Goat farming.

Big Davey

My local'ish butcher can not keep up with orders for goat meat ! Some nationalities that live in Ireland now would eat it every day and actively seek out places to buy it. My question is this........ Why are more people not farming goat in Ireland ? If a person was considering buying a few acres to set up a business and was not afraid of hard work what would be the best type of farm to start ? Pigs ? Rare breed pigs ? Goats ? Emu ? Ostrich ? If a person doesn't fancy a big dairy herd what other options are there ? I am aware farming is 7 days a week 52 week a year job and takes dedication but is it possible to pull €10k-15k a year out of maybe 5 acres or is that just dreamland ???????????

Big Davey

I think rabbits might be a better bet for Europe ? I feel if someone had a large rabbit farm and exported them packaged and ready for sale in Europe France , Spain, Italy etc it would do great. People often forget how other nations value different meats to us. Pigeon , quail etc would also do well.

jap gt

Big Davey wrote: »

My local'ish butcher can not keep up with orders for goat meat ! Some nationalities that live in Ireland now would eat it every day and actively seek out places to buy it. My question is this........ Why are more people not farming goat in Ireland ? If a person was considering buying a few acres to set up a business and was not afraid of hard work what would be the best type of farm to start ? Pigs ? Rare breed pigs ? Goats ? Emu ? Ostrich ? If a person doesn't fancy a big dairy herd what other options are there ? I am aware farming is 7 days a week 52 week a year job and takes dedication but is it possible to pull €10k-15k a year out of maybe 5 acres or is that just dreamland ???????????

where is he buying the goats from now

Big Davey

jap gt wrote: »

where is he buying the goats from now

I don't know but I am going to find out.

Damo810

If you ever make 15K off 5 acres, please, let me know how it's done..

Big Davey

Damo810 wrote: »

If you ever make 15K off 5 acres, please, let me know how it's done..

Just grow weed pal it's simple :-) I am a little surprised by the tone of some of the answers to a newbie in the farming section is this a closed shop or what ?

Rovi

[MOD]

Some posts have been snipped from this thread.

Wise-guy responses to new posters are neither big nor smart.

[/MOD]

quadboy

why were my posts removed

mf240

quadboy wrote: »

why were my posts removed

Because you didnt explain how to make 15 k a year from 5 acres of goats.

Meanwhile the op suggests growing weed. Go figure.

Big Davey

Rovi wrote: »

[MOD]

Some posts have been snipped from this thread.

Wise-guy responses to new posters are neither big nor smart.

[/MOD]

Thanks,
I have noticed people in the uk are doing well with rare breed pigs etc why can Ireland not do similar ? There are huge export markets out there maybe someone can tap into them ? 30 years ago people laughed at buying bottled water but its a way of life now. Irish meats are respected the world over can we start exporting new products ? Maybe not maybe its unrealistic maybe we should just keep doing the same thing and never rethink or evolve ? My question regarding goat farming is genuine and any constructive responses are appreciated. Why do we not farm more goat "IF" the market is there for it ?

quadboy

no I was tlking about rat farming in my posts but I also said I killed two mice with shovel

Big Davey

mf240 wrote: »

Because you didnt explain how to make 15 k a year from 5 acres of goats.

Meanwhile the op suggests growing weed. Go figure.

I asked IF it was possible to make 15k out of 5 acres of goats I did not say I could. And yes hemp is a very sought after resource for clothing, nutrition etc etc so it would be possible to make 15k out of 5 acres were it legal to produce.

mf240

Big Davey wrote: »

Thanks,
I have noticed people in the uk are doing well with rare breed pigs etc why can Ireland not do similar ? There are huge export markets out there maybe someone can tap into them ? 30 years ago people laughed at buying bottled water but its a way of life now. Irish meats are respected the world over can we start exporting new products ? Maybe not maybe its unrealistic maybe we should just keep doing the same thing and never rethink or evolve ? My question regarding goat farming is genuine and any constructive responses are appreciated. Why do we not farm more goat "IF" the market is there for it ?

Not a traditional farm animal I suppose would be one reason.

Access to market due to lack of processors would be another reason.

There are a small number of farmers milking goats and I believe the male kids are killed at birth so I suppose If you could find the market you would have a ready supply of stock.

Rovi

quadboy wrote: »

no I was tlking about rat farming in my posts but I also said I killed two mice with shovel

[MOD]

Either show a credible source for "rat farming" as a viable enterprise, and explain how it might suit the OP's situation, or let it drop.

[/MOD]

Big Davey

mf240 wrote: »

Not a traditional farm animal I suppose would be one reason.

Access to market due to lack of processors would be another reason.

There are a small number of farmers milking goats and I believe the male kids are killed at birth so I suppose If you could find the market you would have a ready supply of stock.

I believe the market is there, even if only the Africans bought it there would be a profitable business for several hundred farmers or more. There are more than 50k Africans in Ireland and more than 50k Asians there are meats these people want to get that they can not get here obviously some we are not interested in like dog, monkey etc but there are others and Goat is the one that keeps coming up I am seriously thinking of giving it a go. Will be looking into how to get started, get a herd number etc very soon.

quadboy

oh right cos he thought I was joking but I actually did read it in the paper just thought id mention that kind of farming enterprise

Bizzum

quadboy wrote: »

oh right cos he thought I was joking but I actually did read it in the paper just thought id mention that kind of farming enterprise

You read it alright. Cane rat farming in Africa. I recall reading it too.

Here's a bit about it.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2011/06/16/farming-rats-and-bees-could-solve-bushmeat-crisis-in-africa-experts-say/

Big Davey

Bizzum wrote: »

You read it alright. Cane rat farming in Africa. I recall reading it too.

Could you imagine it working in Ireland ? They do all types of farming in Africa but my question was regarding what would work in Ireland. I don't believe giant rat farming is really a great idea for this country what do you think ?

Big Davey

quadboy wrote: »

oh right cos he thought I was joking but I actually did read it in the paper just thought id mention that kind of farming enterprise

I was giving you a fair hearing up until you started talking about killing mice with a shovel and then it became apparent you were not really trying to advise or be constructive at all. Just my opinion.

mf240

Big Davey wrote: »

Could you imagine it working in Ireland ? They do all types of farming in Africa but my question was regarding what would work in Ireland. I don't believe giant rat farming is really a great idea for this country what do you think ?

Still didn't deserve to be deleted if it was genuine reply.

quadboy

the fella who wrote the article reckoned it was a good idea all you need is your few acres and they eat the grass and reproduce all the time.

quadboy

Yeah the mice thing was out of order

Big Davey

mf240 wrote: »

Still didn't deserve to be deleted if it was genuine reply.

Ok so quadboy genuinely believes rat farming is a viable business in Ireland is that what you mean ? What do you think of rat farming in ireland mf240 ?

Big Davey

quadboy wrote: »

the fella who wrote the article reckoned it was a good idea all you need is your few acres and they eat the grass and reproduce all the time.

How much should it cost to fence off a few acres to keep giant rats contained ? Did the fella who wrote the article say it was a good idea in Ireland or Africa ? Would you have a link to the article by any chance ?
Thanks

mf240

Big Davey wrote: »

Ok so quadboy genuinely believes rat farming is a viable business in Ireland is that what you mean ? What do you think of rat farming in ireland mf240 ?

I don't think it would work in Ireland but I don't think there was anything wrong with recalling the article from the paper.

I best not keep going on about it or I will get in trouble for back seat modding.

quadboy

No link but it was in the irish independent the end of last year. would you want to go a few feet underground too when fencing. He said it was a good idea in Ireland because there are many Africans living here who would buy the meat. When I read the article I told the brother about it he thought I was mad in the head.

Rovi

[MOD]

Okay, okay; I accept that "rat farming" is a viable enterprise in certain parts of the world, but I remain unconvinced that it's applicable to here in Ireland.
It'd be nice to see the article mentioned above though.

The OP was particularly asking about goats, so can we perhaps try to stick to that, or at least to enterprises that might be somewhat feasible under Irish conditions?

[/MOD]

quadboy

Yeah lets leave the rat thing alone

Markcheese

Damo810 wrote: »

If you ever make 15K off 5 acres, please, let me know how it's done..

Intensive salads and herbs,lots of polytunnels , lot lot of work .... Most important thing is to have /make your own Market....

Askim

mf240 wrote: »

Not a traditional farm animal I suppose would be one reason.

Access to market due to lack of processors would be another reason.

There are a small number of farmers milking goats and I believe the male kids are killed at birth so I suppose If you could find the market you would have a ready supply of stock.

Normal milking goats won't fatten to easy, Dairy herds are now using a meat Billy goat, this leaves the nanny nanny milking well, & both male & female kids can be fattened, just google Boer Goats
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=84103679

A

goat lover

Boer goat meat is a very tender meat and tastier to the dairy kid goat.

Jimlh86

On the goats question, apparently theirs a market also for goats cheese. I haven't the slightest clue about it but I was talking to a fella only last week who is actually giving it consideration!

goat lover

Yes the goats cheese has become a big hit , but the reg's are very demanding , more than the meat side.

memorystick

Is there anyone here rearing goats for meat?