What does it cost to start your own goat farm?
The answer to this question has a lot of variables, including:
- Where you live
- The size of farm you want to have
- Equipment
- The quality of goats you plan on buying
And more!
Table of contents
As you plan your farm you will be able to determine what the cost will be for you to start it up. This guide will help you to estimate many of the costs of starting a goat farm in the USA, so that you can make your own educated financial plan to proceed.
Goat Milk Farm Start Up Cost
There are many things you will need to start up a goat milk farm and all of them cost money.
To illustrate the cost of starting up a goat farm we will show you what is needed for a goat milk farm of 10 goats as well as 100 goats.
(If you are going to go even bigger you can take a look at the Sample Costs for a 500-Head Dairy Goat Operation by the University of California. This will help you gauge the cost of starting up whatever size goat milk farm you decide to go with.)
10 Dairy Goat Farm
The cost to start a goat milk farm with 10 dairy goats is going to be substantially less than 100 dairy goats. Since you can do a lot of the work by hand you will not have the overhead of expensive equipment that is needed for a bigger operation. You will also not need as much land, which will save you even more money.
Here is a list of things you will need to buy along with their estimated cost (keep in mind that some areas of the country are going to be different as far as price goes):
- 9 two-year-old dehorned registered does in milk that has been tested and found to be disease free at $500 each: $4500
- 1 dehorned registered buck that is a proven sire: $1000
- 2 acres of fertile pasture with water rights: $10,000
- 100 square foot barn: $2,500
- Woven wire fence with wood posts for 2 acres: $2,600
- Milk Stand: $350
- Milking pail, teat cleaner, filter, and a funnel: $50
Total cost to start a 10-goat dairy farm: $51,000
100 Dairy Goat Farm
Go 10X with a 100 dairy goat farm. Not only do you have ten times the animals, you need ten times the space along with heavy duty equipment that can handle 100 goats.
However, the potential for greater profitability will be much better.
Here is a list of things you will need to start up a goat farm with 100 dairy goats:
- 90 two-year-old dehorned registered does in milk that has been tested to be disease free at $500 each: $45,000
- 10 registered dehorned bucks that are proven sires at $1,000 each: $10,000
- 20 acres of fertile pasture with water rights: $100,000
- 1,000 square foot barn: $25,000
- Woven wire fence with wood fence posts for 20 acres: $26,000
- Used truck with substantial towing ability: $35,000
- Used 30’ livestock trailer: $20,000
- Used 30 horsepower tractor with bucket: $20,000
- Milking parlor with milking machines and equipment: $28,200
Total cost to start a 100-goat dairy farm: $309,200
Meat Goat Farm Start Up Cost
A meat goat farm can have a smaller price tag when it comes to startup cost.
This is because you do not need a milking parlor and the other equipment needed for that dairy side of goats.
However, you still need to have many of the same things that dairy goats need. You can check out this Meat Goat Marketing and Budgeting paper written by Mississippi State University.
To illustrate the cost of various sizes we will show you the cost of having a meat goat farm with 10 goats and one with 100 goats:
10 Meat Goat Farm
The cost to start a meat goat farm with 10 goats is going to cost less than a dairy goat farm with 10 goats. You will also not have the overhead of expensive equipment that is associated with having a large number of goats.
Here is a list of things you will need to start your meat goat farm with 10 goats:
- 9 two-year-old dehorned registered does $350 each: $3,150
- 1 dehorned registered buck that is a proven sire: $750
- 2 acres of fertile pasture with water rights: $10,000
- 100 square foot barn: $2,500
- Woven wire fence with wood posts for 2 acres: $2,600
- Used truck that can haul your goats: $25,000
- Used 14’ long livestock trailer: $5,000
Total cost to start a 10-goat meat farm: $49,000
100 Meat Goat Farm
A meat goat farm with 100 goats is not going to have the same overhead as a dairy goat farm with the same number of goats.
But you will still need to have heavy equipment for this big of a farm so that your job will be made easier.
Here is a list of the things you will need to start a meat goat farm with 100 goats:
- 90 two-year-old dehorned registered does at $350 each: $31,500
- 10 registered dehorned bucks that are proven sires at $750 each: $7,500
- 20 acres of fertile pasture with water rights: $100,000
- 1,000 square foot barn: $25,000
- Woven wire fence with wood fence posts for 20 acres: $26,000
- Used truck with substantial towing ability: $35,000
- Used 30’ livestock trailer: $20,000
- Used 30 horsepower tractor with bucket: $20,000
Total cost to start a 100-goat meat farm: $265,000
Raising Goats
The initial startup cost of any goat farm is only a drop in the bucket. To run a successful farm, your goats need a lot of upkeep. By keeping up with their needs you can avoid many unnecessary vet visits and illnesses among your herd.
The cost to raise your goats will vary depending on where you live along with many other factors.
Below are lists of the cost to raise dairy and meat goats. There is also a breakdown of raising 10 goats verses 100 goats in each type of goat.
Cost to Raise Dairy Goats
10 Dairy Goat Farm:
- If your goats do not have adequate pasture you will need about 5 tons of hay a year- $600
- If your goats have an average of 2 kids each, you will need to vaccinate about 18 kids with the CDT Vaccine at 5 weeks old following a booster 3 weeks later- $36
- 2 Mineral blocks– $32
- Grain for your goats- $1,200
- Ear tags to identify your kids- $25
- Castrating bands to turn undesirable bucklings to wethers- $3
Total cost to raise 10 dairy goats: $1,896
100 Dairy Goat Farm:
- If your goats do not have adequate pasture you will need about 50 tons of hay a year- $6,000
- If your goats have an average of 2 kids each, you will need to vaccinate about 180 kids with the CDT Vaccine at 5 weeks old following a booster 3 weeks later- $360
- 20 Mineral blocks– $320
- Grain for your goats- $12,000
- Ear tags to identify your kids- $250
- Castrating bands to turn undesirable bucklings to wethers- $6
Total cost to raise 100 dairy goats: $18,936
Cost to Raise Meat Goats
10 Meat Goat Farm:
- If your goats do not have adequate pasture you will need about 5 tons of hay a year- $600
- If your goats have an average of 2 kids each, you will need to vaccinate about 18 kids with the CDT Vaccine at 5 weeks old following a booster 3 weeks later- $36
- 2 Mineral blocks– $32
- Grain for your goats- $1,200
- Ear tags to identify your kids- $25
- Castrating bands to turn undesirable bucklings to wethers- $3
Total cost to raise 10 meat goats: $1,896
100 Meat Goat Farm:
- If your goats do not have adequate pasture you will need about 50 tons of hay a year- $6,000
- If your goats have an average of 2 kids each, you will need to vaccinate about 180 kids with the CDT Vaccine at 5 weeks old following a booster 3 weeks later- $360
- 20 Mineral blocks– $320
- Grain for your goats- $12,000
- Ear tags to identify your kids- $200
- Castrating bands to turn undesirable bucklings to wethers- $6
Total cost to raise 100 meat goats: $18,886
Wrapping Up
Raising goats can be a costly venture, but the return can be great – financially, lifestyle-wise, and more.
If you budget appropriately and make steps to be proactive instead of reactive, you can make your herd even more successful for you financially.
Plus, you get to enjoy the pitter patter of little kid hooves and the beauty of watching your own herd growing up healthy and strong.
You also will get to enjoy working with your goats every day in an environment that you create just for them.
All of these pros can make all the work you put into your farm worth every penny!
