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 Can Do It
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Location: Hockley, Texas | My daughter wants to show a goat next year in 4H (which we have not yet joined). We need newbie help. I showed lambs in HS (20+ years ago) so I know a little, but I'm sure things have changed since then. Hubby said you have to get 2 goats for them to do good, is that true? A friend from HS is a breeder and she said theirs are $800-$2500. I can't buy 2 goats for that price! Help! |
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 Expert
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Location: The best kept secret in TX | Jess00 - 2015-12-31 10:24 AM My daughter wants to show a goat next year in 4H (which we have not yet joined). We need newbie help. I showed lambs in HS (20+ years ago) so I know a little, but I'm sure things have changed since then. Hubby said you have to get 2 goats for them to do good, is that true? A friend from HS is a breeder and she said theirs are $800-$2500. I can't buy 2 goats for that price! Help!
They do better in pairs. Buy one show goat and one dairy or meat goat from a farmer. They're around $150 at max.
But for sure get two. They don't have to both be show goats tho.
My friends would always have two goats in the holding pen area at shows. YOu could always tell which one was the show goat and which was the buddy goat. LOL |
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 Expert
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| Like most livestock, goats are social animals. They will be OK alone, but thrive more with a pal.
Think about where you plan to show ... if you're showing locally at a non-terminal show, see if you can lease the goats for the duration needed from your friend. Ask that friend for mentoring advice and guidance in how they'd like the goats fed and taken care of. Could be a real win/win situation for all involved.
We show sheep all over the nation, and frequently have a "show kid" that we mentor and take with us everywhere. That kid "leases" their lamb from us and we take them along all over the country to all different kinds of shows depending on the quality of lamb and how dedicated the kid. |
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BHW's Simon Cowell
Location: The Saudia Arabia of Wind Energy, Western Oklahoma | I would stick with sheep if that is what I knew. They are both expensive but there seems to be more good lambs out there than good goats. More long time breeders in the lamb business. |
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 Extreme Veteran
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| My dad shows show goats... We are selling some 4-H goats too and he is also very knowledgable about showing goats. |
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Can Do It
Posts: 2738
Location: Hockley, Texas | IRunOnFaith - 2015-12-31 10:28 AM
Jess00 - 2015-12-31 10:24 AM My daughter wants to show a goat next year in 4H (which we have not yet joined). We need newbie help. I showed lambs in HS (20+ years ago) so I know a little, but I'm sure things have changed since then. Hubby said you have to get 2 goats for them to do good, is that true? A friend from HS is a breeder and she said theirs are $800-$2500. I can't buy 2 goats for that price! Help!
They do better in pairs. Buy one show goat and one dairy or meat goat from a farmer. They're around $150 at max.
But for sure get two. They don't have to both be show goats tho.
My friends would always have two goats in the holding pen area at shows. YOu could always tell which one was the show goat and which was the buddy goat. LOL
Thank you for that suggestion. I was thinking a goat tying goat from the sale barn could be a buddy, but hubby was concerned of diseases. |
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Can Do It
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Location: Hockley, Texas | lindseylou2290 - 2015-12-31 10:31 AM
Like most livestock, goats are social animals. They will be OK alone, but thrive more with a pal.
Think about where you plan to show ... if you're showing locally at a non-terminal show, see if you can lease the goats for the duration needed from your friend. Ask that friend for mentoring advice and guidance in how they'd like the goats fed and taken care of. Could be a real win/win situation for all involved.
We show sheep all over the nation, and frequently have a "show kid" that we mentor and take with us everywhere. That kid "leases" their lamb from us and we take them along all over the country to all different kinds of shows depending on the quality of lamb and how dedicated the kid.
I don't think we have that option because we have to sell the goats (assuming we make sale, which is the whole goal). |
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Can Do It
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Location: Hockley, Texas | ksjackofalltrades - 2015-12-31 11:05 AM
I would stick with sheep if that is what I knew. They are both expensive but there seems to be more good lambs out there than good goats. More long time breeders in the lamb business.
I can't remember if I showed one or two years before I went to heifers. I can't say I knew them though. ;) Not to mention the many years it's been since then. :| |
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Can Do It
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Location: Hockley, Texas | barrelracer63046304 - 2015-12-31 11:58 AM
My dad shows show goats... We are selling some 4-H goats too and he is also very knowledgable about showing goats.
Where are you located? |
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Extreme Veteran
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| I sent you a PM |
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 Banjo and Baby
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Location: South of Canada and North of Mexico | Also interested in this, I know nothing about goats or sheep for that matter but wanting my son to show in 4h (our first year for him). I do not want the goats that jump and climb over everything in the yard, want goats that like to eat brush as well. Any suggestions???? What kind of fencing do I need? |
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Extreme Veteran
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| In 4-H we were told to have spares incase anything happened to our main goat. Also, the goat would do much better with a friend... |
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Extreme Veteran
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| watchpeppydoc - 2015-12-31 12:40 PM
Also interested in this, I know nothing about goats or sheep for that matter but wanting my son to show in 4h (our first year for him). I do not want the goats that jump and climb over everything in the yard, want goats that like to eat brush as well. Any suggestions???? What kind of fencing do I need?
Make sure it is a good fence LOL our goats will try to get out of anything!! |
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 Heeler Hoarder
Posts: 2067
| Don't bring in anything from the sale barn goats are bad for getting diseases. Buy off a breeder that it hasn't been off the farm and has a clean/healthy herd. Most goats aren't really big on eating brush honestly unless they don't really have any grass. ALL goats will jump/climb and get out of fence you would swear is water proof lol |
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Heeler Hoarder
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| barrelracer63046304 - 2015-12-31 12:52 PM
watchpeppydoc - 2015-12-31 12:40 PM
Also interested in this, I know nothing about goats or sheep for that matter but wanting my son to show in 4h (our first year for him). I do not want the goats that jump and climb over everything in the yard, want goats that like to eat brush as well. Any suggestions???? What kind of fencing do I need?
Make sure it is a good fence LOL our goats will try to get out of anything!!
They all jump/climb so I would go with sheep if I were you |
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She's a Tough One
Posts: 3199
| watchpeppydoc - 2015-12-31 12:40 PM
Also interested in this, I know nothing about goats or sheep for that matter but wanting my son to show in 4h (our first year for him). I do not want the goats that jump and climb over everything in the yard, want goats that like to eat brush as well. Any suggestions???? What kind of fencing do I need?
I'm going to be completely honest and say goats probably aren't going to fit your bill. Like someone else mentioned maybe sheep are a better option for you. My description of a goat is a goat is a goat. They're always getting in on or out of something they aren't supposed to and eating everything you don't want them to and leaving what you'd like them too especially pet goats they are waiting for hay grain. A lot more finicky than people know when it comes to their food. I had to put a top on my goats pen thank goodness he got fat and happy and not as agile as he used to be. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Buy a single wether and ask iif you can lease a doe. Many times we do this for those that have purchased from us before. Never with anyone new however as our does are very precious to us. (We have under 100 head of does). We can't risk injury or death as we're trying to build our herd again.
I would shoot to show a light weight to medium light weight the first year.
Have generous space for the two of them. With goat and finewool sheep its best to use goat fencing that's 5' tall and 3X3 squares. Yes, that's expensive fencing but your animals will remain safe. From dogs and possibly other preditors. The only thing that has hurt us in this type of pen has been a mountain lion. They can climb out with a smaller goat/lamb. The best use of the rest of your wire is to build an exercise track around the pen that's 75' long by 35' wide. They need a heat lamp and a structure that can support that during hard freeze. Don't make the structure large keep it goat size. Holds in the body heat. We can easily flip ours over and move them on skids to keep the bedding area clean. Fresh water is a must and a good feeding program. I use amino acid solutions after I work mine hard.
If you have any questions you can PM me. We had some success in the past. Not so much recently as I've not pushed our breeding program. We've mainly used them for brush control on our small ranch. Our front two pastures look like parks thanks to the goats .
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