CEO Message

Message

from the CEO ...

Who wants to be the new number one producer of top Boer Goats in the USA? First, let’s talk about what led me to ask the question. A number of individuals questioned me about programs that have reached the peak only to get out of the Boer Goat business. To be honest, I cannot give you their individual reasons, but having helped my son run one of the larger programs in the country for several years before accepting this position behind a desk, I have a few thoughts on the subject.

It is my belief that there is more to reaching the top than buying or borrowing 5 -10 of the top show goats in the country. To achieve a perceived lofty level, it requires a commitment of your time that few can imagine. Those that seem to get there are willing to spend long hours making sure every detail is tended to because it is an accumulation of all the little things that give them the edge they have on other producers. We are talking about the kind of individuals that come in from working on goats all day long only to scour the Internet for better goats or ways to take care of goats, who make calls to find out about what others have seen, research pedigrees that seem to repeatedly produce quality, or plan future mating’s to improve their own flock. These programs market their product well and often stand behind their product when problems arise. A successful program starts with a 7/24/365 approach. Another observation I should note is that more than likely it is a team of like-minded individuals working together that achieve this success.

There is a snowball effect for producers as they climb the ladder. As their product improves, so does the demand for their product. Given they don’t usually have enough goats to meet the demand they tend to increase production annually. On the plus side, they sell a lot of goats, however, the negative is that it takes up a lot of time to sell a lot of goats. We all tend to set goals and priorities in our lives and these seem to change as years go past, especially where family is concerned. Quite simply, most who leave on top of their game do so to free up time.

With all that said, lets discuss a few of the opportunities that you could explore if it is your goal to reach the top someday. For those that believe totally in the original purpose of the Boer Goat, which was to supply the meat needs for their farm then a program built around the fundamentals would be paramount. The goal would be to produce the largest number of pounds of product with the least amount of human interaction while utilizing a low-cost feed source. Pretty basic concept when you think about it - “simply produce the most given the least to do it with”. There is opportunity in goat country for someone to focus on these commercial based no non sense principles and become the go to guy for breeding bucks that have what is needed by the ranchers who run the huge flocks of commercial stock. Not all that different than what has grown out of the L1 Hereford cattle where years of data is used to select breeding stock.

Some of our breeders have chosen to work at being the top producers of colored Boer Goats. I see opportunity here for the individuals that work to not only make color but for those who are focused on building the barn before they paint it. Those who can combine quality to compete in the show ring or pasture with color will find themselves in good position moving forward. I am continually surprised by sales reports featuring these colored genetics where the averages per head are sometimes simply amazing. Can you imagine what a dappled colored National Grand Champion Buck might bring at auction?

Then of course, we have the breeders where reaching the top is measured via the show ring or where success is garnered by the number of winners one breeds and or exhibits. Though this approach is criticized by some it has played a large part in the rapid development of the Boer Goat breed in the USA. We continue to see top prices for animals that can hang a banner or produce one that could. The timing was perfect for it to have done so with urban sprawl and bovine, swine and equine projects reaching cost levels where fewer families could afford them. We found ourselves well positioned with a cost friendly, kid friendly alternative that fits small acreages and in moderation can be a tons of fun to own. We are no different as compared to the other species where show ring winning lines are in demand and often earn top prices when offered for sale. I, for one, see no end to this trend for any livestock species.

In summary, realize that every time one of the industry leaders tires and passes the torch, they are creating an opportunity for someone else to pick up the ball and run with it. I look forward to watching the new programs rise to the challenge of being tomorrow’s industry leaders.