Updated 10/05/05
We purchased a Boer buck (Lazarus) and three does (Sissy, Bethany, and Jackie Brown) on 8/21, from a local breeder. Lazarus was a bottle kid and is extremely friendly.
I now have one buck and seven does to start my market goat project. One or two of the does were bred when I purchased them and if Lazarus does his job, I should have a few kids to pick from for our local fair in 7/06.
Updated 5/31/05
We have had Kiko wethers for about four years now. We bought twenty of them for brush control. We put them on 12 acres of manzanita, oak trees, pine trees, poison oak, and berry bushes. They did a great job of cleaning up the poison oak, berry bushes, and all of our trees are groomed up to as far as they can reach. Over the years we lost a few, and sold all but six. The remaining six are still doing a great job of land clearing.
At the Amador County Fair, market goats were shown for the first time last year. The only market goats that were allowed to be sold at auction were the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion.
I joined the 4-H Meat Goat Project in my club this year so that I could show and sell meat goats at the fair. It was decided, again, that the only goats allowed to be sold at auction were the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion. Since I enjoy breeding and raising my own animals, I decided to wait until next year to show my own breeding of market goats.
We purchased four Boer Goats on 5/07, from my 4-H Meat Goat Project leader. She sold me 1 Registered Boer doe, her two doe kids, and one other doe kid. I will breed the doe that is old enough to breed for the 2006 Amador County Fair. If everything goes as planned, I should have a couple of market goats for fair.
I need to purchase a Boer Buck within the next month so that I can breed my doe in August. I look forward to beginning this project.