Are you a goat meat lover too? The sizzling, tender, and succulent goat meat is a treasure of nutritious values. Whether it is staked or roasted or smoked, you will get a perfect savory taste in the crispy, lean, and tender goat meat.
With perfect redness, goat milk has wholesome of sodium and potassium apart from rich-protein. A good milk yield, along with high-quality meat yield, is the reason why people are now shifting from cow to goats farming.
You might be curious to know why we are saying so? Well, not only do goats have a faster maturation period, but they also need little care and maintenance. Apart from milk and meat, goats’ hair and skin also have a very high price in the market.
9 Best Meat Goat Breeds
There are thousands of goats breeds worldwide, but most of them are either rare or extinct. So, we have come up with some of the yummiest and best meat goat breeds. We have brought all the points you might need to know about goats right from their birth to their fertility and temperament.
1. Boer Goat
Native to South Africa, Boer Goat is known for its succulent meat. It is also less prone to any disease and thus perfect goat to keep along and the best meat goat breed.
It requires a maturing time of 90 days, and within that span, it grows to weigh between 200-230 pounds.
Being originated from a hot climate, this duck is heat hardy as well. However, they can adapt to all the environments well.
They have a white body with a brown head, and their legs can be either entirely white or brown. They have a pretty friendly and docile nature and get along with other flocks and kids well.
Because of their faster maturation period and quite large weight, they are perfect for meat production. Their meat is lean and tender, always stays in demand.
Apart from this, their skin is used for leather making, and their hairs produce a very fine fabric.
Pros:
- It yields very tender and juicy meat, and that too in very high quantities.
- Perfect as pets because of their gentle and docile nature.
- They require negligible supervision and maintenance.
Cons:
- They are not suitable for milk production.
- They are quite an expensive goat.
2. Kiko Goat
Originated from New York, Kiko goats are one of the most robust goats ever. As it matures fast, it can weigh as large as 300 pounds.
Being independent, it doesn’t require much attention. Apart from this, they are a pretty beautiful goat breed.
Being quite hardy, they can tolerate even the adverse climatic conditions. Also, they are surprisingly strong and acquire weight very quickly.
Although their skin can produce particularly fine leather quality, they are not raised for leather production. But because of their tender and juicy meat, they are the best meat goat breed.
It yields high-quality milk, as well. Its nutritious dairy is the reason for its quick maturation of younger goats.
Pros:
- They have delicate skin perfect for leather production.
- Their milk is also highly nutritious, and that’s why they have a significantly lesser maturation period.
- They produce very high-quality meat as well.
Cons:
- Their hairs are not suitable for fiber production.
Also Read: 5 Black Goat Breeds That You Can Raise
3. Spanish Goat
One of the oldest Goat breeds presents in the USA, the Spanish goat is medium in size but yields very tasty and juicy meat.
Being extremely hardy, Spanish goats survive in almost every part of the world. Although they are relatively leaner, their meat has a very high demand because of its tenderness.
Also, they are not suitable for leather and fiber production because of their small hairs.
They can also be raised for its high-quality milk. Also, it yields a significantly high amount of milk as well. It can give up to 4 liters of milk per day for around 280 days a year.
They are pretty shy and prefer enjoying their own company. They are relatively calm and docile, and don’t disturb anyone.
Pros:
- Famous for their tender and lean meat production.
- It can give up to 4 liters of milk.
- Although they don’t prefer to get along with other flocks, they don’t disturb anyone either.
Cons:
- They are leaner and produce less meat comparatively.
4. Beetal Goat
Beetal goats are mainly found in India and Pakistan and majorly raised for their meat and milk. They are very hardy and adapt to all the climate well. Also, they can give birth to 2 goat kids in a year. They mostly give birth to twins.
It can yield up to 4 liters of milk per day, which is a significantly high milk yield. Also, their nutritious meat is very lean and tender, and thus it is one of the best meat goat breeds.
Also, with a better immune system, they are less susceptible to disease and thus live longer. Their skin is also used to produce very high-quality leather, and they overall have a surprisingly large body.
They are pretty easy to get along with their owner and other flocks. Also, they require very little space.
Pros:
- They produce very lean and juicy meat with high nutritional value.
- Yields very nutritious milk as well.
- Perfect for leather production.
Cons:
- Their hairs are not suitable for fiber production.
5. Savannah Goat
Native from South America, Savannah goat, is hardy and known for its high-quality meat. They usually are snow-white in color with a remarkably smart appearance.
They are bulky in size and thus produce a significant amount of meat.
They have pretty delicate skin perfectly suitable for making leather out of it. Also, they are perfect for cross-breeding with other breeds to produce even better meat hardy goats.
They are quite hardy and adjust in all kinds of weather conditions quickly. Also, they are significantly less prone to disease. Because of minimum financial risk, they are one of the best meat goat breeds.
Last but not least, they are very docile and friendly and get along with other flocks and kids quickly. They love jumping and are very agile, as well.
Pros:
- They produce very nutritious, juicy, and lean meat.
- It has a very royal appearance with all-white color.
- One can make premium quality leather with their skin.
Cons:
- Their hairs are not suitable for fiber production.
Also Read: 9 Smallest Goat Breeds to Raise on Your Homestead
6. Fainting Goat
Also known as Tennessee Fainting goats and myotonic goats, Fainting goats are the best meat goat breed because of their bulky size and juicy meat.
They have a faster maturing period and can weigh up to 200 pounds when fully grown. They fall under the rare category of breeds, and thus they are now not commonly used for meat production.
An exciting feature of this goat breed is that its muscle and bone size starts to increase when under stress. Because of their calm nature, it becomes effortless to manage these goats.
Because of their excellent meat to bone ratio, they are the perfect meat bearer. They were also used as feed for carnivorous animals in zoos.
They are also friendly and get along with other flocks well.
Pros:
- They have a pretty high meat to bone ratio.
- Yields very juicy and tender meat.
- Have a calm temperament and require negligible maintenance.
Cons:
- They are a rare goat breed nowadays and not used primarily for meat production.
- They don’t yield large hairs for fiber production.
Also Read: 5 Goat Predators that You Should Always Look Out For
7. Kalahari Red Goat
Kalahari Red goats, as the name suggests, are red and are powerful goat breeds. Because of their bulky size, they produce very lean meat and that too in a substantial quantity.
They have a brief maturation period and have an excellent meat-bone ratio. Being hardy, they can easily survive adverse climatic conditions as well.
They have an excellent immune system, and thus they are less susceptible to any disease. They are perfect for commercial purposes and can yield up to 3 liters of milk per day.
Although they are not suitable for good quality leather production and don’t have large hairs for fiber production, they are perfect for yielding meat.
Pros:
- Very bulky in size, thus produces very succulent and juicy meat.
- They have a very docile nature and get along with other flocks well.
- They are perfect for commercial purposes and the best meat goat breed.
Cons:
- They don’t produce good quality leather with their pelts.
- Also, their small hairs are not suitable for fiber production too.
8. Pygmy Goat
If you want a cute pet and a fluffy and friendly goat, then Pygmy Goat is what you are looking for.
Apart from its extra cute look, they are the oldest goat breeds being raised for commercial purposes.
They although yield significantly less amount of meat, but their meat has considerably more nutritional value and is very lean and tender. It can also yield up to 4 liters of milk a day, which is also a comparatively excellent yield.
Also, they have medium-sized hairs, and thus they sometimes are raised for rearing their coats for fine fiber production. Also, their skin can be used to produce high-quality leather.
Because of their friendly nature, they are easy to get along with other goat breeds as well.
Pros:
- They are very fluffy, cute, and elegant creatures and quickly get along with other flocks, making them a perfect pet material.
- They yield delicious, succulent, and lean meat, and most of the time, raised for their meat.
- Also, they can yield up to 4 liters of milk a day.
- They are suitable for leather and fiber production as well.
Cons:
- Because of their small size, it comparatively yields less meat.
Also Read: 7 Quietest Goat Breeds to Raise on Your Homestead
9. Pygora Goat
If you want a highly agile and active goat breed, then your search can end at Pygora goat. They are small-sized goats with docile nature and primarily raised because of their excellent meat and milk yield.
Because of their cute nature and habits, they are suitable as a pet as well. Also, they either give birth to twins or quadruplets.
They are very curious and thus become friends with other flocks quickly. They also perfectly go along with kids.
With long hairs, they are perfect for fiber production as well. It is an all-rounder species ideal for commercial purposes.
Being very calm and composed, they are the perfect breed to kick start your poultry. Also, they require very little maintenance and care.
Pros:
- They produce very lean and juicy meat.
- Because of their curious and docile nature, they adjust everywhere quickly.
- They are perfect for commercial purposes as well as pets.
Cons:
- Although they are perfect for meat production, yet people prefer them for milk.
Also Read: 5 Cold Hardy Goat Breeds That You Can Raise in Chilly Climates
Final Thoughts
The best thing about goat meat is that you can’t treat it with harmful antibiotics or hormones. Also, they require little care. Goats are an independent creature that doesn’t depend on its owner even for their basic needs.
With high nutrition value, goats yield significantly higher meat than other flocks like duck, chicken, or turkey.
Furthermore, there are various health benefits of eating goat meat. Not only does it help to control cholesterol levels in the body because of the low levels of saturated fat it has, but goat meat also helps to reduce the risk of cancer if cooked lean and crisp.