Market Goat Weight Targets by Age & Season
Timing is everything in meat goat marketing. The difference between selling a kid at the wrong time and the right time can be $50 to $100 per head. Understanding target weights, seasonal price patterns, and holiday demand windows lets you plan your breeding and feeding to maximize return.
Target Market Weights
Buyer preferences vary by market, but these are general targets:
| Market | Target Live Weight | Target Age | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auction (general) | 60 to 80 lbs | 4 to 6 months | Most common market. Buyers want kids that are finished but not oversized. |
| Ethnic meat market | 40 to 60 lbs | 3 to 5 months | Many ethnic buyers prefer smaller, younger animals. Strong demand for intact bucks. |
| Holiday premium | 50 to 80 lbs | Varies | Higher prices but specific timing required. |
| Freezer trade | 70 to 90 lbs | 5 to 8 months | Larger animals yield more meat per processing fee. Hanging weight is roughly 50% of live weight. |
| 4-H / FFA show | 55 to 85 lbs (varies by show) | Per show rules | Check local show weight requirements. Market wethers typically need to be between certain weights. |
| Cabrito (young kid) | 15 to 25 lbs | 4 to 8 weeks | Niche market. Milk-fed kids. Popular in Mexican and Caribbean cuisine. |
Seasonal Price Patterns
Goat meat prices follow predictable seasonal patterns driven by holiday demand and supply fluctuations.
Peak demand windows
| Holiday / Event | Timing | Demand Type | Price Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easter / Passover | March - April | Young kids 30 to 60 lbs preferred | +30 to 50% above baseline |
| Eid al-Adha | Moves ~11 days earlier each year (Islamic calendar) | All sizes, intact bucks preferred. Largest single demand event. | +40 to 80% above baseline |
| Eid al-Fitr | End of Ramadan (moves yearly) | Moderate increase | +15 to 30% |
| Christmas / New Year | December | Caribbean and African community demand | +20 to 40% |
| Mexican holidays | Cinco de Mayo, Christmas | Cabrito (young kids) | +20 to 30% for young kids |
Low demand periods
July through September is typically the lowest-price period for goat meat. Supply is high (spring kids reaching market weight) and holiday demand is minimal. If possible, avoid selling during this window unless you have direct buyers already committed.
Weigh, project, and time your sales
Herd Manager logs weights, projects each kid's date to market weight, and calculates profit per head, so you can hit peak-price windows.
Track growth free →Calculating Cost of Gain
Knowing your cost to put each pound on a kid tells you whether selling at a given price is profitable.
Simple formula
Cost per pound of gain = Total feed cost for the kid / Total pounds gained
Example: A kid eats $45 worth of feed (grain + hay share) from weaning to market, gaining 35 lbs in that period. Cost of gain = $45 / 35 lbs = $1.29 per lb. If the kid sells at $3.00 per lb live weight, the feed margin is $1.71 per lb gained, or about $60 per kid above feed cost.
What to include in cost
- Grain consumed (weigh what each pen/group eats)
- Hay consumed (estimate share per animal)
- Minerals
- Dewormer and vaccine costs (typically $2 to $5 per kid per year)
- Doe maintenance cost per kid (divide annual doe feed cost by number of kids she produces)
Feed cost divided by pounds gained — add a sale price to see your margin per kid.
Include grain, hay share, minerals, meds, and a share of doe maintenance for a true cost of gain.
Growth Rate Benchmarks
| Category | Average Daily Gain | Management Level |
|---|---|---|
| Boer kids on full feed | 0.4 to 0.6 lbs/day | Intensive (creep feed, quality hay, grain after weaning) |
| Kiko/cross kids on full feed | 0.3 to 0.5 lbs/day | Intensive |
| Kids on pasture + light grain | 0.25 to 0.35 lbs/day | Moderate |
| Kids on pasture only | 0.15 to 0.25 lbs/day | Extensive (no grain) |
These numbers determine how long it takes kids to reach market weight. A Boer kid born at 8 lbs gaining 0.5 lbs per day reaches 60 lbs at about 3.5 months. The same kid on pasture only at 0.2 lbs per day does not reach 60 lbs until 8.5 months — that is 5 additional months of maintenance cost.
Project when a kid will hit target weight, and work backward to your breeding date.
Growth rates are breed and management averages; weigh individuals for real numbers.
When to Hold vs When to Sell
- Sell when kids reach target weight during a peak price window — do not hold past market readiness hoping for more weight. Feed conversion efficiency drops as animals mature.
- Hold if kids are close to target weight and a holiday price window is 2 to 4 weeks away. The price premium usually justifies the additional feed cost.
- Cull slow-growing kids early rather than feeding them for months trying to reach market weight. Some kids will never be efficient gainers — selling them younger at a lower weight is often more profitable than the extra feed to reach target weight.
- Track individually if possible. Weigh kids monthly and calculate individual growth rates. This data tells you which sire lines and doe families produce the most efficient market kids — invaluable for breeding decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What weight do you sell meat goats at?
It depends on the market: general auctions want 60 to 80 lb kids at 4 to 6 months, ethnic markets often prefer smaller 40 to 60 lb animals, freezer trade wants 70 to 90 lb, and cabrito is a 15 to 25 lb milk-fed kid. Hanging weight is roughly 50% of live weight.
When do goat meat prices peak?
Around holiday demand: Easter and Passover (young kids), Eid al-Adha (the largest single event, up to 40 to 80% above baseline), Eid al-Fitr, and Christmas and New Year. July through September is typically the lowest-price window, so avoid selling then unless buyers are committed.
How do you calculate cost of gain?
Divide total feed cost for a kid by the pounds it gained. If a kid eats $45 of feed and gains 35 lb, cost of gain is about $1.29 per lb; at a $3.00/lb sale price that's a $1.71/lb margin, roughly $60 per kid above feed. Include grain, hay, minerals, meds, and a share of doe maintenance.
How fast do meat goat kids grow?
Boer kids on full feed gain about 0.4 to 0.6 lb per day, Kiko and crosses 0.3 to 0.5, kids on pasture with light grain 0.25 to 0.35, and pasture-only kids 0.15 to 0.25. A Boer kid gaining 0.5 lb/day hits 60 lb around 3.5 months; on pasture alone it may take until 8.5 months.
When should I sell versus hold a market goat?
Sell when kids reach target weight in a peak window — don't hold past readiness, since feed efficiency falls with age. Hold only if they're close and a holiday premium is 2 to 4 weeks out. Cull slow growers early rather than feeding them for months, and weigh individually to find your most efficient lines.
Hit target weight in the right window
Herd Manager tracks each kid's growth, projects when it'll reach market weight, and calculates profit per head, so you can time sales to peak-price windows instead of guessing.
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