freemotion
Food Guru
Unless I am missing something, fencing need not be the issue. If you contain the goat with moveable electric fencing and a light-weight shelter within the current pasture, that is still far more cost effective than a cow.
When I had just one goat with one horse for one summer, the single strand electric fence contained them both, since the goat would not go very far from the horse. Once I got that second goat for the winter snuggle-for-warmth factor, that was over. The goats wandered far and wide and the fencing project picked up speed.
However, it seems that cow's milk is more versatile. I would also check into the cost of having both animals butchered. That is another factor that varies by area and state. You can conceivably do your own processing with a goat, or have someone come to you to do it, but not so likely with a beef animal.
You can also breed a Jersey to a Dexter, and check into AI. It will likely be more cost effective than hauling the cow, especially if bloodlines don't matter.
I don't think I would be capable of having my dairy animals butchered.....unless we were desperate for food. I get very bonded with the daily close contact of hand milking and the sweet talk that goes with the process. I would have to consider long-term costs with a cow. It would have to die a natural death on my property! Unless I sold it during it's still-productive years so I could distance myself from the hard facts of life.
I learned as a child to raise some critters for meat and some for breeding and milk, to get attached to the latter but distance my heart from the former. But I cannot switch midstream. Another consideration in choosing a dairy animal, knowing yourself and your finances and what you are willing to spend for the best food.
When I had just one goat with one horse for one summer, the single strand electric fence contained them both, since the goat would not go very far from the horse. Once I got that second goat for the winter snuggle-for-warmth factor, that was over. The goats wandered far and wide and the fencing project picked up speed.
However, it seems that cow's milk is more versatile. I would also check into the cost of having both animals butchered. That is another factor that varies by area and state. You can conceivably do your own processing with a goat, or have someone come to you to do it, but not so likely with a beef animal.
You can also breed a Jersey to a Dexter, and check into AI. It will likely be more cost effective than hauling the cow, especially if bloodlines don't matter.
I don't think I would be capable of having my dairy animals butchered.....unless we were desperate for food. I get very bonded with the daily close contact of hand milking and the sweet talk that goes with the process. I would have to consider long-term costs with a cow. It would have to die a natural death on my property! Unless I sold it during it's still-productive years so I could distance myself from the hard facts of life.
I learned as a child to raise some critters for meat and some for breeding and milk, to get attached to the latter but distance my heart from the former. But I cannot switch midstream. Another consideration in choosing a dairy animal, knowing yourself and your finances and what you are willing to spend for the best food.
