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When Mark and Wendy Lange were figuring out a way to make a living on their 80-acre farm, they selected South African Boer goats for their livestock enterprise.

Goat meat is gaining popularity across the United States. It is highly prized by ethnic populations, and an entrée treat for the U.S. population that has enjoyed goat dishes while traveling overseas. Goat meat also has less fat than chicken with all the protein of beef, according to the American Boer Goat Association.

The Langes have raised goats for three years, and they have learned that goats have their own husbandry challenges.

And although goat meat prices are generally good, the goat market is not very developed in the upper Midwest and that makes for additional challenges.

"The U.S. is not used to eating goat at all, but in almost every other country goat is their main staple," said Wendy. "We have processed goat and sell individual cuts and we've eaten goat many times. It's very good. It's just the mindset of people are not used to it."

Just the facts

The South African Boer goat was developed by Dutch farmers in South Africa in the 1920s. The first Boer goats were imported to the United States in 1993.

South African Boer goats are known for their docile nature and very rapid weight gain. They are very meaty compared to native U.S. goats, said Robert Swize, executive director of the American Boer Goat Association, San Angelo, Texas.

The association recognizes 100 percent South Africa Boers, which can be traced straight back to the South African lines.

A full-blood Boer is at least 94 percent pure, and the association also registers part-percentage Boer goats.

Prices for females and males range from $150 and up, depending on a number of factors. Animals with a higher percentage of pedigree and better conformation command higher prices, said Swize.

A five- or six-month-old wether - weighing 60-80 pounds - will bring 90 cents to $1.15/pound live weight for slaughter. Retail goat meat prices range from $1.50-$8/pound, said Swize.

"We have some extreme pricing in our very young industry," said Swize. "As we get more animals into the industry and into production, prices will stabilize."

A mature South African Boer doe weighs about 200 pounds, and the bucks are 300 pounds at maturity. Gestation is 150 days. One buck can service up to 50 females, although most producers put in two bucks for that number of females.

The females come into heat as the day length shortens, similar to sheep and deer. Females will breed at five months of age, and will have one to four young. Most females have enough milk for triplets for at least the first few weeks.

The South African Boer goat is a browser. The goats prefer to consume shrubs, leaves and weeds. In west Texas, the goats are run on large acreages - surviving on their own instincts and what they find to eat.

In Minnesota, goats eat grass, shrubbery and weeds, but often need 4 pounds of hay and a quarter- to half-pound of grain per day during gestation and lactation, unless pasture is very lush.

The American Boer Goat Association is growing rapidly, said Swize. In 1997, the association had 1,450 members. By 2004, the association had 6,200 members. Swize also said that the association registered 38,000 head in 2003.

"Goat meat is an established protein in many countries," said Swize. "Consumers here are now finding that goat meat is a heart healthy product that tastes great."

The Lange operation

When Wendy and Mark married almost four years ago, they decided to reinvigorate the 80-acre farm in Chippewa County that has been in Mark's family since 1910.

They named their Milan, Minn., farm Dry Weather Creek, in honor of the generally dry streambed that rambles through their farm. The Chippewa River flows just a half-mile west.

The Langes credit the Land Stewardship Project's Farm Beginnings program with helping them select a realistic direction for their farm.

"We graduated from the course in the spring of 2002 and we had just analyzed some options and our interests and tried to blend that all together," said Wendy. "We came up with Boer goats."

The Langes purchased their first 12 Boer goats in December 2001. When they completed the Farm Beginnings program, they were eligible for a no-interest Heifer International loan to purchase 60 goats.

In 2003, the Lange herd produced 97 live babies.

A full-time goat operation would probably include 300-400 females, said Mark. It would be a challenging way to make a living for farmers like the Langes.

"For the whole month of May, during kidding, we don't hardly sleep because we watch them around the clock," said Wendy. "There are quite a few that we pull just as a precaution. We look at everything we can do to help get the little ones off to the best start possible."

While Mark has a full-time job off the farm, Wendy works full-time on the farm and that was made possible by adding additional enterprises.

The Langes also raise organic corn, wheat and hull-less oats, and they operate an on-farm certified organic flour mill. They also sell Omega-III eggs from their flax-fed chickens.

"Now we're to the point where we have to fine tune each operation and become a little more efficient," said Mark. "Time management - that's a huge issue for us."

Markets

The Langes learned that goat is the number one red meat consumed in the world - even more common than beef or pork. But getting their products to the end user has not been easy, however.

They have been selling most of their male goats in November to buyers at the Sioux Falls Stockyards.

"We would prefer to find some ethnic groups that would be interested," said Wendy. "We've had meetings with stores in Willmar (40 miles away) and we've talked with an Ethiopian group in the Twin Cities."

The challenge is making it pay to drive 130 miles to the Twin Cities on a regular basis with a limited amount of goat meat. So far, the numbers haven't added up.

The Langes have processed goat at the USDA meat locker in Grove City, but shipping the animal to the plant that is almost 80 miles away, picking up the meat and selling it has also not proven cost effective.

"We would prefer to deal with some local places," said Mark. "One of the drawbacks is the Twin Cities is just so far away. The cost of fuel back and forth and the trips - we're better off taking one big load to Sioux Falls. We have to look at the economics of that."

Successfully marketing goat meat to consumers will likely require several goat producers working together, said Wendy, and she expects that could happen since at least five producers that she knows have recently begun raising Boer goats.

The Langes do not expect the Boer goat market to become saturated, but they also don't see a large number of producers entering the goat business.

"I wouldn't want to promote a fantasy of life on the farm with the goats, because goats are obnoxious. They test you every step of the way. They have unique personalities and I don't think that's agreeable with a lot of people," said Wendy. "When you feed them, they are aggressive. They test every fence you have, every gate, so you're always on guard. They are not an easy animal to have around."

Goats also fail to thrive in confinement operations. They need lots of space and areas to run and jump. They require shelter only when the elements are cruel and during the birthing process.

One of their biggest challenges came during the last kidding season. Thirteen does aborted after stray pregnant cats defecated in the feed/bedding causing toxoplasmosis poisoning.

"That was very stressful and heartbreaking," said Wendy. "You so look forward to kidding and to have the abortions - it was pretty scary."

The lesson was a tough one, but the Langes fortunately still had enough baby goats to continue the operation.

Despite the challenges, raising goats has been rewarding for the Langes. They hope that South African Boer goats will help make their farming operation a success for years to come.

For more information on Dry Weather Creek Farm and South African Boer Goats, contact Mark and Wendy Lange at 8095 40th St. NW, Milan, MN 56262 or call 320-269-9617, email is dwcreek@fedteldirect.net.

Comments »

Daisy Mae Ranch wrote on Mar 7, 2007 7:26 PM:

" We found your web site to be very informative and we enjoyed our visit. We invite people to visit us at www.DaisyMaeRanch.com for our latest additions and breeding stock. Thanks, Malcolm & Kay Branch "

dan zielske wrote on Nov 1, 2006 6:12 AM:

" does dry creek have 5-6 does for sale or anyone in the Echo area? I am buying a lama in Echo later this week. "

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