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wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Despite the apparent problems in regard to the legal slaughtering of Goats in Ireland, it appears that there is in fact no problem at all. Goats have no category of their own and are issued with Sheep tags if they are the only stock on the holding, or cattle if you have a herd number already in place. I have phoned a number of abattoirs and all of them will slaughter goats providing they are tagged. They charge the same for Goats as they do for Lamb. So its game on! Perhaps.

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Rebecca · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject:

Hi Wayland

Thats interesting. We tried a few in our area and none of them would take goats, we still have a few more to try though. One of them told us that no abbatoir in Ireland is currently licensed to kill goats, although theoretically they could get a license, its simply not worth their while with the small numbers that would go through their doors. What you say though seems to suggest otherwise (wouldn't be the first time we've had legislation quoted to us by an abbatoir that simply wasn't correct when we asked another abbatoir!).

The most recent Irish Goat Producers Association newsletter raises the topic of illegal killing of goats in this months newsletter. I was under the impression that it was legal to home slaughter as long as its for home consumption, not for sale, not given as gift/barter, and not served to guests.... isn't that the case for other livestock?

Wish there were some clear guidelines somewhere!!!
There is obviously a need for the slaughter of goats, as 50% of the goats born are male, and so few males are required in the dairy trade. The number of castrated billies for pets sure doesn't account for the 50% that are initially born either!
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wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Hi Rebecca. Apparently the only animal which can be legally slaughtered at home in Ireland is the pig. This is only allowed because of the old Irish tradition of home killed pork!. Is this not also the case with goats?. My local abattoir told me that they have done goats although not many. They even checked with their overseeing vet who said as they have sheep ear tags the paperwork would be ok. Looking at my herd number which is up in the thousands it would not surprise me if this was not a sheep herd number. So the abattoir see them as sheep I suppose. The problem is that I get charged the same for slaughter as I would do if they were lambs. 40 Euros. This makes for an expensive carcass. I shall test the system in a few days when I take my first two for slaughter. I will keep you posted.
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wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Just a quick up date on abattoir costs. The 40 euro`s costs of slaughter includes butchering, bagging and freezing so that is not so bad. I can get eight euro`s a kilo at the moment which gives us a small profit Very Happy

Cheers.
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wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Just an update on our goat meat enterprise. It is not worth doing Crying or Very sad

We have six in the freezer and a further six growing on. The meat is very good but I cant get a break even price for it and so we are giving it away to friends and eating it ourselves. A very under estimated meat in my view. We have got into goats though, or more rightly goats have got into us and the plan is to get a couple of milking nannies and make some dairy products, and eat the kids of course Very Happy

. So now its on to Pigs then. Very Happy

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blowin · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:50 am Post subject:

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Hey Blowin. So you still have your pigs. I would only want a few for the table and so will be looking for some weaners. There is nothing wrong with your price mate. I am surprised you have not sold them. GOS and all!. Things are still hectic here and so the pigs will be just a plan until I get some time to go through the herd reg thing again. Perhaps by then if you still have your stock we can have talk Wink

. Hows your poly tunnel doing. Mines ok Cool

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