Boer goats

[Devil's advocate]

Not for me, too much fencing & parasite issues.

But asking for my Brother who was wondering about sheep. Would Boers be less bother at lambing/kidding time no wool of course. His situation is quite good 14 acre of magnesium limestone land & about to build general purpose building. Big budget for fencing he has an extremely well paid job.

I'd be able to keep the billy at my farm (away from my young nephews & nieces) & have good local market so could finish the kids off for him. Also go down to help with routine work

 

[Al R]

Would exlana’s or another wool shedding type not be better as it’s still a sheep so less parasite issues and no/less need for any shelters? Also far less feet issues etc?

 

[Devil's advocate]

Would exlana’s or another wool shedding type not be better as it’s still a sheep so less parasite issues and no/less need for any shelters? Also far less feet issues etc?

Yes, I've also considered that for him, value of lambs not top prioty for him.

Sensible thing would be rent out for hay, buy brokers to fatten sell as of now, repeat but he isn't sensible.

A neighbour of his was doing as above & quite a few lambed ok even in the snow. Brothers kids loved it & he wants to give them a childhood like he had himself. I off course know all the things that can go wrong & he left the farm almost 30 years ago.

Having said all that goats are friendly creatures compared to sheep, all down to handling of course.

 

[Al R]

The sheep can be tamed too with a handful of nuts every so often???
Why don’t you farm it for him?

 

[Devil's advocate]

The sheep can be tamed too with a handful of nuts every so often???
Why don’t you farm it for him?

May be could have stock in my name, send hand reared ewe lambs down for him or stores to finish. I'm training the kids but they are too young to take responsibility.

But he is 40 minutes drive away from farm, we do use Sheffield wholesale market which is 15 minutes from him but that is in the middle of the night

 

[unlacedgecko]

Loads of money in goats. I know of 40 for sale shortly.

 

[Razor8]

Why do you foresee parasite issues? Are goats more susceptible?

 

[Al R]

Why do you foresee parasite issues? Are goats more susceptible?

Yes a lot more susceptible, I’m not sure if they build any form of natural immunity and because their in a lot I don’t think helps I grazed a field for a neighbour to knock grass down with ewes and lambs a few years ago, few months later 3/7 of the nanny’s died from being riddled with fluke and other worms, my ewes and lambs showed zero signs of any problems with every lamb in group going fat before weaning

 

[Old Spot]

We have a small flock, much less hassle than sheep. They do need an annual foot trim, mainly kid on their own.
they are very friendly, we keep them for meat but they are do help with entertaining our glampers.
hot wire is very effective at keeping them in.

 

[milkloss]

I reckon you'd need a market first, I get the impression they're a 'fashionable' thing like ostriches (emu's?) used to be, oh , and llamas or alpacas or whatever.

they also have some health issues floating about like johnes I think.

could be completely wrong but what I'm trying to say is eyes wide open.

 

[Devil's advocate]

I reckon you'd need a market first, I get the impression they're a 'fashionable' thing like ostriches (emu's?) used to be, oh , and llamas or alpacas or whatever.

they also have some health issues floating about like johnes I think.

could be completely wrong but what I'm trying to say is eyes wide open.

good local market, bradford not far away. but i agree eyes wide open

 

[edn]

Nice animals, slow growing compared to lambs though. Good markets for pedigrees and selling to smallholders- sell for a lot more than lambs this way. Kidding wise it depends on the stock you have and where you buy from as it would in any sheep. Not very good grazers so won’t tidy grass the way sheep will.

 

[unlacedgecko]

good local market, bradford not far away. but i agree eyes wide open

The girl selling the 40 I know of used to knock them out to local ethnic community in Glos for £15/kg dw, whole carcass only. She couldn't keep up with demand.

Given up due to kidding herself for the 3rd time.

 

[mwj]

The girl selling the 40 I know of used to knock them out to local ethnic community in Glos for £15/kg dw, whole carcass only. She couldn't keep up with demand.

Given up due to kidding herself for the 3rd time.

In this country they sell at a very high premium to almost all ethnic communities. When they buy lamb they do not want them fat.

 

[Woolless]

The girl selling the 40 I know of used to knock them out to local ethnic community in Glos for £15/kg dw, whole carcass only. She couldn't keep up with demand.

Given up due to kidding herself for the 3rd time.

That's bloody good money.

 

[Doc]

I like the sound of this Boer goat idea. @unlacedgecko how do I contact your friend?

 

[unlacedgecko]

I like the sound of this Boer goat idea. @unlacedgecko how do I contact your friend?

I’ve pm you

 

[topground]

I bought 10 Boer during the first lockdown that were cheap and now I know why! They will ignore an open gate seemingly regarding it as a trap while preferring to exit where they were put by belly crawling under any pig wire fencing that is even slightly slack. The boundary is pig wire fenced and kept sheep in 30 years ago when they were last here.Now up to 18 and counting, fortunately they come back from wherever they have been to their shed overnight but bad fences make for poor relations with neighbours so they are being trained to respect the mains fencer.
Barbers pole worm is lethal to them and for that reason I wouldn’t run them on sheep ground. Mine run with the cattle and should mop up each other’s worm eggs with no ill effects. No sign of mucky backsides. Contrary to a previous posts mine are grazers although they do like to browse
They can spot a yellow bucket two fields away and come looking for grub although that only amounts to a handful of mollased rolled barley as a bribe. Handling is easy as a consequence.
Mine will go through direct sales through Facebook in kilo packs of diced 3” cubes bone in.

 

[davidroberts30]

@Damomc

 

[Devil's advocate]

I reckon you'd need a market first, I get the impression they're a 'fashionable' thing like ostriches (emu's?) used to be, oh , and llamas or alpacas or whatever.

they also have some health issues floating about like johnes I think.

could be completely wrong but what I'm trying to say is eyes wide open.

They need to be in the right place, no good where I am with sheep grazed fields around the building & heavy ground too.

My brother on the other hand, virgin ground to sheep or goats, a good modern shed actually in the field, he can split the 14 acre & make hay alternate years with grazing. Also magnesium limestone free draining soil, sheltered & 27 foot above sea level.

I consider them a main stream animal to sell, muslims love them.

Fencing is a major issue but my brother can afford that, disease yes goats should never mix with sheep can go very badly either way.

I sell hay to lots of goat keepers. One idiot had allowed his to escape & it got in a local sheep field & died within a few days. The idiot was thinking of sueing the local sheep farmer for having worm ridden pastures.

On the other hand, one customer a retired surgeon has Boer cross Anglo Nubians & they are calm well trained animals.