Goats an option to help diversify farm revenue
By JAMIE HENNEMAN
The Prairie Star
Many landowners with a mix of both shrubs and forage on their property may consider goats as an option to diversify farm revenue. However, the agile browsers require certain fencing and care needs in order to be raised successfully, according to Carmen Salveson of D&K Livestock in Malta, Mont.
“We decided to add goats to our ranch during a time when calf prices were down and expenses were up, so we were ready to try something unconventional,” Salveson shared during a recent webinar hosted by the Rancher Stewardship Alliance. “We had areas with steep riverbanks and things like leafy spurge that the cattle didn’t like, so we decided to get goats. We knew the demand for goat meat was high and it is one of the most imported meats into the U.S.”
Starting with a small herd of 10 goats that she found on Craigslist, Salveson has grown her herd to roughly 100 does in five years, but there were lots of learning curves along the way.
“We decided to get Boer/Kiko/Spanish cross goats that we bred in the fall and kidded in the spring with minimal inputs,” she said. “Our first mistake was trying to keep the buck away from the does, because goats are very social, and it doesn’t go well to try and keep one goat by himself. It’s better to get a wether to be a companion goat for your buck when he isn’t out with the herd.”
Goats are also notorious for finding ways to break out of fencing situations, and Salveson said it took her some time to find the right option.
“Goats are browsers, not grazers, so they will use their horns to push on fences and latches,” she said. “A five-strand electric fence didn’t work. It didn’t slow them down at all.”
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Salveson said she is now using two strands of high-tensile electric wire added to a four-stand barbed wire fence and a strong electric fence charger. She said it has been working well, but she has also removed possible goat-specific hazards from their grazing area when possible.
“Goats have what we call ‘dumb ways to die.’ They are very athletic and like to climb to the highest point and jump off,” she related. “So, we don’t use hog panels because they are too short, and the goats will try to jump and get injured. They also liked jumping off our flatbed trailer and they would step in the gap between the decking and the metal and break a leg. They also like to stand on their back legs and eat leaves off of trees, but they can get their legs stuck in trees. They can also find ways to strangle themselves in electric netting.”
There is also a myth that “goats will eat anything,” but proper nutrition is especially important for does to produce healthy kids.
“If there isn’t enough nutrition, the kids can have weak legs, but that can be prevented by really bolstering the nutrition in the final weeks of pregnancy,” Salveson shared.
Recognizing that goats also take a decent amount of time to get used to a new environment is especially important during breeding season.
“If you are bringing in does from another farm, they need at least 60 days to get used to their new feed and environment before breeding. It takes time for them to adjust,” she said.
Because every operation has differences in terrain, pasture sizes, manpower and other elements, it’s important to seek advice from someone with a similar situation.
“It’s important to take advice from someone who has similar goals,” she said. “Because goats are small, people can have a few on a little acreage and like to share what they do, but it could end up being too labor intensive for you. Similarly, if you just want a few pet goats, it may not work to take advice from someone who is raising kids commercially.
“Real world knowledge from people in a similar climate and location is some of the best advice you can get,” she added.
To view the webinar online, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpZiYk4pBsM.