How important is farm profitability to meat goat farmers?

U.S. Grass-Fed Beef Producers: Goal Structure and Reasons for Enterprise Selection

“…Specific regional definitions are found in Table 1. Regional differences have been found in previous producer goal structure studies (Nyaupane, Gillespie, and McMillin, 2017;Peterson et al, 2012) and "reasons for farming" studies (Gillespie et al 2016a).…”

“…The goals and their assigned classifications (in parentheses) were as follows: produce healthy beef (social), maintain and conserve land (social, environmental, economic), have family involved in agriculture (lifestyle), have time for other activities (lifestyle), avoid years of loss/low profit (economic), increase net worth (economic), maximize profit (economic), and increase farm size (economic). These goals were selected because (1) they covered the major goals our presurvey interviews with GFB producers suggested would be of interest and (2) they were consistent with the goals analyzed in previous agricultural goal studies (Basarir and Gillespie, 2006;Nyaupane, Gillespie, and McMillin, 2017;van Kooten, Schoney, and Hayward, 1986). This allows us to compare goals of producers of an alternative livestock enterprise that can be argued to fit into the sustainable agriculture category of agricultural enterprises with producers of other agricultural enterprises.…”

“…Age is the operator's age; the average was 55 years. Research has shown differences in goal structure by operator age (Basarir and Gillespie, 2006;Nyaupane, Gillespie, and McMillin, 2017;Peterson et al, 2012), and age was associated with reasons for selecting a meat goat enterprise (Gillespie et al 2016a). College is a discrete variable indicating whether the operator held a 4-year college degree; 70% held college degrees.…”

“…College is a discrete variable indicating whether the operator held a 4-year college degree; 70% held college degrees. Nyaupane, Gillespie, and McMillin (2017) found that meat goat operator education level affected goal structure, and Gillespie et al (2016a) found that holding a college degree was associated with reasons why meat goat producers had selected the meat goat enterprise.…”

“…Basarir and Gillespie (2006) found that producers operating more diversified operations placed lower weight on the goal "have time for other activities." Nyaupane, Gillespie, and McMillin (2017) found that, for meat goat producers, those receiving higher portions of income from the goat enterprise placed greater emphasis on "maximize profit," and those with off-farm jobs placed greater emphasis on "have time for other activities. "…”