Goat Buyers and Major Frustrations!!

[Roll farms]

We've had 55 kids born here this season. We breed Boers, Nubians, Oberhasli, Toggs, and crosses.
I kept 3 doelings, the rest were sold or donated.
I learned early on, to be successful at this venture, I'd HAVE to cater to everyone.
I have some I just won't bend on price, and others that I sell for less (especially at the end of the season when bottling and milking has gotten tiresome).
I do get tired of cheap customers who tell me "I can go to a sale barn and get one for 25$" and I tell them, "And you get what you pay for...so when your $25 kid is sick, don't call ME for advice or help...because you get that only when you buy from me."
(Of course, 9 times out of 10 I help anyway b/c I won't let the goat suffer for the owners' ignorance....)
My website has been a great source of sales, as well as word-of-mouth and posting on Yahoo groups and even Craigslist.
Good luck in your goat-sales efforts and don't give up...the right buyers will find you.

 

[pattyjean73]

I completely understand where all of you are coming from. And if I were a breeder, I'm sure I'd have the same frustrations. However, keep in mind that times are tough right now on alot of families. Alot of people are looking for ways to offset their grocery bills (Me included). This is one of the main reasons (but not the only) I decided to get into goats (and chickens, ducks, etc). I myself can not afford to pay $200 for a goat. But that does not mean that I want to have poor goats as my producers. I want good quality goats that produce well. I was VERY fortunate to find two families that raised show goats and just couldn't sell all their excess. Granted, most of them are not registered, but they are registerable, and they are good quality goats. Because of these two families, I had enough left over to buy a really nice, registered buck for my herdsire. Of course, they are almost all pretty young and not of breeding age yet, but they're not weanlings either. Unfortunately, this means I'll not have fresh milk or fresh meat for nearly a year to come.

This is my starting herd. And they are pretty nice goats that have been well taken care of. Eventually, I hope to incorporate more registered stock into my herd but I'm pleased with what I have started out with and was able to get my herd at a price I could afford.

 

[danielle]

This is stupid you get mad cause someone doesn't want to pay for a $400 dollars goat that probably end up in the freezer I will never ever pay that much I paid $15 dollars for my 2 boer does in they were healthy in I paid $85 dollars for my registered pygmy billy goat I'm just saying even if you pay 400 or 600 doesn't mean the seller is honest about the goat being healthy my cousin bought a registered lamancha doeling for 4h for $450 in she died 2 days later from a lung infection in the guy she bought her from was a very good breeder in even when you buy cheap goats or even take unwanted it doesn't mean the ppl will b honest I won't take that chance for paying that much for a goat there are alot of ppl out there that will in wont I think it's stupid that's my opinion

 

[alsea1]

We all want to get top dollar for the animals that we raise. But in the end the animal is only worth what you can get someone else to pay for it. Unless you are willing to keep em all that is.

 

[Michelle59]

I raise pygmy n neigrian dwarf I sell both of them weather at 75 intact males for 100 n females 125-150 depending on size n color

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I certainly DON'T think it's stupid to want to get decent money for an animal that you've put a lot of time, energy, and money into. For many years I've raised show quality pygmy goats. When folks come on here and post pictures of their "pygmies" sometimes I just sit back and laugh quietly to myself at what some people think is a pygmy. But, in the long run, if folks want to call their goat a pygmy, who am I to disagree? As long as the animal is healthy and well-taken care of, I don't care what they call it.

Each and every goat I sell as a registered Pygmy is a purebred, quality animal. I may have 8 or 10 generations of that line on my farm. I know what they came from, I know what they produce and I know that they are nothing more or less than what I represent them as. They are tame, they are disbudded, they have their vaccinations, their feet are trimmed, they've had fecals run and if needed are de-wormed. They have many generations of pure pygmy breeding behind them and they can stand up in any show ring. That kind of an animal is well-worth the price that I put on them. I've sold goats for as little as $50 dollars to as much as $800. That $800 dollar goat is a permanent grand champion and even though I sold him, he carries my herd name and represents my farm.

Here's another thing....if someone pays my price - I'm not going to complain if the animal goes in the freezer. I'd really rather it go in the show ring and represent my farm name, but sometimes the freezer is a better end than some ignorant person buying it and not taking proper care of it.

I'm really glad that you got a couple of $7.50 goats and that they are healthy. That's very rarely the case when you buy something for that price - but as you noted price doesn't always give you a guarantee of health.

As for me - I'm going to continue to ask (and get) a premium price for my animals. Even though I haven't shown goats in nearly 10 years, people still come to me for quality animals - and I continue to supply that animal for them.

Maybe you shouldn't be so quick to judge folks who want a quality price for a quality product.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I sell mine from $0 to $750

 

[ragdollcatlady]

This year, my registered Nigi bucklings sold as breeding bucks for $250 to $300 before I could offer them with sisters....I like to offer a free wether with the sister....Everyone loves something free and I get full price for the girls, plus I know that they won't be lonely and have built in buddy...Otherwise my wethers are $100 a pair. My registered girls are usually between $250 and $300 as well. I have paid a little more than that for certain bloodlines or a particular animal that I really wanted, but $350 is about the top amount I am willing to spend, just a personal limit depending on how much I want a particular animal. Of course my budget is a limiting factor too.....

I try and keep in mind that while not all families can spend a whole lot on a purchase of an animal, they may be fine with the upkeep and may well be able to give plenty of time and attention... Sometimes I will sell for less, but not if I would feel ripped off. Still, some animals I won't budge on price if they are really worth it and I will either keep or eat them rather than lower the price... that goes for all my farm animals, not just goats....

I had one lady mention that she wanted to pay drastically less for one of my nicest doelings I had offered for sale ....I politely declined and was showing her the door when she mentioned a different goat that was dirt cheap on Craigslist... I smiled and wished her luck. At that point, I would not have sold her that kid anyways because I decided I didn't like her.... My babies deserved better and got better homes in the end.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I totally agree. I will not sell to someone who gives me bad vibes and seems to only be concerned about the initial price.

There is so much more to goat welfare (or any animal) than the purchase price. If a person that claims to want a quality animal balks too much at the selling price, I wonder how dedicated they are to the animal's welfare.

If you can't afford the purchase price, how can you afford the upkeep? The purchase price is a SMALL amount in the total picture.

 

[goatgurl]

sometimes i read things on here and think really, really... are folks that ignorant and the answer is yes they are. my guess is if they won't pay a decent price for a goat or other farm animal for that matter then perhaps they won't take very good care of it. agree with FEM, i won't sell to someone who makes me or my animals uncomfortable. and I've sold goats from 0 to $550. its not always about the money. don't get me wrong, moneys good but isn't the be all, end all