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LOOKING FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT RAISING MEAT GOATS?

Are you having trouble finding accurate management and health information about meat goats? You aren't alone.

There are many websites, discussion groups, and social media sites on the Internet that provide information about raising goats. Most of them give out incorrect and sometimes dangerous information. Unfortunately some of this wrong information comes from university and veterinary sites.

Since I began raising goats in 1990, I've known two (2) vets who had enough knowledge of goats to be called "goat vets." The livestock veterinary situation isn't going to get better, because 80% of the people in vet schools are female, many of whom physically struggle with handling both small and large livestock. These folks are taking well-paying jobs in urban and suburban small animal veterinary practices. Additionally, the goat population in the USA dropped from 12 million goats in 1990 to less than 2 million goats by 2013, making specializing in goat veterinary care not very financially rewarding in many locations.

The number of goats in the USA has remained relatively stable around 2 million goats since 2013, despite increased demand for goat meat. There are several reasons, two of which are that goats are the hardest livestock to raise and most people don't have enough land on which to raise goats properly. America imports 40% of goat meat consumed in frozen form from Australia. Australia can harvest feral goats and ship them frozen to the USA and still sell the meat cheaper than Americans can produce it.

Meat goats cannot be feed-lotted. Goats are DEER in how they live and interact, so they need lots of space to avoid STRESS and avoid barberpole STOMACH WORMS that cause anemia, deoxygenate the body's organs, and kill them. The number of goats that you can run per acre is based upon these two criteria and not on how much there is available for them to eat.

Don't make the mistake of assuming that someone who is already raising goats is necessarily knowledgeable. They encounter the same problems getting information, veterinary care, and medications that you face. Before accepting advice on how to raise, feed, and care for your goats, find out if the person offering you advice has a successful track record of raising goats. Check backgrounds. Find out how long they have been in the goat business. Get references.

The Internet makes checking out people quite easy nowadays. But remember that successful people always have detractors, so use your common sense when making evaluations. Be suspicious of anyone who constantly speaks negatively of specific individuals and their animals unless they have provable facts to back up their statements. Successful people don't have time for gossip.

This shortfall in finding accurate information about raising goats resulted in my establishing a CONSULTATION SERVICE to help other goat raisers. For a small monthly fee, subscribers can contact me by phone, text, or email on any topic related to raising goats. I prefer phone calls so I can ask questions that allow me to help you quickly. The number of contacts per month is unlimited. I am not a vet, but I've been raising goats since 1990. I know goats. Relying upon the accuracy and completeness of the information you provide and your answers to the questions that I ask, I will tell you what I would do under similar circumstances.

You can sign up by contacting me at onioncrk@centex.net and providing your name, address, and phone contact information. I will call you and provide sign-up details. The consultation fee is calculated based upon date you subscribe through December 31 of that calendar year. You can subscribe via CASH app or personal check/money order.

You will need to establish a relationship with a vet in order to purchase prescription medications. All antibiotics, including penicillin, are now prescription items. Non-prescription medications and supplies can be purchased from companies like Jeffers Livestock in Dothan, Alabama. 1-800-533-3377 or www.jefferslivestock.com. Super people at Jeffers. I've been a Jeffers customer since the early 1990's.

Raising meat goats is a wonderful adventure and can be an excellent business if you are prepared and have the resources you need. Having access to a person who can help you is important. You don't have to re-invent the wheel. You will make enough mistakes on your own, so learn from the mistakes of those who came before you. I am here to help when you need it.

Suzanne W. Gasparotto, Onion Creek Ranch, Texas 9.1.24