Free "dairy billies".

[JarDude]

Are advertised on a local craiglist ad.

Are these really not worth anything?

How hard are to to raise and are they worth anything to sell for meat?

[opsrto]

I have seen a lot of that my place too. If you are going for food, cut or band and let them get fat.
It seems that some people buy these animals and then remember they need to be taken care of.

[cinok]

What breed are they, diary breed can mean almost anything. Are they kids or older breeding stock. Goats even meat(boer) breeds do not yield a lot of meat but the advantage is they are cheaper to feed and easier on land. The market varies from area to area different cultures use goat meat for religious holidays and each culture has different rules such as age were they banded etc. You can use older goats for stew but the younger <1 yr are often what is wanted for meat.

[HuntingHawk]

Only a good choice if you already have the feed put up for them for the winter.

Ross

[momma_to_seven_chi]

You can buy them at the auction barn for 10-15 dollars a billy. They aren't worth much unless you want to raise one to be your herd billy.

[NCLee]

Free protein is free protein.

BBQ em. Freeze the Q. Neighbor sometimes roasts a goat over the coals instead of a pig. Good eating. A lot of folks think it's pork, until they are told it isn't.

Can them for stews and such. Add enough onion and garlic when making stew and most folks won't have a clue about what they're eating.

Agree that if you're going to keep them and not use one for stud, band and disbud early. During winter, especially, you'll probably need some hay along with some supplemental ground food. Far less in summer if you have broaze (sp) for them. They don't graze very much if they can nibble on twigs, some types of weeds, honeysuckle, kudzu, tree bark and such. They'll graze, if forced to, but not if given a choice. If on grass only, definitely supplement with hay and a small ration of ground food. And, supplement with surplus produce and produce trimmings when available.

Lee

[leera]

I have been told that BBQ goat is very good.I have not tried it yet,there was an ad on the local craigslist for meat goats ready to butcher the other day,but hubby wouldn't agree to purchasing/butchering one.

[annabella1]

If they are young and you get them fixed, and a large enough breed, they can be trained as pack animals, or to pull a cart. keep them working to keep them out of trouble. If they wont train eat em.

[kammisue]

Free Billies = Free Food

I raise all my billies for meat... If I butcher them young I make hamburger/sausage... if they are older I pressure can the meat... every last piece I can cut off the bone.. when you pressure can with garlic and plenty of salt the meat comes out delish!!! If you have plenty of browsing arces and good hay you won't have to spend too much $$ on grain

[Mistie]

Goat meat is really good,,if the goat is young enough,,,the male goats you are talking about are from the commercial dairies that have so many Doe's to feed that the boys got a go,,,they are still on milk and need a place warm,,if they have been under heat lamps and they need to be bottle fed,,,,,now if you make it through that you did good,,,,you can start them on hay and grain too....