7 questions to ask before buying a whole goat

​Have you ever wondered: Is buying a whole goat right for me? The reality is that buying a whole goat isn’t for everyone. So how do you know if it’s for you?
 
Here are seven questions to ask yourself if you’re considering ordering a whole goat for you and your family. 

Is buying a whole goat for me? Take the quiz!

1. Are you willing to try new cuts of goat meat? 
Are you willing to eat all your cuts of goat meat? Part of the experience of purchasing a whole goat, may also mean trying out new recipes and ways to cook goat.

If you only want goat chops and shanks, buying a whole goat isn’t for you. 
 
A whole goat order typically includes ground meat, leg, shoulder roast, shoulder steaks, chops, rack or rib chops, ribs, shanks, stew meat (curry cubes) and an option for organ meat (liver, heart, tongue, and kidney), as well as bones. You do have the option to leave out some cuts and opt for more ground or stew meat.
 
How do you feel about trying new cuts of goat meat? 

• Yes, I’m up for it.
• No, I’m not so sure.

2. Are you looking for a "deal"?
This one is a two-part question.
 
A. Goat meat can be hard to find in the grocery store, or it can be hard to find a farm to buy goat meat directly from. This means goat meat is often in demand more than is can be found to purchase, which means it’s usually more costly per pound than beef or even lamb. 
 
It makes total sense to ask the question: How much does goat meat cost?  Most folks will do that and weigh out the decision. 
 
Our goat meat has an added value because is telling a story of how it came to life, raised, care for and harvested to make its way to your kitchen. It’s not just the story of the farmer, but it’s also extending to your story – how you’re keeping your cultural heritage alive with the food on your plate, or expanding your journey with truly, good food. 
 
Customers who buy direct from the farmer appreciate this added value and are often willing to pay for it. 
 
If you’re thinking, that’s more than I want to pay for, compared to XYZ, then it might make sense, you may want to hold off on purchasing a whole goat.
 
How do you feel about paying more for goat meat as compared to other meats? 

• Yes, I am willing to pay for goat meat.
• No, I prefer to get the best deal and eat other types of meat.

 
B.   Buying a whole goat vs. individual cuts of meat is a way to get a “deal” on goat meat. A whole goat price/lb. (hanging weight price, plus the butcher’s fees) can range from $8-$10/lb. (or more, depending on where you buy the whole goat). As compared to the retail price of $12-$18/lb. on cuts various cuts of meat. 
 
Are you interested in getting the best deal when buying goat meat? 

• Yes, I want to save money.
• No, it doesn’t matter to me.

3. Will you eat it within a year?*
Typically, a whole goat will give you about 22-30 lbs. of usable meat (this is different from hanging weight, see this article for more details).  Depending on your recipes or cuts of meat, this could work out to 10-15 meals, or a recipe using pound of goat meat every two weeks. 
 
Are you able to eat all of your goat meat?

• Yes, of course
• No, I’m not sure

*Note: The USDA says frozen meat can be stored up to a year.  

4. Do you have enough freezer space? 
Typically, a whole goat is about 22-30 lbs. of usable goat meat (as mentioned in the question above). This will fill about a whole regular size reusable-style grocery bag (the smaller standard size ones, not the big rectangle size ones). 
 
Often when ordering meat in bulk direct from a farmer it can be useful to have a deep freezer.

However, this amount of goat meat CAN fit in a refrigerator-freezer, but it depends on how much extra space you have on hand at the time of when you order the goat meat. 
 
Do you have enough freezer space?

• Yes, I’m ready to fill it with goat meat.
• No, I think I may not have enough room.

5. Do you want to know your farmer? 
Knowing your farmer is important, because you’re able to know how they raise their goats for meat. This includes where the goats live (Do they have enough room to move around? Do they have access to pasture?), how the goats are being fed (pasture, hay/grain combination, heavy grain), how the goats are being handled and so on. Ask about these farming practices to know what you’re getting. 
 
By supporting local farmers, you know your meat is coming from a local source, and not imported from thousands of miles away, which is often the case with most goat meat found in grocery stores in the U.S.
 
Do you want to support local farmers?

• Yes, I want to know where my meat comes from.
• No, it doesn’t really matter.

6. Do you like to meal plan? 
If you like to plan ahead, having goat meat on hand is perfect. You’ll know what you have in advance and can work with recipes for the week or even month if you are really into meal planning. You don't have to worry about finding a grocery story that even carries it when you actually need it.
 
You can even plan ahead for special occasions, keeping in mind which cuts of goat meat you’ll use and then use the other cuts on a more regular basis with your menu planning,
 
Do you like to meal plan? 

• Yes, I’m all about it.
• No, it’s too much work for me.

7. Are you willing to wait to order your whole goat? 
Typically farms who sell whole goats, will offer the opportunity to order once or twice a year. 
 
Usually, this happens because farms raise goats on a seasonal basis, meaning goat kids are born once a year and are ready for market (the general term for sale!) during that year. 
 
While some goats might have multiple groups of goat kids born throughout a year, it is not as common. 
 
Are you ok with waiting to order your whole goat once a year? 

• Yes, I can do that. 
• No, I might not be able to wait. 

You're all done! Now count up your responses.

• If you answered all questions with a Yes, then purchasing a whole goat is right for you!

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• If you answered most questions with a Yes and had 1-2 Nos, you may want to think through the purchasing decision. You can also find more details in this article on what it means to order a whole goat.

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• If you answered No to more than 3 questions, buying a whole goat may not be the best choice for you and that's ok. Buying a whole goat is not for everyone You may be a better fit for purchasing individual cuts of meat when you’re looking to cook with goat meat for a special family holiday or try out a new goat meat recipe. 

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