cowboy43":2n5crh2x said:
I was told that you could run 6 sheep or goats on the same acreage as one cow.
Actually, it's 8 to 10 goats for one cow.
Now with the operating cost of a cow if you are honest with your operating expense you are lucky to make a small profit. So what would be the profit difference of 6 sheep to one cow be if they were raised on grass.
Ok, the profit differences laid out:
1 - Goats eat shrubs, weeds, and trees - things that cattle will not usually look at unless they are starved into it. Do you have any idea how many people are making money with their goats by renting them out to clear brush, shrubs, and trees?
2 - Cattle have a gestation period of 9 months, and then usually produce a single calf. Goats on the other hand have a gestation period of 5 months and generally produce twins. Triplets are not unheard of, and one of my girls produced quads last spring. Personally, I'm happy with twins because triplets and quads take a pretty heavy toll on the doe even with extra grain and hay.
3 - Calfs are generally not weaned until 6 to 7 months of age, whereas buck kids are weaned at 2-3 months of age and doelings are weaned at 3-4 months of age - depending on their producer.
4 - A good heifer or cow is going to cost you anywhere from $800-$1300, whereas a good goat is going to cost you somewhere between $100 to $500 - depending on whether she is registered, purebred, and whether you buy private treaty or through the sale barn.
5 - A cow is going to require 30-40 lbs of feed/day, whereas a goat requires 5-10 lbs of feed/day - depending on whether it's a buck or a doe.
6 - There is a hugh demand for goat meat in this country. Hit the ethnic markets - especially Easter and Christmas, deliver what they want, and your pretty much guaranteed to earn a premium on your kids. Google goat meat demand if you don't believe me. You also have the option of growing them out if you so choose, and increasing your sale price. No, you're not going the get the same prices as you would on cattle, but they cost a whole lot to raise, it doesn't take as long for them to hit the desired weight, your initial input in the does is not going to be as much, and the feed input is a lot less.
7 - Except for trimming feet, chutes are not necessary because it is pretty easy to pin a goat to the fence or behind a gate, get a halter on her, and do what needs to be done. I've simply grabbed them by the horns and drug them up under the shed, or pinned them against the fence using only my legs if they had a problem letting their kids nurse - try either of the above with a cow and see what happens! :lol: :lol:
8 - Goats follow a whole lot better than they drive. I had a jail-break the other morning. I went out to feed only to find 51 does in the alleyway helping themselves to the hay that was sitting there. I walked down the alleyway to shut the gates across the south end, the 'pets' started following me and it didn't take long for the non-pets to follow them. The end result was they walked back into their pen before I even had a chance to shut the gates across the south end of the alley. I routinely turn my goats out in the summer time to eat weeds, etc. All I have to do to get them back in is either wait for evening - at which point they will voluntarily return to their shed, or shake a grain bucket - at which point they stampede back to their pen.
I'm sure there are things I'm leaving out, but that is what I can think of at this time. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
PS Goats have so much more personality than cattle do, it isn't even funny! They are curious, lively, loving animals that truly enjoy interacting with people. They can also test your patience further than you ever thought possible. I love my goats, and my only regret is that I didn't get them sooner. Don't misunderstand me, I loved the cattle too. It is just so much easier to handle and interact with the goats, there is a lot less room for injury, and I can do almost everything by myself.
