Texas Fall/Winter thread!

[houstonscott]

Scott, if my wife saw them kids, I'd have more work to do:laughing: I was reading an article the other day, they where saying that goats are selling better (at a better %) than beef? what is the market??

I get about $100 per goat at 60/80lbs. I only sell the Billy's. Best prices are in the late fall, do to all the fall religious holidays. So I hold them until nov/dec to go to auction. Mexico has become a big market, many are bought by a meat processor in SA, who markets into Mexico. Goat meat has become very popular there. The dairy Billy's I give to 4H, they snap them up on Craig's list within minutes. HS

 

[Western]

Thanks Scott and FG.

I don't think I'd want to mess with the milk variety, but the meat goat could be a possibility. I have no "goat" experience, but allot of moo cow time in:laughing: What are the basic "pitfalls"

FG, not hard to put the coyotes in "their place" and you have a nice place with plenty of room.

 

[txdon]

You're a late learner! :laughing:

:laughing: My grandparents had it also I just never knew why. I thought it was to make feet soft not to uses as an overall body muscle pain reliever.

My neighbors baby goats are coyote food. The donkeys he has with them just show the coyotes where dinner is.
Every once in a while I have to stop to help a goat get his head out of the fence.

 

[houstonscott]

Thanks Scott and FG. I don't think I'd want to mess with the milk variety, but the meat goat could be a possibility. I have no "goat" experience, but allot of moo cow time in:laughing: What are the basic "pitfalls" FG, not hard to put the coyotes in "their place" and you have a nice place with plenty of room.

You'll need very good fences, and I mean good. Goats are browsers like deer. They will eat all the weeds and trim your trees before they touch the grass. Like cattle clean water. Goats are prone to worms, not an big issue but you HAVE to worm twice a year. The small and young are at risk to predators, you might need some type of protection, great pyrenees are the go to dog in Texas. My pasture is very visible from the house and I have fences that overlap onto ground by 3ft, so nothing can even dig in at my place. They will need some type of protection from elements, big oaks are good or a three side loafing area. Goats don't like mud, they prefer hard ground, if your pastures are soft soils you might have to trim hooves of from time to time. If you have cattle, and fencing that will hold goats, a hand full will improve your pastures better than any chemical sprays. HS

 

[Western]

Fences I figured, predators I can deal with, domestic dogs I project would be a bigger PITA. I have Anatolian Shepperd's, but they are to old at this point to acclimate to goats, but I think they are superior to the Pyrenees. Don't have any "wet spots", shoot, I should be so lucky.

Dont know if I'd want to trade my deer habitat to raise goats though and surely wouldn't do the whole place, so may not be worth the effort for me. I might would dedicate 1-2 acres here at the house to a few, but don't know if that would rationalize even having some??

 

[houstonscott]

Fences I figured, predators I can deal with, domestic dogs I project would be a bigger PITA. I have Anatolian Shepperd's, but they are to old at this point to acclimate to goats, but I think they are superior to the Pyrenees. Don't have any "wet spots", shoot, I should be so lucky. Dont know if I'd want to trade my deer habitat to raise goats though and surely wouldn't do the whole place, so may not be worth the effort for me. I might would dedicate 1-2 acres here at the house to a few, but don't know if that would rationalize even having some??

The goats and deer seem to get along fine here, I too was concerned putting the goats on might run the deer off, but there are more deer after the goats arrived. I have four deer that are full time with the goats, always within 100yds of the goats. HS

 

[Lou66]

Been doing some research on the HF Sawmill. It isn't good. http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=48238.0 Which led me to what might be a new long term (hangar) shop project here... Homemade bandsaw mill. Part 2 (blade installation) - YouTube
hugs, Brandi

Brandi,, I been looking at those homemade sawmills,, If I build one I am going build it like that bicycle one,, In case I run out of beer, I can ride it to town and maybe bicycle a few 2 by 4's on the way,:laughing:, you know and pick up a few sawmill bucks for the beer.. Some of those folks are amazing, dress in rags but a mind of creativity,, that's what made this country great.:thumbsup:. good luck on your new long term project.. Lou

 

[Western]

You don't worry about Meningeal Deerworm ? (sp) brain worm? Just asking, I have read articles that goats can compromise deer health and vise verse?

 

[Lou66]

I don't have a lot of cattle anymore.. mainly because of the drought, lack of hay, lack of good pasture, lack of motivation, lack of good sense,, other lacks and dislacks.. But I do have a few, (5) that had breed to a Hereford Bull,, These five cows that I have I raised from calves,, also raised their mothers and the bulls,, five generation back,, so I know the blood line of each.. yesterday the black Brahma/Angus/ F-1, drop her calf.. Not what I was looking for.. too much red.. but I have 4 more to go.. maybe one of them will drop the right color.. if not it's back to the drawing board.. may cross them this year with a limousine bull.. but it's along year yet.. This is a hobby now and to keep my Ag up to date.. Lou

 

[Western]

"limousine bull"....Well no red gunna come from that!:laughing: Nothing wrong with "Red Brangus" Just mature breed wise longer!!