My wife has spotted a goat that she likes. It looks like a Gateway computer ad or a Holstien Cow. It is about 48 inches tall. I went to inquire about the animal but after glancing at my truck the woman said I couldn't afford it and shut the door.

I know I'll regret saying this but a goat is goat ! A manual lawnmower or a pet. I'll never eat it but I can count on it do a couple thousand dollars in property damage a year. My last experience with a goat was he ate the seat of a year old car because we left the window down. However, the Queen has spoken, and whatever my wife feels we need must be an essential. (despite my pleadings to the contrary).

Now, I have no idea what a goat is worth. My estimate is based on 1980's prices in Georgia when you could buy them all day long for 25 dollars. I have read a lot of your goat disease information so I feel somewhat informed on that inspection. So, what is this goat and how much is one ? My pickup has little to do with how much money I have !

Yes Vicki, I want your opinion also. Despite our idealistic opinions of each other---I still consider you and Bernice the neighborhood goat experts.

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), September 16, 2000

Answers

Joel, sounds like a Boer goat. Alot of the ones around here are black and white or red/brown and white. If the prices are like around here, none of us can affort them. But wait, they may be the potbellied pigs of the near future.

-- melina bush (goatgal1@juno.com), September 16, 2000.

Did it look meaty or more lean, like a dairy animal? If it was very meaty looking, it could be a Boer. If it's not really meaty looking, it's probably a dairy breed. What do the ears look like? Are they non- existent (la mancha), long and droopy (nubian) or straight and alert looking ( probably alpine, perhaps sable saanen)? It is probably an alpine,but it could be any of the other breeds mentioned. Prices for good registered alpines of any color run from $100.00 ( a good deal, you should wonder why it's so cheap), to over $1,000.00.Expect to pay about $250.00 or more for a good quality registered kid from a reputable herd. If your goats have been damaging everything in sight, they probably need a good fence that they can't get out of. If you reinforce it with electric wires on the inside perimeter and all around the top, they will stay in! If that lady doesn't want to sell you stock, I can give you the names and phone #s of some breeders who will, who have the splashy black and white alpines. In fact, I have a few with that color myself, but won't be selling any until spring.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), September 16, 2000.

Hmmmm... this could be any number of breeds of goats. Did this goat have an udder that was prominent? That would help narrow this down. Then again was it bearded and sort of smelly? Might be a dairy buck or meat buck. Meat bucks are stockier, although that does not always hold. This could be anything from a sungagu Alpine to a LaMancha to a sable Sanaan. Hard to tell without moore information. And yes... there are goats out there that sell for a fortune. Since she seemed, at least I think she sounded it, Rude I would not bother with her you may end up having trouble down the road. i raise Alpines and have some that although they don't look exactly like a holstein cow in coloring are similiar. I have some for sale now even. Are you by chance going to the VA st fair? We'll be showing there next weekend, actually we have to be there Thursday as thats when the dairy goats come in. Will be there to Sunday. I'd cut ya a good deal Joel:):) but if your wife is set on that type of goat please give a bit more information on it so maybe we can figure it out.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), September 16, 2000.

Thank You ! I'll go look tommorrow for more a more detailed picture. I wrote down the features to look for. Till tommorrow, thanks again ! ( I have found that examining livestock by moon light can be hazardous to your health in these parts).

-- Joel (Joel681@webtv.net), September 16, 2000.

Now Joel... you should know by now that in this state and in the boonies that it is the law of the "redneck" See if someone were to examine my farm by moonlight (guess you were out in the recent full moon) well... I'm sure they would get eaten my some buckshot if the dogs didn't get them first! Don't forget, type of ears, udders, build, color, etc.. Have fun!

Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), September 16, 2000.

If it was 48 inches tall, I'd say it was a Nigerian Dwarf. They come in those cute colors. Sometimes blue eyes. Like Vicki told me, they are very popular right now.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), September 16, 2000.

Joel, if Bernice offered me a good deal on her goats, I would jump at it! I bet she'd even show you how to milk, unlike my first goat purchase. As for my wager on the breed of goat, if it's dairy I would bet Nubian.

-- Doreen (liberty546@hotmail.com), September 17, 2000.

Thanks for the kind words. My goats are very spoiled but I love them! I would offer the same to anyone else interested. i have way toooooo many. i need to make room for our new kids coming and lessen my milking load. I am milking 17 by hand 2 x's a day. i can't wait to hear what the description is... this has my curosity up now. i was also thinking after my friend raises meat goats and has a few tenessee Fainters who sort of look like gateway goats. hope Joel answers soon:)

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), September 17, 2000.

joel go to www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/.com then look up goats then check anglo-nubian.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), September 17, 2000.

You deserve ALL kind words, Bernice. You helped me beyond reason this spring and i am very thankful to you and Vicki as well. Milking 17 goats by hand is nuts, though! Carpal tunnel syndrome....May it run right past you!

I am really anxious to find out what breed this is as well. He must be out doing the new moon inspection and can't tell if it's dairy or meat or male or female!LOL

-- Doreen (liberty456@hotmail.com), September 17, 2000.

Joel, you can still find 25$ goats. Course you will pay dearly to the vet on the previous thread to save the scroungy little thing for you! Though most boers are red headed with white bodies, most are bred into Nubian, so could carry nearly any color, but usually (with white being dominate) will have some white. Nubians, Alpines and LaMancha's all can be any color. There are black and white goats of their own breed that are called Catalinas, they are from the Catalina island in California, and yes you can't afford them, mostly because they are considered and endangered speicies, actually a relocated speices.

Before you even think about getting a goat be it the 25$ Nanny or Billy or the 350$ Nubain Doe, build yourself a barn and spend some dollars on fencing, you will enjoy your goats much more with them not eating your car seats. caprinesupply.com has a great book for newbies called GoatKeeping 101. Yes goats can be pets, lawnmowers or very profitable sidelines. Biggest thing to remember is that 25$ usually begets 25$. And 25$ usually eats the same amount as 350$ also!

This is actually a great time of year to be thinking goats. Most does will be bred now, so you will be purchasing a readymade family, with a doe in milk for early spring. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), September 18, 2000.

Joel, I hope that you haven't gone "moon-light" shopping and that is the reason we haven't heard any more about your "gateway" type goat! We are waiting to find out what kind it is!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), September 18, 2000.

Long droopy ears, slim -not very fat ! Black and white, utter not very baggy at all and 40 inches tall. Wife claims it's a Nubian ? Sorry for the delay--I'm just swamped !

-- Joel (Joel681@webtv.net), September 20, 2000.

Your wife is right!!! The long ears are the clincher. So, how's the fencing ccoming? Also, you can afford a Nubian!

-- Doreen (liberty546@hotmail.com), September 20, 2000.