Boer Goats Still Going Strong

Boer Goats Still Going Strong LIVESTOCK Sheep/Goats 29-5-6 In 1995, FARM SHOW ran a story, "Boer Goats Catching On Fast," and 10 years later, Travis and Jennifer Stockstill, Butler, Ill., say that's exactly what happened. The Stockstills have up to 300 goats on their 94-acre farm. Thanks to growing numbers of immigrants from the Middle East, Mexico and Asia in big cities, the demand for goat meat is growing because it's the preferred meat on certain holidays. Right now, Stockstill says most goat meat is imported from New Zealand. "I sell most of my bucks at a sale barn. The does are sold off the farm as breed stock," Stockstill says, adding that most cow and pig sale barns have sheep and goat sales as well. "Just like sheep, the peak price is usually in April during Easter. Some places were paying over $2/lb. during this time. Around here, we get up to $1.25/lb." The goats are sold between 20 and 100 lbs. "Where I sell mine, one place wants kids under 50 lbs. and the other over 60 lbs." A story published in the Chicago Tribune last year reported that the 2002 Census of Agriculture shows that the number of goats raised annually for meat increased from 1.2 million to 1.9 million from 1997 to 2002. The number of farms with goats increased from 63,422 to 74,980. Stockstill says if he was starting out, he'd buy a nice buck and mostly unregistered does. "By doing this, you limit your risk of losing money. High-priced breeding stock is harder to sell if the goats aren't working out." Mature does sell on average for $150. Most does have twins, which will sell for about $75 at one year. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Travis & Jennifer Stockstill, 6060 Rocky Hollow Trail, Butler, Ill. 62015 (ph 217 532-3806). Or visit the Boer and Meat Goat Information Center at www.boergoats.com.

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