Photo by Karla Blackstock
What Lies Ahead for the Meat Goat Industry
By JJ Jones Southeast Area Ag Economist Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
22 - The Boer Goat
2011 2012 2013 2014
2010
2007 2008 2009
2005 2006
2001 2002 2003 2004
Million Head
Before the 1990s, goat production was limited to one of three categoJanuary 1 Meat Goat Inventory ries: dairy, mo2.70 hair or brush. 2.60 Dairy goats 2.50 2.50 were seen as a 2.30 viable enter2.20 prise, but were 2.10 2.00 a niche market. 1.9 Mohair goats 1.80 were profit2001 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 able until the government program disappeared. Then, there was the old Spanish brush goat. These goats were not typically thought of as a profit center, but more of a way to control brush.
2000
Know the Past to Understand the Future
In the 90s, the United States started importing meat goats. With the importation of meat goats, came a new segment to the industry, meat production. The United States was importing millions of pounds of frozen goat meat from Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. Producers in the United States were going to capitalize on a growing demand for goat meat and produce it locally. The growth in the industry was slow but steady. States like Texas would recognize meat goats as a viable industry and started keeping Yearly Average Price San Angelo, TX inventory $2.50 numbers $2.30 and pric$2.10 es, but $1.90 $1.70 the USDA $1.50 wouldn’t $1.30 start $1.10 reporting $0.90 meat goat $0.50 numbers and prices 40-60 lbs goat 60-80 lb goat until 2004. Most educators and researchers looked at the goat boom as a fad similar to ostriches, but the meat goat industry had something the ostriches never had—demand for the final product. During the start of the new century, the meat goat industry continued to grow. In 2008, meat goat numbers $/lbs.
Goat production has gone through some monumental changes over the last 20 years. Once looked down upon by major agriculture, goat production has risen to a higher level of respect and profitability. Today’s goat producers proclaim their profession with pride and no longer try to hide the fact they raise goats. Producers have taken this new emergence of pride and profitability all the way to the bank. But can the goat industry retain or grow their foot hold in animal agriculture or is this just the ostrich industry all over again?
