| After getting started in meat goat production, one | | | | live animals to customers and deliver those animals to |
| needs a way to sell the goats produced. Slaughter | | | | a non-inspected plant for the customers if the |
| goats and cull breeding stock are usually sold at | | | | customers pick up the meat and pay for the |
| livestock auction sales. Sheep and goats are usually | | | | processing. This is done by many meat goat |
| sold together at the same sales because they can be | | | | producers. |
| handled, transported, and slaughtered together. Buyers | | | | There are several sheep producers in northern |
| prefer to have both available. Sales that have both, get | | | | Arkansas who have their lambs slaughtered at USDA |
| more buyers and get better prices. Sale barns that sell | | | | inspected plants in Batesville, Arkansas, and Morrilton, |
| goats and sheep at their weekly cattle sales do not | | | | Arkansas, and then sell the frozen meat at Farmers' |
| get as many goat buyers or as good of prices as | | | | markets. |
| those which hold separate monthly sheep and goat | | | | There are also markets for certified organic goat |
| sales. | | | | meat and natural grass fed goat meat. These |
| Many meat goat producers sell goat meat directly to | | | | products are being sold to health food stores, |
| the consumers. To sell meat directly to a consumer | | | | restaurants, and directly to consumers. Often they are |
| the animals must be slaughtered in a United Sates | | | | sold using the internet. |
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspected plant. | | | | Not only is the internet used to sell goat meat it is also |
| Federal inspectors (veterinarians) must be present | | | | used to sell registered breeding stock. More and more |
| while animals are being slaughtered and while meat is | | | | people are getting into the habit of using the internet as |
| being processed. The cost of these inspectors is paid | | | | a source of information and as a place to shop. Many |
| by the processing plant. This makes the slaughtering of | | | | registered goat breeders have their own websites. |
| sheep or goats in USDA inspected plants, on a small | | | | Registered meat goats are also sold by net-working |
| scale, very expensive (about $2.00 per pound of | | | | with other meat goat producers and those interested |
| meat.) Small meat processing plants that are not | | | | in becoming meat goat producers. This is done at |
| USDA inspected can process animals for individuals if | | | | events such as shows, seminars, and meat goat |
| the meat is not sold after processing. It is legal to sell | | | | association meetings. |