Wanted 15 million

Goats Wanted:
15 million healthy commercial does 1-2 years old.
Will pay $3,000,000,000 on delivery

That was the heading for an article by Terry Hankins in the February 2006 issue of the "Goat Rancher" magazine. It was a complementary article in the same issue by Marvin Shurley, President of the American Meat Goat Association, where Marvin discussed the state of the meat goat industry in the U.S.

The article states that, according to experts in the industry, if the U.S. wanted to seriously attempt to meet the demand in the U.S. for goat meat today and in the future, there would have to be around 15 million commercial does being in production. That is a major stretch from the estimated 2 million meat goats in the U.S. today. The 2 million is a great expansion from the 420,000 that were in the U.S. in the 1990s. That is a 368% growth rate. However, from 2003 to 2005, the meat goat numbers only increased by 1.3%. The reason for the lack of growth is because everything being raised is being slaughtered, including many of the breeding does. The price of $3,000,000,000 comes from the need for 15 million does at a general price of $200 a head.

One of the most common questions that is asked of the American Meat Goat Association is "Why can't I find goat meat in my grocery store?" The industry is unable to meet the demand of their current market much less the demand grocery stores would put on the industry. Currently, the U.S. meat goat industry can not come close to producing the additional breeding does needed to grow the size of the herds to meet the demand. That is a good problem to have. For the U.S. meat goat industry to attempt to meet the demand for goat meat, there would have to be another 50,000 breeders, each with 300 does in their herd. Adjust the numbers any way you want but it is still a major opportunity... WOW!!!!

Top 12 States - Meat & Other Goats*
12/31/2002 Ranking		01/01/2005 Ranking
State	Herd #	State	Herd #
1. Texas	941,783	1. Texas	1,010,000
2.Tennessee	107,211	2. Tennessee	98,000
3. Oklahoma	73,302	3. Georgia	77,000
4. Georgia	66,018	4. Oklahoma	65,000
5. Kentucky	61,618	5. Kentucky	63,500
6. California	61,241	6. North Carolina	52,200
7. North Carolina	58,993	7. California	50,000
8. Alabama	47,270	8. South Carolina	41,000
9. South Carolina	37,985	9. Alabama	37,800
10. Missouri	37,515	10. Florida	36,000
11. Florida	36,020	11. Missouri	34,800
12. Virginia	35,710	12. Virginia	34,400
* This ranking does not include dairy or fiber goats (USDA)

Top 10 States in Goat Population Growth
State	Growth Percentage	Herd Increase in Head
1. Kansas	55.4%	+7,203
2. Nebraska	36.8%	+4,796
3. Iowa	25.6%	+3,334
4. Colorado	25.1%	+4,024
5. Georgia	14.3%	+10,982
6. Oregon	11.4%	+2,478
7. Ohio	10.6%	+5,561
8. South Carolina	7.3%	+3,015
9. Texas	6.7%	+68,217
10. Kentucky	2.9%	+1,822

One of the biggest issues the industry will have to come to grips with, will be changing the focus from how many "Ennoblements" are in the pedigree, to focusing on commercial does that are hardy, meaty does with the mothering instinct, body capacity and milk production to raise fast-growing kids for many years to come. As long as the does are big and healthy, people really won't care if the goats are the right breed, the right color, walk straight after having the hooves grinded just right, or if their horns curve the right way.

There is a great opportunity looking potential breeders right in the face. Will you be a part of this growth or not. Not every part of the country is ideally suited for raising meat goats. Wet climates cause greater problems with the hooves and parasites. Don't take the marketing hype that boer goats are hardy and can do well any where. The parasites can be a serious problem and if you are in a wet climate, you may be better off not raising meat goats. However that leaves a lot of country that the meat goats are doing great plus you likely have a hidden demand for the goat meat in your area that you were not aware of. Good luck.......