How Much Does it COST to Keep Goats?? Cost Breakdown and Comparisons 

HAY CALCULATOR: alifeofheritage.com/farm-living/hay-cost-calculator-for-goats/

EXCELLENT video! VERY thorough! You are a great manager! The only thing you didn't mention was their 'non monetary' value! The companionship & entertainment... 'emotional' value I receive from my goats is huge! As well as knowing where my milk & dairy products is coming from & what's gone into it!! I think only those persons who have, or have had, dairy goats can fully appreciate what a blessing they are! 🙂 🐐 God bless!

Young Lady, I have had goats for nearly 60 years of my 75 years. You have taught me today. I just bought my first Nigerian Dwarfs, I really enjoy them. THANK YOU.

4:36 It is also a demand and supply thing. People who want goat milk often have allergies to cow milk, or they want it for some other health reason. That allows for charging a premium price. There are more people who keep cows, particularly at scale, which allows for lower production costs, but the increased competition also means lower "out of the gate" prices. There also tends to be more bargaining power by large buyers for cow milk, which drives down the price paid to the farmer. Goat milk tends to be sold in more cottage industries, so that allows for a higher price.

We spend US$5 per year for each goat (out-of-pocket costs)-the only out-of-pocket costs are for anti-deworming pills, Ivermectin, and Fipronil. All other costs are negligible for us. For most farmers, the most expensive cost is goat feed -- if you can ELIMINATE that cost, then you can easily lower your overall costs.

@4:45 Bovine dairy is heavily subsidized by the government in order to regulate price. While goat, as far as I am aware, is not. Or atleast not to the same degree. Likewise dairy cows are farmed at a much greater rate than dairy goats,. lowering cost through scale of production. That is why Bovid milk is so much cheaper at the grocery store.

Very interesting breakdown of the cost vs. profit. Having access to milk and knowing where it came from as well as how it was handled is another big plus to the equation. Now that would be hard to put a dollar amount on but in all it would be priceless!!!! Thanks for sharing and stay safe!!!

The milk is so incredibly superior to anything at a store. Even low temp pasteurized milk tastes bad after being used to raw milk.

There is such a sense of fulfillment that comes with raising what you consume. You fully know and feel the weight of it. I love the responsibility and the challenge of homesteading. You learn a lot about yourself. I've learned a lot about my children as well, and it makes me so happy to see them build their character this way. Those benefits are what I keep in mind when I spend a little more than what I can spend buying the store bought alternatives. Or when I impulse buy treats for my chickens and my husband says they have their beaks in my wallet 🤣

I probably feed too much grain too … but they say they need it. Lol. We aren’t milking yet. It’s not quite time, but we’re getting close. I’ve been trying to get a system set up that has all the different spaces. I built a milk stanchion from a pallet and scrap wood, working on stalls for separation, and this is their first freshening so we have lots of handling work to get through. They’re new to this and so am I, but we will get there! I appreciate your videos. Have a wonderful day!

Good morning Heather. Very interesting. I wish I could have a couple of goats and a few chickens but it's impossible where I live. But, anyway you have some and I can watch them on my tablet. Lol. Have a wonderful day

You are exploding! I want to say that I have been a member, and a subscriber for a very long time. I used to be one of those people. Meaning, I would go to the store, buy my T-bone, and then cry when I saw a poor little cow die from butchering. It saddens me, yet at the same time I am now so more understanding regarding the love, respect, attention, etc and I would rather purchase 10,000 pounds of your meat than what I am unfortunately purchasing at our nearest butcher. Keep doing you, keep feeding your family, keep loving those beautiful animals that provide nutrition for you and your family and I will support you until the end of days!! Don’t let anyone tell you that you are a bad person, you and your family are one of the best I’ve seen and that’s why I continue to support you! Lastly I would like to say that I’m sorry that certain individuals are not able or more likely willing to see what life you are attempting and accomplishing with your family. You’re succeeding and they’re complaining. Thank you for sharing your awesome lives with us! (Sorry it was so long winded)

I love your channel you always impress me on how much knowledge you have. I love that you explain things to us ❤️

Outstanding job! I'll be keeping this one for future use!

I was just having this conversation with my husband!! 😂😂😂 What a great and informative video! Amazing job presenting such important info!!

This is a great video especially for people trying to wrigh out the benefits of keeping goats ! Thank you so much !!! You are a real gem !!!

That is really interesting. You did a great job of breaking down the costs and values. Having milk available to you (and knowing where it came from) is a huge plus! Thanks for sharing this Heather!

Great video. I’m only keeping a few does and buck with a wether for him as a companion. Very small scale but these does are previously bred and unrelated meaning the buck can be bred back to mamas and those babies. Soo excited to learn from you. And once I get some registered live stock (in the future) maybe we can trade goats one day as we love Nigerians ❤ blessings

pleasure to watch and you are very articulate and provide support to your opinions

This video is AMAZING! Wow. This is a great break down and boy all the calculations 😂. Great job!

Enjoyed this video and the cost breakdown was very educational!

OH MY GOODNESS! What a wonderful video!! Goats are in my plan for my home, you are an absolute wealth of information and your delivery is perfect! I am so glad I found your channel. I subscribed and cant wait to view all the previous ones! Thank you and GOD bless

Wow girl. I thought your videos were great already but you are an excellent creator. You are very knowledgeable and the background you used was just as excellent. Loved it. ❤❤❤

I love how thorough your video is! Great information! But I had to laugh when you said 1 gallon of milk per week for the average family. There are 6 in my family (myself, my husband, and 4 kids under 10) and we go through 5-6 gallons of milk each week. But again, great video!

What an amazing video. Thank you for putting in the time and effort to share your experience and knowlegde!

Goats are in our future. I really want to start making cheese and soap

Eden is giving us 2 cups of milk per day right now! [Placeholder comment until Megan texts me how much milk Eden is giving us]

Haven’t even watched the video yet. Yes they’re a money pit, yes they’re worth it!

Yeah! We love our dairy queen's

Very Nice

Those are awesome numbers! Thanks for sharing ❤

The fact you found hay for $5 a bale is impressive. We’re paying $9 from the field.

Goats here in Thailand are bringing $10 each (alive) but I bet to buy grains actually costs more than in the US and there isn't many things that I can say that about. Butter and cheese costs a lot here and for that reason I want a few goats

Glad to see another Western kentuckian. We are planning on getting goats soon.

What a fabulous calculation! Thanks for going through this. I never really thought about what cost goes into my girls and what I get out of them. I just love having them. We buy round bales, and they all dig in and probably eat it in a month. Grain is only on the milk stand and they get what they eat while I milk. Obviously I can milk some faster than others, and some girls are picky while others inhale their grain.

Love this video! And thanks for linking this in your newest video! I hadn't seen it yet!

Excellent information. Enjoyed the video!

Dang, girl! Thank you!

what about your time? your time is also a cost, but if you love it - you love it

Very informative

What an insightful video. Thanks so much for this!

If you have a homestead you should keep at least one medium milk animal. In my house my youngest teenage son is up to about 2 1/2 gallons of milk a week this economy that's $14 where I'm at for the cheap stuff. Me I could always use some high octane for my coffee, but I really love cheese which you kinda need raw milk for most cheeses anyway. I'm figuring keeping 2 volume goats and two creamy sheep would keep us in enough dairy + either soap or roll it into pig feed you should if not ferment pig feed at least wet it out so it's no all dusty and has better conversion and uptake and the way pigs grow quick they could always use the extra fat, protein and calories.

Great video thanks alot 👍

Goats, chickens and cows fend mostly for themselves in rural Mexico. They are kinda skinny but healthy looking. We are brainwashed into spending and spending.

Such wonderful information! We are very much hoping to get goats soon and this helps tremendously. Could you tell me how long a Nigerian Dwarf typically stays in milk?

The milk bought at the supermarket is not the same level of quality as on a small farm. It is inferior. So we should expect to pay more for small farm milk because are getting more nutrition and more quality.

Yes.

Get Saanen, gives lots of milk. One Saanen will give you 1.5gallon plus per day. So worth it...

Wow this is great😊

The cost of goat milk is higher also because it's closer to human milk so it's more easily digested over cows milk .

I paid too dollar for my goats in 2020. But baby goats are not selling where I am the last couple years.

I’m not seeing the link to the hay calculator. Am I blind?

And not to mention all the other dairy products you can make

Good informative video but wouldn't the cost of the buck you breed with need to be figured into the return of the kids? Correct me if im wrong but the buck essentially consumes unless they're reporducing. Much like a rooster.

goats milk is so expensive which is why i was thinking of getting a goat when im older seeing as im lactose intolerant lol

😊

The goats also keep our woods clear of brush. So we say we eat our bush hogs.

I’ve never seen goats with no external ears before. What type of goats are they, and do they hear the same as other types of goats? Sorry if that’s a stupid question …

Do you think you could estimate the startup cost for getting a goat up front? I would like to get a family goat so I'm starting to do research. Like, what's the up front cost of the stable and fence and other stuff?

When do you deworm your goats ? Some being pregnant and nursing ?

Great information, but i have a question about how time consuming are they? What if you want to go on vacation for a few days? Right now i only have chickens. Are there different size hay bales? My neighbor sells his for $20 a bale here in California.

Thanks for the info….How strong is the goat milk market in Kentucky? I have Nubian goats for dairy. Is 20$ a gallon the normal or going rate for goat milk? Thx

as far as I know, goats milk is naturally lactose free

I don’t understand the ear thing. Is that a specific breed or did you do something to their ears

I am thinking about getting some goats for milk. I know you recommend the Nigerian Dwarf or Lamanchas for efficient milk goats. I'm looking for local sources of quality breeders but not having luck with either of these breeds. I know this is a long shot, but would you have any connections in your network of breeders in the Toronto, Canada area? I was also wondering how much space of pasture you recommend per goat?

Where is their long ears 😳😳

What happened to their ears?? lol

I've seen raw goat milk for sale here in southern az anywhere from 5 to 20 per half gallon I try to get 20 per gallon. Bottom line, cheaper than one week's Starbucks and far more nutritious. Hay is easily 15 and higher per bale.. Which stinks We purchase alfalfa pellets, half ton at as time. Less waste, worth it