Use the published breed standard that is provided by the breed
organization of your choice, especially if you are purchasing reg- istered stock. There have been many a goat sold by photograph and/or video only.
Admittedly, this author has sold several goats to people that I have never met in person. It is understood that sometimes travel ac- ross the country is difficult to do and transporting the purchased ani- mal is left up to professional haulers guaranteeing that there will never be an eye-to-eye connection with the buyer. This ultimately means that the integrity of the producer is of the utmost importance. Do your research. Call people and don’t only call the producer’s best friends or their enemies.
Do not discount the newer producers who may not have much exposure or have sold many animals. They may have exactly what you are looking for. You also can ask for references and if you’re new to the breed, I would strongly recommend it. Look for unbiased opinions but always remember — they are opinions. Also, there are breeders who will recommend other breeders. Find them. Talk to them. If you’re in the search for seed stock these are things you should take the time to do. Remember, you aren’t looking for a local auction animal. There are many breeds to choose from and just as many or more reasons to choose each one. Regardless, South African Savanna goats are this author’s choice of meat goat for many reasons. The Savanna goats do everything that I need them to do here in the Texas Hill Country.2
argument over pedigrees and their usefulness. This author isn’t going to engage in that argument per se’. What I will say is that perform- ance is what we are all looking for. Right? So, if you are looking at
a meat goat you may consider looking at its phenotype — what it looks like.
Genotype (the pedigree) can take you down a rabbit hole if you ignore what your final product is going to be. If it is meat, then you need to look for those characteristics as well as its rate of gain, etc. Pedigrees can help you look into the future to a degree but pedigrees, in the end, are paper and genetics can and will do tricky things. No matter how well one plans or prepares, surprises abound. This author recommends that you look at the animal in front of you, any available records and then consider the pedigree. Use this method when culling your goats. It’s also imperative to know how the producer that you are talking to culls their goats. There are differences of opinion. Learn what theirs is. Now you know mine. There have been many people come and go in the goat industry. Raising goats isn’t as easy as some may think. However, going in with your eyes open is much better than being side-lined by un- expected problems or catastrophes. Unfortunately, weathering some of these events takes a toll on a person and no one will blame you if it becomes too burdensome. Ho- wever, finding a good mentor helps you through the hard times and will be there to cheer for you during the good times. It is those people that are harder to find than a good goat. Take the time to find them and thank them.
So again, do your research. One more consideration is pedigrees. There have been many an
(Mike and T.J. Nelms operate Nelms Ranch in Kingsland, Texas. They can be contacted at 325-248-1893 or
nelmsranch@yahoo.com.)
Genetic Selection for Resistance to Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Meat Goats and Hair Sheep through a Performance Test with Artificial Infec- tion of Haemonchus contortus - PMC
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ar-
Reference: 1
12 Goat Rancher | November 2025
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