making a living raising goats

[Jeremy W]

Me and my wife and my mom live on a small farm in west virginia we have Boers and just got a couple milk goats I have heard of people making a living raising goats we also have cattle and horses we love our animals and the farm life I was wondering if anyone is doing this?
I am also considering becoming a member of the ABGA thought it might help as far as marketing. Any thoughts on this? My wife also makes goats milk soap and other natural bath products and I do some leather crafting belts and halters and stuff for horses. We also have another business but are trying to sell it I am tired of the rat race and ready for a simpler life.

 

[ldawntaylor]

Hi, I've had goats for several years now. I don't break even with sales and such from them. In a good year they do pay for their feed...just not enough to cover dewormers, or vet visits, or fencing changes etc. But then, I have a really hard time turning loose of any of them so maybe that has something to do with it.

As for registration and such I haven't found that to make any difference. Maybe something to do with location though. ADGA membership has lapsed. But, my herd sire is registerable. One of my does is registered. Around here people the question I get the most is "do you have any that are Nubian".

 

[Latestarter]

I don't know of anyone on here that's "making a living" at goats... Most will tell you they're happy if they can cover the cost of feed for them. At the same time, I've never heard any of them say they were getting rid of their goats because they were costing them an arm and a leg either...

 

[Jeremy W]

I guess I depends on how much you need to make to live on too we usually don't need much we make about everything ourselves we grow a big garden can and dry food for winter heat with wood have well water no tv, Internet or anything we make our own bread and some spices we grow some of our feed for the animals and make and sell soap and laundry soap we like to do everything ourselves if we can we do have cell phones but that's about it were pretty self sufficient.