7 Cheapest Goats To Keep as Pets

In the past, goats were traditionally kept for milk and meat, but pet goats have surged in popularity over the past few years, in no small measure due to cute online videos showing just how funny and cheeky they are. Let’s take a look at goat costs and discover the 7 cheapest goats to keep as pets.

How Much Do Pet Goats Cost?

Pet goats cost anything between $100 and $1000 depending on the breed, but that’s not the end of spending out. Goats require safe, dry housing, food, and medical attention, too. It’s really important to think about the running costs and if it’s feasible to buy a pet goat.

With that in mind, let’s jump in.

Usually, three types of goats are offered for sale, as adults or kids.

• Wether – castrated male goat.
• Doe – female goat. Under one year old they’re called doelings.
• Buck – male goat. Under one year old, intact male goats are chiefly called bucklings.

Wethers cost less than unneutered male or female goats. $100 is usually sufficient to buy one of the more common pet goat species.

Just a quick note about buck goats. Owners, vets, and breeders would not advise keeping an intact male buck goat as a pet. Their mating instinct is very strong, and they can get aggressive. Plus, they carry a strong goaty smell. Does and wethers make the best pet goats in general.  

Pure Breed Vs. Mixed Breeds Goat Prices

Goat pet price also changes if the animal is registered as a pure breed. Pure breeds cost a lot more, with heritage goats creaking the purse strings.

Of course, you don’t have to buy a heritage pure bred pet goat.. Many folks give up their goats to rescue centers across the United States. Adoption fees vary, but adoption fees hover around $100-150 dollars for most breeds.

1.     Nigerian Dwarf

Nigeran dwarf goat wethers are the cheapest pet goats at around $80-100. A doeling or buckling costs $250-$300.

With a maximum height of 24 inches, these cute goats first appeared in United States zoos, but now they’re registered by the American Dairy Goat Association. Although small, these cute miniature goats resemble full-sized goats, with regular-sized limbs proportional to their bodies.

2.     Pygmy Goat

Popular pet pygmy goats are friendly and intelligent little creatures able to live in most climates. Diminutive pygmies only reach 16-23 inches tall and a maximum of 85 pounds. Despite their miniature size, they have massive personalities and strong bodies.

Breeders sell pygmy pet goats for $300-400, but because there are quite a few around, prices drop regularly. You could likely pick up a pygmy goat or two in an adoption center for a $100 fee.

3.     Mini Alpine

Mini alpine goat breeders charge $300-$400 per goat. It’s a rarer pet goat in the United States, but common enough to turn up in adoption centers on a regular basis.

Full-sized mini alpines reach 31 inches tall and their coat patterns vary. Usually, a mini alpine pet goat has a black body with white front legs and gray head markings. These sweet goats have good temperaments and make excellent pets.

4.     Nubian Dwarf Goats

Mini pet nubian goats start at $250. This excellent pet goat is a cross of a Nigerian dwarf goat and a Nubian.

They have long ears that extend below the jawline and only reach 23 inches tall. Nubian goat coats appear in black, red, tan, or a mixture of all. Their hair is fine and glossy, so it’s easy to keep them clean.

These attractive pet goats are incredibly friendly and tame. When it comes to purchase cost, the asking price is similar to other goats of the same size.

5.     Mini Saanen

Mini Saanen goats originate from the Saane Valley in Switzerland. They’re popular pets because their coats shine in pure white or cream. Their erect ears and cute-as-a-button curvy faces are all but irresistible.

Expect to pay at least $200 for a doeling or buck mini Saanen, and a little less for a wether.

6.     Boer

Originally from South Africa, boar goats have glossy, white and red short coats, smooth long ears, and brown eyes.

Boers are expensive pet goats, with purebred kids starting at $1000, but unregistered individuals go for $200-300. It’s rare to find boar goats for sale, so they’re usually premium-priced unless you can find unregistered adults. Try local adoption centers before forking out piles of cash.

7.     LaMancha

LaMancha doelings and bucklings start at $300, but weathers go for half the price.

Tiny-eared LaMancha goats are a medium-sized breed at three feet tall, and make good pets if you have space. Their gentle, but nosy, temperament is excellent for children, and because they’re such a healthy breed, they make reliable pet goats for first-time keepers.

LaMancha goats were the first goat breed of United States origin and they emit very little “goaty” smell!

Other Goat Related Expenses

So, that’s the seven cheapest pet goats’ purchase price, but what about ongoing costs?  

Goats are not expensive pets, but all breeds require certain necessities.

Diet: Goats eat hay and grains, plus grass from whatever grazing areas you allow them. Alfalfa is a beneficial supplement. Expect to pay $50-80 dollars on hay each month for one goat.

Housing: Goats are escape artists supreme, if there’s a way out, intelligent goats find it quickly. For their own protection, goats require a safe enclosure with a tall, strong fence and a waterproof house. Basic setup costs for a pet goat vary between $500 and $1000.

Healthcare: Veterinary care is essential for all pets and goats are not an exception. Worming, hoof care, grooming, and unexpected injuries all add up. To be on the safe side, goat owners suggest budgeting $100 a month for veterinary care.

Which Pet Goat Is the Cheapest?

Usually, a neutered wether is the cheapest pet goat, with Nigerian dwarfs often costing the least.

If purchase cost is an issue, consider adopting a second-hand goat from a shelter. Adult goats of all breeds have adoption fees attached, but this is considerably less than a breeder’s purchase price. Expect to pay around $100 to adopt a pet goat.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Paul Moore Photography/iStock via Getty Images