Meat goat industry fastest growing livestock enterprise

By MONETTE TAYLOR | Country World South Central

Warren Thigpen

May 31, 2001 -- "The meat goat industry is...without a doubt, ladies and gentlemen, the fastest growing livestock enterprise in Texas...no question," said Warren Thigpen, County Extension Agent from Bandera County.

Thigpen was a featured speaker on meat goats at the Luling Foundation Annual Field Day held in Luling, last week.

"The future of the meat goat industry is going to depend a whole heck of a lot on our last speaker, today, with the Texas Animal Commission and what he has to say about Hoof and Mouth Disease," said Thigpen.

He presented a most informative presentation on meat goats along with his own brand of humor.

"Meat goats are the fastest growing youth 4-H livestock project in Texas, and it's spread not only in Texas, but across the whole United States," he said.

"Lots of reasons for that...they're doing away with the wool and mohair incentives, so Angora goats aren't worth near as much money, the smaller acreage tracts, different things like that," said Thigpen.

"The future of the meat goat industry is going to keep growing. I don't see anything that is going to slow it down over the next 5 years. I don't think we've reached the peak, yet," added Thigpen.

General goat information was presented including animal, farm and feeding requirements, as well as health and herd management.

"There's no one way, no right way to do a bunch of this, just lots of different opinions," said Thigpen.

"The biggest difference between raising cattle and raising goats would be your external fencing. You can't get by with a 5 wire barbed wire, and my feelings are you can't get by with an 8, 9 or 10. You need to go to net wire fencing," said Thigpen.

No matter what kind of grazing pasture you have, Thigpen said that goats will stick their heads through the fence, if at all possible.

"They don't learn. They'll do it again tomorrow and the next day. With a 12 inch spacing, they are much more likely to pull their heads back through the fence. If you use 6 inch line spacing on a net wire fence and you've got goats with horns, you're going to be pulling a goat out of the fence once a week. Their heads can go through, but they can't get them back.

"I guess some kind of chain link would be better, but if you can afford that, you don't need any goats," said Thigpen.

The number one predatory animal to protect your goats against is dogs, according to Thigpen.

"Once a dog gets a little taste of blood, folks, it's all over. I would dare say it would be a problem around here. If you don't have horns on your goats, or you can get by with 6" spacing on your net wire fence, you'd be better off because you may be able to keep some of those dogs out," he added.

Protection offered by donkeys, guard dogs or llamas are highly encouraged, if you are not able to be with your herd most of the time, according to Thigpen.

Along with needing some mode of transportation for your goats, working pens are a necessity.

"You're going to need some kind of working pens or facilities, because goats are a little hard to catch. You're going to want to have something you can get them in a small area, and finally...get them in a yet smaller one. You have to get them confined or you're spending all your time chasing goats.

"After you've chased that goat around the barn about three times, you're not ready to catch him; you're going to go get your gun or your club or your 2x4 and knock him in the head, because you had to run around," said Thigpen.

Goats eat differently than cattle and will do well on brush, boughs, and trees, as well as forage or grain. Extra mineral needs can be addressed by other goat ranchers or your local vet, suggested Thigpen.

"Ten years ago, if you'd gone to the feedstore and asked for goat feed, they'd have looked at you a bit funny...now, they've got every kind of goat feed in the world."

Thigpen recommended vaccinating as well as de-worming. The location and weather plays a large part on internal parasites, and there is a problem this year in most areas, after a colder, wetter winter.

As for breeds, Thigpen highly recommended the Boar goats, especially, for a billy goat.

"I encourage you to get a full-blood Boer billy goat. The kids will grow faster and better and when you take them to the auction ring, they're going to bring you a little more money than the other goats. Boer billy goats will cost more, but you'll pay for him in the first kid crop," said Thigpen.