Cost of owning goats

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

When I first started I was keeping a spreadsheet of everything I spent. Gave that up though. I started with six full size Nubians, now I have 11. I also keep a spread sheet of payments from my co-op. I've had goats a year now and we are reaching about $10,000. That's including the cost of the goats.

 

[Catahoula]

I started with two boers and I added two Alpines. Their feed cost is equivalent to feeding four large dogs so far. The Boers are 13 months old and Aplines almost 12 months old. They are not full grown yet and the feeding cost will go up. I just don't know how much yet.
Not everyone is as crazy as some of us here...and you know who you are... Some people don't have the space for more goats. Depending on where you live, the price of hay, grains, mineral vary. My hay cost $17/bale, 50# grains cost $20 and 50# minerals cost $37. It is expensive in my area to keep goats. That's why I can't get more. Your NDs would not eat as much and your hay/grain/mineral price may be less also.

 

[SkyWarrior]

See, I got my first two does (Belle and Heidi) more than a year ago. That changed with Annie and Oreo. And then we got Lisa and Lulu. And Delila. That doesn't count the goats that were sold or went to freezer camp. Oh and the kids. We have 9 now.

So yeah, two goats are probably not going to stay two goats.

 

[moonstone5879]

Wow guys I am so glad I found BYH I was already on BYC and never seen anything about BYH.... Thanks for all the input! I only have limited space so I wouldn't be able to keep any kids. And ND are the breed I'm gonna stick with. I really want them as pets but decided I could justify having them if I made money from their milk/products. Even if I break even with meeting their needs and no profit. I'm getting so excited I can't wait!

 

[alsea1]

I find that the feed and mineral cost is nothing compared to the cost of putting up fencing and shelters and repairing them frequently. I think as soon as I'm out of sight they have these little meetings and discuss how they are going to dismantle what I have built.

Also the cost of medicating when nec. and when your in over your head the call to the vet. Now there is the real cost of owning and keeping any animal.

 

[moonstone5879]

I know that's the truth! I breed Devon Rex cats (was breeding Sphynx the hairless ones) and I had to have a c-section on one of my queen's besides I am such a worry wart, I am at the vet at the minimum every 3 months! My vet originally was specializing in poultry and she breeds horses so she is familiar with farm animals, I think she gives me a discount because I'm always there, I absolutely love her! I am single and don't have any human children so my animals are my children I don't know how a parent can not take their child to the doctor when they are sick I just fall apart!!!

 

[Oakroot]

I had one goat in Nov. I now have 5 and should have two more kids on the ground by the end of April. **Just to share **

 

[woodsie]

WoW! I can't believe how much you guys have to spend for hay!!! We spend at MAX $7 / bale and that is for top quality alfalfa hay with little to no waste, I get the 5' round bales for $40 a bale up the road and that feeds 4 yearling goats, 7 sheep and a couple kids for 2-3 weeks at least! Its nice to fine ONE thing cheaper in Canada. I think this means I am justified in getting some more goats!

Now the fencing that's a different story....costing us a fortune fencing a couple more acres.

I would research what the prices for hay are in your own area as there is obviously a big difference in prices from region to region....we have to spend much more for straw than top quality hay but in the prairies it is nearly free as they grow tens of thousands of acres of wheat there.

Best of luck, especially at keeping only 2 goats!

 

[OneFineAcre]

WoW! I can't believe how much you guys have to spend for hay!!! We spend at MAX $7 / bale and that is for top quality alfalfa hay with little to no waste, I get the 5' round bales for $40 a bale up the road and that feeds 4 yearling goats, 7 sheep and a couple kids for 2-3 weeks at least! Its nice to fine ONE thing cheaper in Canada. I think this means I am justified in getting some more goats!

Now the fencing that's a different story....costing us a fortune fencing a couple more acres.

I would research what the prices for hay are in your own area as there is obviously a big difference in prices from region to region....we have to spend much more for straw than top quality hay but in the prairies it is nearly free as they grow tens of thousands of acres of wheat there.

Best of luck, especially at keeping only 2 goats!

I think a lot of folks are buying from feed supply places and not from farms direct. We get round bales of Bermuda for $25-35 depending. I can get round bales of peanut hay in the fall for $20.

I have 20, including the bucks and 7 kids who range in age 7-5 months. I go through 2 round bales a month, and mine are dry lot I don't have any pasture.

Now, alfalfa is another matter. Doesn't grow around here. Square bale of that costs $15 minimum. That's why mine eat Bermuda.

 

[babsbag]

WoW! I can't believe how much you guys have to spend for hay!!! We spend at MAX $7 / bale and that is for top quality alfalfa hay with little to no waste, I get the 5' round bales for $40 a bale up the road and that feeds 4 yearling goats, 7 sheep and a couple kids for 2-3 weeks at least! Its nice to fine ONE thing cheaper in Canada. I think this means I am justified in getting some more goats!

Now the fencing that's a different story....costing us a fortune fencing a couple more acres.

I would research what the prices for hay are in your own area as there is obviously a big difference in prices from region to region....we have to spend much more for straw than top quality hay but in the prairies it is nearly free as they grow tens of thousands of acres of wheat there.

Best of luck, especially at keeping only 2 goats!

I think a lot of folks are buying from feed supply places and not from farms direct. We get round bales of Bermuda for $25-35 depending. I can get round bales of peanut hay in the fall for $20.

I have 20, including the bucks and 7 kids who range in age 7-5 months. I go through 2 round bales a month, and mine are dry lot I don't have any pasture.

Now, alfalfa is another matter. Doesn't grow around here. Square bale of that costs $15 minimum. That's why mine eat Bermuda.

I feed alfalfa 95% of the time, and almost no browse. I usually pay 14.00 for 100-110 lb bale and if I go to a feed store it can be as high as 19.00. Grass hay is the same price, maybe more. If I can come up the money to buy 5 tons at a time, and a place to store it, I can get it for about 12.00.

If I had known 4 years ago that I was going to be raising goats I would have been looking for land on irrigated pasture instead of living on the top of hill :/