Why You Should Choose Goats for Your Small Farm
When you’ve only got a few acres to work with, every animal you bring onto the property needs to serve a purpose — and ideally, more than one. That’s exactly why goats are such a smart choice for hobby farms and small homesteads.
We've found our Boer goats to be one of the most rewarding and versatile additions to the farm, especially when space is limited and every decision needs to count.
1. Goats Don't Need a Lot of Space
Compared to cattle or even horses, goats are light on the land. A few well-fenced paddocks, some good rotation and shelter from the wind and rain is often all they need. They’re well suited to smaller acreages where every square meter matters.
They also handle varied terrain really well — from flat pasture to rocky slopes — which can be handy if your land isn’t all prime grazing.
2. Great for Weed and Shrub Control
Goats are browsers, not just grazers. That means they love munching on shrubs, woody weeds and plants most other livestock turn their noses up at. They’ll happily work their way through blackberry, gorse and other invasive species.
While they won’t replace a weed management plan, they’re definitely a helpful, low-cost part of one.
3. Friendly, Curious and Easy to Handle
We breed our goats to be calm, tame and suited to life on small farms — especially around families. We handle the kids a specific way from a young age to become incredibly friendly and sociable. They're smart, cheeky and full of personality.
If you’re looking for livestock that feels more like a pet than a paddock animal, goats are a great fit.
4. Boer Goats Are Easier on Fencing
One thing we really appreciate about Boer goats is that they don’t stress fences the way other breeds often do. Compared to miniature goats — which are curious, energetic, and love testing boundaries — Boers are generally more relaxed and grounded.
That doesn’t mean you can skimp on fencing altogether (they’re still goats, after all), but you’re less likely to find yourself constantly fixing fence lines or chasing escapees around the property.
5. A Useful Animal With Flexibility
Depending on the breed, goats can provide milk, meat, fibre or simply companionship and land management. At Rustic Harvest Homestead, we raise Boer goats — a meat breed — but we sell them primarily as friendly pets for hobby farmers.
Some of the farms we sell to end up breeding their own goats down the track, whether for food or to grow their herd. Others just enjoy having them as companion animals. Either way, they’re a flexible choice.
6. Low Input, High Reward
Goats are relatively hardy, don’t require expensive infrastructure and adapt well to various conditions. They need good fencing, clean water and shade — but outside of that, they don’t ask for much.
With proper rotation, seasonal feeding and a little attention, they’re one of the more straightforward animals to raise on a small property.
Considering Adding Goats to Your Acreage?
We’ll have friendly, well-handled Boer goats ready for new homes from October. If you’re thinking about getting started with goats or expanding your herd, feel free to reach out — we’re always happy to have a chat and share what’s worked for us.
We’ve seen firsthand how well goats fit into small-acreage life and it’s hard to imagine our paddocks without them now.