Make it clear whether you are raising goats for commercial or personal use, as different regulations may apply. [1] X Research source
Neutered males, or wethers, are not able to breed or produce milk. They are usually purchased as barnyard pets. Many goat farms end up with wethers when their goats give birth to extra males. If you do purchase a buck, consider spending extra for one with breeding papers. You’ll have a better idea of its traits and are less likely to breed defects into your herd.
Before deciding, you may want to read up on how to milk goats, slaughter goats, or shear goats. If you are not up to slaughtering a goat yourself, find commercial slaughtering operations nearby that will purchase your goats before raising goats for meat.
How much does it cost to raise a doe, a buck, or a kid for one year? Try to find numbers for your specific goat breed if possible. If you are raising goats for milk, how much milk does one doe produce? How much can you sell this milk for? If you are raising goats for meat, how much does a slaughtered goat sell for? Do they sell for more during a specific time of year, such as Muslim holidays, Christmas, or Easter? How much on-hand money do you have available for unexpected costs, such as fencing repair or veterinary procedures? If one of your goats dies, will that cause you financial hardship?
Goats of significantly different sizes should not be kept with each other, unless they are kids kept with their mother. Bucks can become aggressive when in rut and near females, so the separate enclosure is highly recommended even if you don’t care about unplanned breeding.
Goats hate puddles and wet weather. If you live in a rainy area, you may wish to provide a larger indoor enclosure.
If the skin on their forehead is easily moved around by rubbing, the goats are probably naturally hornless and do not require disbudding.
If the skin on their forehead is easily moved around by rubbing, the goats are probably naturally hornless and do not require disbudding.
Male goats grow large testicles, so even a castrated goat (wether) may not look as though it has been castrated.
Consider opening up your farm to visitors and charging people to visit. For this, you may have to train your goats to be pet-friendly.
