Young goat would be similar to veal, while older chevon is similar to venison without the venison flavor. Chevon is extremely lean, the meat is not marbled with fat, therefore there is little flavor. Goats are browsers as opposed to cows who are grazers. Goats have the some eating habits as deer, they will readily eat the bark off trees. They will eat the paper off tin cans but not eat the cans! Goats have gotten a bad reputation in the US. Worldwide, more milk is consumed from goats and more meat is consumed from goats, than any other animal. Goats are very entertaining to watch. Butting is a way for goats to establish and maintain their heirarchy. A buck will also butt during breeding season, anything that gets in the way between him and the doe in heat. Nubian are the same size as other goats. Babies weigh the same as humans when born, 6# to 9# average, and does weigh about 120# when full size. Mature bucks can weigh between 200# and 250#. How many goats I have depends on what day you ask me. Goats are seasonal breeders, they come into heat in the fall and kid in the spring. So most goat raisers have a population explosion each Spring. In the past, I have struggled to deal with the surplus of goats in the Spring. But this year, two weeks ago, I took almost half my herd to the livestock sale barn. I was certain they would go for meat. I am very concerned who buys my goats, for fear a novice would not take proper care of them. They can be rascals if they are not properly fenced in. But in 2004, in the US, the highest prices ever were paid for meat goats. So for the first time, I sold my cull does/families at the sale. I had 16 goats two weeks ago, I now have 9 goats. I have 3 milking does, 4 kids, the buck in the buck pasture and a wether goat out there with the buck.
Thanks for your interest in goats! They are wonderful animals if you have fences.
Beth