Please note Tom that this is my Personal view from experience. I have registered pure bred bucks and registered grade goats and have found that cross breeding them they are a hardier animal. I do not register any of the offspring. You can purchase from a breeder registered or not, and be able to inspect their setup and breeding programs and any health issues are available whereas if you purchase from sale yards you have no idea what problems you can get. The one thing I suggest is to do research on the type of animal you have in mind before any purchase is made. Look for a breed society for that animal and they may be able to put you in contact with a reliable breeder.
Hope this helps.
Lyn
It depends on what your needs are. If you just want a few goats (or whatever) as pets to clear brush, give some milk, etc... then being registered means nothing to you.
If you want to show, or become a respected breeder, having registered animals helps (or is a must). With registration, you get that animals pedigree and can look up the animals on it. You can then make better choices as far as who to breed to who, etc... maybe your line shows less than ideal mammary attachment. You can purchase a buckling that comes from strong lines of great attachment.
Each has pros/cons.
I agree with griffinhillfarm it depends on what you want to do with them. I can assure you when I sell my lamb meat no one ask me if the sheep were registered :)they just care that it was pastured raised.
If your going to show or sell them as a breeder then its important you register them. On our farm we do not have any registered animals everything is grass fed if possible this makes it important to our customers.
Oh and yes registered are going to cost you a whole lot more! I bartered for a goat recently Half Cash $75 and half pecans and some renagade chickens of mine I was glad to get rid of them. It came out to about $150 she normally sells her registered for about $350 and up. I just wanted a goat to practice milking on :)
My thoughts are about the same as the other answers you've gotten. If you aren't into showing and just want good healthy hardy animals the grade ones would be best. I sell a lot of goats to dairies for replacements and most don't want registered just milk in the pail. A few do though as they can sell the kids to 4-Her's.
Vicky http://www.smallfarmshare.com
I think the most important thing, when looking into new animals , would be that the person you are buying from keeps production records. I know that I am interested in what the animal should produce. I am not against crossed animals, if they, as a herd are similar and produce the same and hopefully better offspring.A goat or sheep without papers & without records is a gamble.IE: I might not want registrations, but I dont want just milk in the pail, I want the ability to get a good amount of milk in the pail. Of course its not just genetics its also management too. But, as the old saying goes: you feed a poor one as much feed as a good one .Why not get the most for your money..records are a good guide . At least you know the folks you are buying from took the time to try to improve .If you just want however ,a few animals as lawn mowers , than by all means go ahead.
Another suggestion is to actually go to the breeders place at milking time and milk the animals you are interested in yourself. This will tell you a lot about them. We personally do not keep records. Too busy but everyone who knows us, knows we produce good healthy milkers. If we didn't we wouldn't have repeat buyers from the dairies. IMHO records are ok if you have the time but I personally look for the overall condition of the farm and animals and the attitude of the breeders. Whether or not they are willing to answer questions and teach about foot trimming,milking and more. :}
Vicky http://www.smallfarmshare.com
Please note Tom that this is my Personal view from experience. I have registered pure bred bucks and registered grade goats and have found that cross breeding them they are a hardier animal. I do not register any of the offspring. You can purchase from a breeder registered or not, and be able to inspect their setup and breeding programs and any health issues are available whereas if you purchase from sale yards you have no idea what problems you can get. The one thing I suggest is to do research on the type of animal you have in mind before any purchase is made. Look for a breed society for that animal and they may be able to put you in contact with a reliable breeder.
Hope this helps.
Lyn
It depends on what your needs are. If you just want a few goats (or whatever) as pets to clear brush, give some milk, etc... then being registered means nothing to you.
If you want to show, or become a respected breeder, having registered animals helps (or is a must). With registration, you get that animals pedigree and can look up the animals on it. You can then make better choices as far as who to breed to who, etc... maybe your line shows less than ideal mammary attachment. You can purchase a buckling that comes from strong lines of great attachment.
Each has pros/cons.
GriffinHillFarm.com
I agree with griffinhillfarm it depends on what you want to do with them. I can assure you when I sell my lamb meat no one ask me if the sheep were registered :)they just care that it was pastured raised.
If your going to show or sell them as a breeder then its important you register them. On our farm we do not have any registered animals everything is grass fed if possible this makes it important to our customers.
Oh and yes registered are going to cost you a whole lot more! I bartered for a goat recently Half Cash $75 and half pecans and some renagade chickens of mine I was glad to get rid of them. It came out to about $150 she normally sells her registered for about $350 and up. I just wanted a goat to practice milking on :)
Sam
backtobasics
I raise and train yaks. I find, that registry is essential for purebreds. It keeps good records and keeps inbreeding to a minimum.
If doing cattle/yak crosses, registry is not necessary. They are either meat animals or milking animals.
I hope for the best in your indeavors of ranching and animal raising.
Kathy of Kathy's Yaks
http://www.agrisupportonline.com/home/taylor
My thoughts are about the same as the other answers you've gotten. If you aren't into showing and just want good healthy hardy animals the grade ones would be best. I sell a lot of goats to dairies for replacements and most don't want registered just milk in the pail. A few do though as they can sell the kids to 4-Her's.
Vicky
http://www.smallfarmshare.com
I think the most important thing, when looking into new animals , would be that the person you are buying from keeps production records. I know that I am interested in what the animal should produce. I am not against crossed animals, if they, as a herd are similar and produce the same and hopefully better offspring.A goat or sheep without papers & without records is a gamble.IE: I might not want registrations, but I dont want just milk in the pail, I want the ability to get a good amount of milk in the pail. Of course its not just genetics its also management too. But, as the old saying goes: you feed a poor one as much feed as a good one .Why not get the most for your money..records are a good guide . At least you know the folks you are buying from took the time to try to improve .If you just want however ,a few animals as lawn mowers , than by all means go ahead.
Another suggestion is to actually go to the breeders place at milking time and milk the animals you are interested in yourself. This will tell you a lot about them. We personally do not keep records. Too busy but everyone who knows us, knows we produce good healthy milkers. If we didn't we wouldn't have repeat buyers from the dairies. IMHO records are ok if you have the time but I personally look for the overall condition of the farm and animals and the attitude of the breeders. Whether or not they are willing to answer questions and teach about foot trimming,milking and more. :}
Vicky
http://www.smallfarmshare.com