goats for Profitability

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1 Managing Meat Goats for Profitability Jodie Pennington, Region Small Ruminant Educator, Lincoln University, Newton County Extension Center, Neosho, MO Three Major Factors Affecting Profitability of Sheep and Goats % Kid or lamb crop sold essential to keep as many animals alive as possible: 150% versus 100% equals 50% more income Feed prices try to minimize purchased grain and maximize good, high quality forage: $45 per doe/kid(s) versus $85 per doe/kid(s) Market prices--$$ per cwt sold; try to hit high markets: $2 per lb versus $1.70 per lb All factors can double/triple profit per doe/kid(s) 1 st ask--do you like goats? What effort do I want to invest? More effort for value-added!!! Types of Goat Producers Commercial meat** or milk or fiber Purebred Youth project Hobby (pet) Value-added First Decision--Marketing 1) Hobby? 2) Paying Enterprise? 3) Other Needs (Youth or Companionship)? Typical Small Ruminant Producer (N=282 families in Arkansas) Typical meat goat producer (68%) had 12 goats on 5 acres Typical dairy goat producer (24%) had 14 Typical dairy goat producer (24%) had 14 goats on 15 acres Typical sheep producer (9%) had over 100 sheep on acres Overall in state, the percentage of meat goat producers is probably larger (NASS) 1

2 Benefits of Goats (or Sheep) Can utilize weeds/brush with grass Have 1-2 kids/lambs per pregnancy Potential to wean $150 per doe-more per ewe (equivalent to $1000 per cow--$750 more in practice; in spring $2+/lb=$1200) $ Requires minimal facilities Goats can be used for brush control Potential to lose money if don t have good management more intensive management than cattle Kiko Spanish Boer --Other meat goat breeds (Savanna, Myotonic, TexMaster) --Crossbreeds for meat --Dairy-meat crosses --Pygmy --Dairy breeds (Alpine, LaMancha, Nigerian Dwarf, Nubian, Oberhasli, Sable, Sanaan, Toggenberg) --Fiber (Angora, Cashmere) --Wool breeds (Suffolk, Hampshire-can be used for youth market lamb projects; Dorset, Rambouillet) --Hair sheep (Katadhin, Barbado, St Croix) are primarily for commercial production Use of Goats Affects Breed Selection Benefits of Multispecies Grazing Increased utilization of forages (??maybe 10-20%) --Greater total lbs per acre Weed control --Goats eat weeds, can clean up pasture (2-3 yrs) Reduced parasite loads --Goats graze higher Diversified production --Goats and cattle --Cattle and sheep --Goats and horses --Start at 1 goat per cow and can go to 3 goats per cow-vary Kind/Class Animal Unit Equivalents AUE Intake/day Air dry lbs. Intake/year Air dry lbs. Cow with calf ,950 Bull, mature ,782.5 Horse, mature ,687.5 Sheep, mature Goat, mature

3 Budget for Goats Return to Land, Labor, and capital Goats Can Be Used for Brush Control 30 does, 1 buck, 5.0% adult death loss, $2.00/lb for kids, 170% kid group, $43.79 feed costs, 20% doe replacement, 33% buck replacement, 5 acres $2/lb start t Returns With Good Mgt $4, does@ $43,810 $1.70/lb 130% for kids kid sold crop $3,436 -$945 $2,097 -$1339 >$40 feed costs $897 -$1200 SOIL NUTRIENTS CHANGE IN OAK SHINNERY PLOTS AFTER THREE YEARS OF GOAT BROWSING IN CHEYENNE, OKLAHOMA Goats to Improve Vegetation Item CONTROL PASTURE GRAZED PASTURE ph N, lb/acre P, lb/acre K, lb/acre Concerns with Commercial Goats Sound markets better in Missouri Sustainable forage program Internal parasite control Predator control, hoof problems (sheep) Knowledge health practices/vets Availability of good breeding stock with records makes male selection more difficult Financial records Selection Goats, vary with needs; commercial production vs showing Select thrifty, high-quality, lean, muscular animals which are structurally correct May use dairy crossed with meat goats for market animals (Boer, Kiko, Spanish, Myotonic and crosses of these) Market goats for show are born January-May of the year they are in which shown. They must have their milk (baby) teeth and a scrapie tag. Goats gain 2-3 pound per week or 10 to 15 pounds a month so select goats so that it is at the proper weight at show time. (.3 pounds/day) Left: heavily muscled goat kid. Right: lightly muscled goat kid. 3

4 Culling is critical if commercial 1. Cull goats that don t fit your system 2. If you want a commercial herd, don t select replacements that have been fed primarily on grain, feed to maximize forages (show is exception) 3. Cull for disposition (jumps fence=cull) 4. Cull for parasite problems 5. Cull for poor mothering, milk 6. Cull hard breeders 7. Cull for conformation (legs, size?, teeth, teats, wool?, etc) If Getting Into Goats, Need: Business-Management-Marketing Plan Identify Target Markets Must manage properly to get a good price --clean, healthy, good condition Meat Breeding/Show/Value-Added Appearance important with value-added products Methods to Market Live Goats/Sheep Auction Market most frequent, least effort On-farm Sales more gross dollars, more effort Private Buyer Consignment Sales Internet Sales Contracts Select Ethnic Market Dates (type of meat varies with date) Muslim Ramadan Aug 1-30, 2011 start Id-al-Fitr Aug 30, 2011 Id-al-Adha Nov 6, 2011 Jewish Passover April 19-25, 2011 Christian Western or Roman Easter--April 24, 2011 Eastern or Greek Easter April 24, 2011 Christmas Dec 25 US Independence Day July 4 weekend Mexico Independence Day Sept 11,

5 See Market List htm San Angelo, TX and New Holland, PA for larger markets Consider travel, time, buyers, commission at local markets Missouri Diamond, Buffalo, Highlandville, Fruitland, Mexico, St Joseph, Oregon County, others in OK and AR) Diamond Sale, Thursday, 3/4/10 Weight/Characteristics Price Caution!!!! lbs, No.1 and No lbs, No lbs, No.1-3 $ , one to 2.42/lb $ /lb Maybe $1.80/lb average Group by size and grade or condition to get best price Yearling 80 lb $0.90/lb Don t feed for year unless Kid with baby teeth 80 lb $1.60/lb used for replacement lbs, No.1 and 2 $ Not best weight; sell at weight for market event Nannies, No.2, lbs Nannies, No.3, lbs $ /lb versus $0.45=0.65/lb Sell in good flesh (good body condition) Thursday, April 1, lbs, No. 1 and 2---$ /lb, $ lower than on March 4 SELL IN TIMELY MARKET! Summary: Value-Added Marketing Can raise all your livestock or can buy some Degree of marketing can vary all or some Takes a lot of time best to have back-up Find your niche not not against Wal-Mart but have a market Know regulations Don t invest your last dollar May take more to get started Consult with others Production Management Practices for Commercial Producers Buy healthy, sound animals to start Consider start-up costs plus some when starting- expect to cull some Maximize forages; minimize grain use Control parasites and predators Need vaccination program Emphasize male genetics Consider having cattle and goats or sheep and utilizing multi-species grazing Budget for Goats Return to Land, Labor, and capital Must manage properly to get a good price 30 does, 1 buck, 5.0% adult death loss, $2.00/lb for kids, 170% kid group, $43.79 feed costs, 20% doe replacement, 33% buck replacement, 5 acres $2/lb start t Returns With Good Mgt $4, does@ $43,810 $1.70/lb 130% for kids kid sold crop $3,436 -$945 $2,097 -$1339 >$40 feed costs $897 -$1200 5

6 Feeding for Kids Milk Creep feed (data are mixed) Creep area Shelter might be needed if kid in winter Replacements Adults Feed bucks and does the same unless urinary calculi is a problem in bucks Primary ration should be forages Goats have a poor feed efficiency and should be fed inexpensive feeds Hay, water, minerals (vary for sheep and goats), and supplements will probably need to be considered Must plan foragequantity and quality Nutrition Feed Inventory Concerns major reason to review Feeding Preferences Forb Quantity not enough forage (need forages or fiber if drought or overstocked) Quality must consider if energy, protein, fiber, or minerals change Browse Goats Sheep Cattle Forbs Goats & sheep can decrease weeds Grass Grass 6

7 Plan for Year Round Forage Tips for Economical Feeding of Goats/Sheep Match kidding season to pasture production Do not waste hay Feed grain or supplemental hay only when required Maximize pasture or crop residues Feed commodities if available & less expensive Consider co-species grazing to utilize weeds/brush Utilize grazing behavior and natural dewormers to minimize need to deworm not treat Utilize plants high in tannins Goats tend to intake higher levels of tannins than other ruminants Parasites Serica lespedeza GOAT EATING CHICORY Utilize rotational grazing management to improve forage utilization To manage forage quality to meet animal nutritional needs To maintain i pasture condition/health To manage internal parasite levels To observe for problems with internal parasites Predators vary coyotes, domestic and feral dogs, bobcats, foxes, eagles, hawks Methods to Control Predators Guard animals --dogs, llamas, donkeys, mustangs, etc Exterior or Boundary Fencing --Vary with size --Wire panels, woven wire, net wire, barbed wire, electric *****Combination of fence, feed, and dogs Problems food and feeding 7

8 Less Problem food and feeding Goats need better fence than sheep when grazing Goat Health Management Goats are naturally healthy; your management can have either good or bad effects on them; keep records of problems Cull poor doers Minimize stress Provide adequate nutrition Avoid extensive parasitism Conduct vaccination program Isolate new animals coming into herd Provide a sound environment may need shade and wind breaks; guard animal Recommended Vaccinations Minimum: CDT for all yearly Does and Bucks Campylobacter/Chlamydiosis 1 mo prior to breeding season C,D & T 1 mo prior to kidding Kids C, D & T or Covexin 8 at 1-2 mo of age and boosters in 2 wks Vit E/Sel. within 1 wk of age Summary--Factors for Commercial Producers for Goats and Sheep Hope to make money plan market for animals, have a management/business plan Consider costs when investing Emphasize male genetics p g Minimize grain use; maximize forages (pasture) Control predators and parasites Need vaccination program Usually need more than 100 goats Consider having cattle with goats or sheep and utilizing multi-species grazing 8

9 Questions?? Goats Require Good & Timely Management--- Prevention & Planning Is Always The Key 9