What breed of goat is best for a 4-H project?

Filed under: Goats |

goat farming
Image by MFer Photography

Question by Häschen Mädchen: What breed of goat is best for a 4-H project?
I live in PA, and I am thinking about doing a goat for one of my 4-H projects. I also do rabbits, but I want to show another animal as well. My local county fair has 2 categories for goats: Breed goats (dairy goats) and meat goats. I was thinking about doing a meat goat because I have to get a male goat, and in the meat goat category the male goats have to be wethers (castrated).

So, I need to know: What is the best breed of goat to use for a 4-H project? What kind of shelter/fencing do I need for a goat? I might get 2 goats to show so that they won’t get lonely, and I have 1/2 acre that I can devote to a goat pasture.

Extra info (if it helps):

1. This is my 2nd year of 4-H, and I have lots of experience with rabbits.
2. All of my family raises holsteins, different breeds of goats, and other livestock.
3. I would like to do showmanship with the goat (I do best in showmanship)
4. I am home schooled, so I can spend as much time as needed training the goat(s)
5. I don’t really want to milk a goat (if its a girl)
6. I know they can be stubborn, but I am too, so I can deal with a stubborn goat.
7. I would rather a younger goat so that I can train it better.
8. I have to sell the goat(s) in the livestock sale after the fair, so it can’t be really expensive or I’ll lose money.
9. I also plan on showing goats at the PA farm show in January. (next year probably)

What kind of goat would be the best for my 4-H project? Any suggestions?
I can also do a lamb, if that helps. I just want something different to do this year for my 4-H project.

Which one is easier: a goat, or a lamb?

Thanks! 😀
By the way, at the my county fair, ALL of the meat goats and the lambs get sold.

Well, actually for goats it’s the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion, and then the 1st and 2nd place goats in each catagory. Anyone that doesn’t have a winning goat must sell the top 2 placing goats. That’s the way it is with lambs, too I think.
My relatives also do meat goats, too, it’s split 50/50.

Can you keep a lamb and a goat in the same enclosure? Like have 2 seperate pens for them, but they share a pasture?

If so, I’m thinking of doing a meat goat (wether), a dairy goat (yearling doe) and a lamb or two (not sure what kind yet)

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