Whether you are new to buying goats or are a seasoned professional, where you buy your goats can have a big impact on the quality of your herd. Though there are a lot of options to choose from when you look for places to buy goats, it is important to first consider the goal you have for your herd and the reason you are buying new stock. Are you looking for new, high-quality does with specific traits to improve your herd? Or are you less concerned with quality, and more interested in cheaper animals that can be weed-eaters and resold in several months?
The answers to these questions will help you decide what place might be the best for you to buy your goats from. Where you buy goats can vary depending on your budget and what kind of animal you are looking for (breeding, wethers, show animals, etc). These include:
- Livestock Auctions – All classes, ages, and types of species are sold in a weekly or monthly sale put on by the owners of the auction barn. Usually a meat market. This option is the most risky, as old and sick animals are often sold here, but it is possible to find bargains.
- Production Sales – One or more farms or producers come together to organize and put on a sale themselves. Unlike livestock auctions, producers usually bring their best stock to sell, and usually a specific type of animal is sold. The sale can be specialized for a particular type of goat (for example, wethers, breeding stock, etc).
- Privately – Off the Farm – Individuals that operate their own farms that you can contact if you are interested in their stock. Many advertise online or on social media. What kind of stock they offer depends on their production goals.
Below, I have compiled a brief list of the advantages and disadvantages of buying from each of these places, as well as potential red flags and tips for making sure you get the most out of wherever you decide to buy goats from.
Livestock Auction Barns
Pros: Offers a wide range of animals in terms of age, breed, gender, and price. Can buy goats in large quantities. Real life prices are offered, usually by the pound.
Cons: Lots of cull/sick animals can be sold here. Large numbers of animals are present in the same space, which can mean more diseases to contend with. You often don’t have a sense of what kind of place the animal has come from or how it has been managed.
What to Buy Here: Weed-eaters, butcher goats, feeder goats
What to Look For: Healthy animals will be alert, have a nice hair coat, move soundly, and be free from the signs of disease.
What to Avoid: Stay away from sickly or overly old animals. Signs of scours, limping, lumps, and udder problems are visible signs to look out for, but there are many signs that are not visible (like animals that are non-breeders or animals with personality issues). Some sellers will mark these animals as “culls,” but not all will.
Tips: Familiarize yourself with the current market prices and understand the difference between buying by the pound or by the head.
Production Sales
Pros: Several different breeders bring their best animals. This gives you an opportunity to see breeders’ best stock and visit with several producers all in one place. Usually offers a variety of genetics and quality animals.
Cons: Because of the quality of the animals, it is easy to get wrapped in bidding wars, meaning you can pay more than you should. Like an auction, you don’t get as much information about the goat’s background and how it has been managed unless you go around and talk to the owners.
What to Buy Here: Breeding quality animals; show prospects
What to Look For: Because all of the goats at production sales usually look their best, it can be hard to distinguish which animals you should buy. As a result, how willing the owners are to explain and answer questions about their animals may help you decide. Look for owners who have similar goals for their herd, and similar livestock management styles.
What to Avoid: Just like anywhere else, avoid animals exhibiting obvious signs of illness. Avoid being drawn into bidding wars. Be careful with goats whose owners may not have been as open about their practices or management styles.
Tips: Many animals arrive at production sales in show condition, meaning they are usually on the heavier side and are looking their best. Keep in mind that the animal’s body condition should match the goal that you have for that animal at that time. For example, if you buy a doe in show condition with the intention to breed her right away, you need to allow her time to lose weight before you breed her.
Privately – Off the Farm
Pros: Less disease exposure. You get to see where the animal comes from, what it’s been fed, how it’s been managed, and come to know the history of the animal. You can ask the owner directly about the animal.
Cons: Sometimes the owners can be “barn blind,” meaning that their animals may be overpriced compared to their actual value. The owner’s management style and goals for production may not align with yours.
What to Buy Here: Market goats, show animals, bottle babies, feeder goats
What to Look For: If buying a young animal, ask to see both its sire and dam, as well as any brothers and sisters. If possible, observe all of the goats, not just the ones for sale. This will give you a sense of the overall quality and management of the herd, not just the ones who were “prettied up” for sale.
What to Avoid: There will always be some animals that don’t look their best, but there should be an explanation for it that makes sense (for example: she just weaned triplets, he has been in the pasture breeding, etc). If there are too many of these, it could be a red flag.
Tips: The breeder should be able to tell you what traits they select for when breeding their goats (color, gain, maternal traits, etc) and explain what they are doing to reach that goal. Understand what their market is and how it aligns with what you want to do. For example, do they specialize in replacement animals, wethers, or market goats, or something else?
Additional Advice
- If buying at auction, always quarantine the animals you buy before introducing and mixing them with the rest of your herd.
- If possible, buy at least two animals from the same place. This is so they already have a “buddy” when they are introduced into your herd.
- Be willing to pay for quality. Breeders have spent time and money to produce the animal with specific traits and are not going to sell them for only market prices.
