Meat Goats for “Boer”-ed Empty Nesters
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Jumping into raising Boer meat goats isn’t for every retiree, but for Shanna and her husband, it was exactly what they needed.
-by Shanna Spence, AKA The Cranky Buzzard “Poop or get off the pot!” Not exactly a delicate or polite phrase, but certainly one that everyone understands. For those who have not heard this phrase, it means, “Fully commit, or quit wasting your — and everyone else’s — time.” This phrase has popped into my thoughts several times in the 2 years.
About a year after my last child left home, my husband, Patrick, and I discussed our next phase of life. We were no longer bound to the duties that had held us in place for the last 30 years. Our children had flown the coop and landed a fair distance away to start their independent lives. We also found that along with their independence was a large amount of free time for us. We were “empty nesters.”
We live in a small community in northeast Texas. We have a nice little house with some land, a barn, and enough room for my husband to pee off the porch (a time-honored tradition for men in this part of the woods). We’ve lived here since we married 30 years ago. It is a great place, but, as anyone who lives in Texas knows, the taxman loves homeowners, especially those with land.
What Does You do When the Nest is Empty?
So, we discussed our options and our pros and cons list.
We considered moving. Do we need to move closer to our kids? Our kids didn’t think that was a great idea, and frankly, I have since figured out why. There are some things that young adults need to figure out, and parents really do not need to know.
We considered travel. We could sell our house and get an RV. Friends of ours did this and loved the simplicity of it. We enjoy travel and seeing new places, but since COVID, it’s been rather difficult to predict how receptive and hospitable new destinations would be. Besides, I don’t want to get rid of my stuff. I like my fireplace and recliner. I like my bed and my jacuzzi tub.
Retired and Starting a Farm
Finally, there was the idea of just staying put. Why not! The house is comfortable and, better yet, paid off. We have several acres that require maintenance, but we now have time to do what needs to be done. Wow, maybe we could get some farm animals!
My husband and I are in our 50s. I have a great job that I love and don’t want to leave. Retirement age is approaching. Maybe we need a side hustle to provide a financial bridge for our transition. Something that would supplement our Social Security and IRA income when that time arrives. As I am always trying to be practical, I tried to blend starting a new farm project with sound financial stewardship.
Yeah…. Sure….
My last “financially sound” farm project was beekeeping. I can tell you from experience that what looks good on paper doesn’t always work out that way in reality, especially with farming. I am proud to say I am currently a beekeeper, and after 15 years of mistakes, losses, stings, sweat, and tears, I am finally making a small profit. It is a good thing that I am stubborn, or I would have chucked the whole idea years ago.
Here we go again….
Farm, check. Meat Goats… Sure
After several months of reading and boots-on-the-ground research, I made the big step in my new venture — meat goats.. I bought 2 registered Boer goat does. I quickly realized that I could relate to this breed of animal. They are big, fat, love to eat, and are hard-headed (except when a food bucket is involved). They belch, wheeze when they walk, and pee when they get excited or startled. What’s not to love?
I am sure you’re wondering why I chose meat goats, specifically Boer goats, as my later-life farming project. That is a story in and of itself (I will save it for later), but during my research, I was intrigued by what I found on the history of the Boer breed. Boer goats are relatively new to the United States. They were brought into the country less than 40 years ago, having originated in South Africa, and were bred as meat goats. They’re a large goat, with females weighing 150-200 pounds and males 250-400+ pounds. They are recognized not only for their size but also for their coloring. White bodies with a red head, heavy horns, and a Roman nose, Boers are stout and thick in every dimension!
I was raised in beef cattle country, where names like Brangus, Charolais, and Limousin are considered ranch royalty. I was schooled in it during my youth. When I started looking at meat goats and Boer stock, I quickly noticed the similarities it had with beef cattle, and it wasn’t a hard jump for me to see that this breed of goat has potential.
More than just Meat Goats
Patrick was less impressed. He preferred the elegant white-tailed deer to be munching in the meadows while sipping coffee in a deer stand. One thing about my husband though, he is game to try anything, and he backs me 110% when I start a project. He put up fences and feeding stations and tricked out the old barn for new residents. He even brought home a puppy, a gift from one of his hunting buddies: a white fluffball that was supposed to be our meat goats’ protector. At the time, I couldn’t imagine how this little cutie would be able to manage such a task, but now, 18 months later, and about 120 pounds added, I have no doubt that he excels at his job. Hank is a massive Pyrenees mix, a gentle giant who took to his duties like a duck to water.
We have cleared fields and put in hay meadows. We purchased a hay disc cutter, rake, and baler. We consulted with a vet and invested in medical supplies, vaccinations, and wormers.
We went to Boer goat production sales and even to San Angelo, Texas, to view the Producer’s Livestock Auction, the historical capital for sheep and goat sales in North America. (An amazing trip, I might add! The town is fairly small, and every corner is marked with a decorated and painted sheep statue.)
We slowly increased the size of our herd, including buying a young Boer buck from Advanced Boer Genetics to provide us with spectacular babies.
Lots of Learning and a Seasonal Change
There’ve been a few setbacks. Some of our land is in a flood area. We’ve had some fence and road damage at times. Despite every effort to prevent it, we have lost a few goats to sickness. Currently, our hay meadow cannot be cut because of standing water from recent rains.
In a few weeks, we are expecting a nursery full of baby goats.
Retirement…yeah, not something I want to do. I would rather look at it as a “seasonal change.” There is a thrill of excitement for me, something to look forward to and make plans around. You might say my inner child has shown up, with memories of my youth and days spent on my grandparents’ farm flitting into my thoughts frequently. My “empty nest” isn’t so empty after all.
Shanna Spence, AKA The Cranky Buzzard, raises Boer meat goats and tends bees and a fruit orchard at Cranky Buzzard Farms in Texas. You can find her at CrankyBuzzardFarms.com.
Originally published in the September/October 2023 issue of Goat Journal and regularly vetted for accuracy.
