New group assists region's goat industry
East Texas goat producers share fun, work of operation

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Paul and Aundrea Merrell enjoy many aspects of raising Boer and Boer-cross goats on their "little piece of heaven" farm in Hopkins County. The couple are just two of several goat producers who are organizing the North East Texas Goat Raisers Association. -Staff photo by

February 5, 2004 -- Aundrea and Paul Merrell, who live near the small Hopkins County community of Dike, say they see a "little piece of heaven" every time they look into their pasture.

The Merrells raise Boer goats and are actively involved in the newly-developed North East Texas Goat Raisers Association. Members are from several counties in the region, stretching from Bowie to Collin counties, south to Henderson County, over to Shelby County.

The purpose of the organization is to educate members about the goat industry.

The Merrell's story begins back in 2000.

While visiting a son's friend, who had some Boer goats, Aundrea fell in love with the breed.

"They were so cute. I just had to have some," she said.

So, the first four does were purchased. Other goats were added over the next few years.

But in 2003, the Merrells began to analyze their situation. "Is this what we really want to do?" was the question. They decided to change their focus and sold everything except for a couple of fullbloods.

They began purchasing more registered stock with 10 purebred does, all pregnant; and three fullblood does, inwhich one was pregnant.

What is the difference between a purebred and a fullblood doe?

"A fullblood has never been anything but registered stock. A purebred somewhere in its bloodline began with unregistered stock. It might be 100 percent Boer but it will never be fullblood," Aundrea explained.

Today, the Merrell herd has kidded its way to about 50 head, and the majority of those are registered fullbloods.

"The goal is to have two herds ... one purebred and high percentages and the other commercial," Aundrea said.

The couple have two herd sires. One's bloodline is Kaptein and Eggsfile, the other is Yaboo. According to Aundrea, "The bloodlines are excellent. Eggsfile sold for over $40,000 before he died."

The Merrells' goat project has been Aundrea's baby, according to Paul, who owns a used car lot in Sulphur Springs. "Raising goats is more labor intensive than cattle," added Paul, who sold all of his cattle this past December.

But Aundrea is quick to point out "it is a labor of love. ... I love having goats. There have been times I have been tempted to sleep at the barn. During kidding time, there are lots of sleepless nights," she stated.

"Did she tell you she has a baby monitor?" Paul asked.

"I do," laughed Aundrea.

Kidding season began in November and will run through February.

Paul, who is also an ex-dairyman, told the story about the very first kidding season.

"I came home from work and noticed the lights were on down at the barn and Aundrea had to be down there. So, I went down to the barn and we had a first-time doe in labor. I could see the tail and I told her, 'girl you're fixing to find out what it's all about.' I had pulled plenty of calves at the dairy. I told her she was going to have to push the tail back in and find the legs."

"The little momma was screaming to high heaven," Aundrea interrupted.

"Yeah, she was screaming," continued Paul. "Well, she (Aundrea) would try to push the tail in when the doe was trying to push out. But, she finally got the tail in and found the little feet and it wasn't very long 'til the kid was born, and then another, and then another."

The kids were fine, but one of the little ones, for some reason, died about two weeks later.

Paul also enjoys the little kids. Another story, he told about, occurred while he was in the barn one day, a little kid came running and crying and "I could have sworn that kid said, 'Wherrrrre are you attttt?' It was so funny. They all have their own unique personalities."

The goat-raisers also said they don't over medicate their herd.

"I didn't rush my kids to the doctor everytime they got a running nose and I don't do that with my goats. I will give them some probiotic and goat drench which has vitamins and minerals. It's an excellent boost," Aundrea cited.

Depending upon weather, and how the goat looks, fecal is sampled from 12 to 15 randomly-selected goats, about every six weeks to check for worms. During wet weather, fecals are checked more often. Also, a nanny automatically gets dewormed, with Cydectin, after kidding.

"I use intense management," Aundrea related. "I am in close contact daily and pay attention. But what works for me might not work for somebody else."

As far as this year, the Merrells intend to keep some of the doe kids for replacements, but the buck kids, with the exception of maybe one or two, will be sold.

"I probably will sell the bucks for $100. I don't plan to disbud or cut them. They will be billies," Aundrea, who weans some of the kids at two months, cited. "We will have around 20 bucks this year."

"They've got NETBIO for the cows, I hope someday we have something like that for goats," she added about the Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization's strategy to improve the region's feeder calf crop, and the marketability for these calves.

The goat-raisers advice for people interested in the industry: "Talk to as many people as you can. Visit them. I haven't met one (goat raiser) yet who doesn't like to talk about their kids."

(To contact the Merrells, call 903-945-3862; or email lphfarm@hotmail.com.)