July 2025 TRFS Update

JULY HAS ARRIVED—AND THESE HOT PROPERTY UPDATES ARE MAKING WAVES!

NEW! BRP Ranch is a 132.56± acre South Texas property offering a premier hunting experience, diverse terrain, and multiple building sites with long-range views. Ideally located just south of the San Antonio River, this ranch combines recreational appeal with the opportunity to create a private retreat or homestead.

REDUCED! Lost Creek Ranch South is an extraordinary 290± acre Hill Country estate showcasing remarkable natural beauty, tranquility, and contemporary comfort. The property boasts dramatic elevation shifts from approximately 1,620'± to 1,920'± asl, delivering exceptional panoramic vistas in every direction. A beautifully updated rock ranch home, abundant wildlife, and a serene tributary of Cherry Creek, featuring multiple dammed areas, further elevate the ranch’s charm and functionality. An additional 82± acre high-fenced parcel is also available in conjunction with Lost Creek Ranch South.

JUST SOLD! Bar D Ranch is officially off the market! This ranch features gently rolling hills, panoramic views, and lush native grasses, this ranch is an outdoor paradise. The high-fenced property offers a well-maintained habitat supporting diverse wildlife such as whitetail deer, turkey, and dove. Hunting opportunities are plentiful, complemented by strategically placed blinds and feeders that align with the property.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST TEXAS DROUGHT CONDITIONS!

Rain is a good thing...we're praying it continues! Texas has seen recent rainfall which has helped the state avoid serious drought concerns. The state is experiencing a much lower percentage of exceptional drought conditions at 9.06%. Extreme drought conditions have also decreased to 14.61% statewide. Stay informed about current water conditions.

RANCH NEWS ARTICLES!

You can see the latest ranch news articles under “Resources” then go down to the “Ranch Articles” tab. The latest article discusses that Texas lawmakers have approved several bills that will impact farmers, ranchers, and rural Texans... Read more. These articles are also featured in our bi-weekly email newsletter.

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Demand for Meat Goats Continues to Increase

Meat goat demand continues to rise, and prices are also increasing

Meat goat demand continues to rise, and prices are also increasing.

That’s been a consistent trend for the last decade, and as the U.S. population grows and more people immigrate to the U.S. from countries that regularly consume goat meat, the higher the demand for goat meat, one Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert said.

“Going back about 10 years, we can see average prices have increased from about $2 a pound to an average price now of about $3.50 a pound,” Dr. Jake Thorne, AgriLife Extension sheep and goat specialist, said.

Prices trend higher in late winter and early spring and drop in the middle of summer and early fall, Thorne said.

He noted there are indicators that consumption increases on seasonal trends, but there are no significant numbers that would help producers when marketing their product.

“The premiums that typically come with an increase in demand don’t always come to reality because of the sudden spike in supply,” he said.

Lower prices in the summer are related to the glut of 3-4-month-old goats born in the spring coupled with lower seasonal demand. But producers who raise fall-born goats can capitalize on the anticipated higher prices driven by fewer animals and increased demand in January, February and March.

Thorne said that while on the rise, meat goat market numbers are harder to track compared to other livestock.

“Meat goats do not typically follow the traditional livestock harvest pattern of other livestock. You don’t have large numbers going to a feedlot for several months, harvested at a large-scale commercial facility, and individual cuts distributed to retail grocery stores,” he said. “Some goats are fed and then processed at a heavier weight, but many are not. And it is common for whole carcasses to be sold as opposed to just individual cuts.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) doesn’t track meat goats with the same detail as cattle, hogs or even lambs, making it more difficult to measure herd numbers and economics.

There are four main auctions in Texas for small ruminants like meat goats. Those are in San Angelo, Fredericksburg, Goldthwaite and Hamilton.

“That shows you there is a significant percentage of goats that aren’t being accounted for in the USDA report,” he said. “Texas accounts for 33% of the nation’s meat goat inventory, and those four auctions make up the bulk of Texas sales. So, it gives us a rough idea about total nationwide.”

The average herd size is 20, according to a 2019 goat industry study conducted by USDA.

But total herd numbers have dropped since the coronavirus pandemic. Numbers are down to 790,000, a decrease of 52,000 from 2019.

Although total numbers are down, Thorne noted more landowners are turning to raising goats due to small acreage sizes. They are a more feasible option for a production system of five to 50 acres and are also beneficial in some regions with more brushy plants for browsing rather than grazing forages. They’re also used in targeted grazing approaches where overgrowth is more common.

“They’re an excellent biological tool to graze land that is maybe overgrown or has the potential for wildfire,” Thorne said. “I don’t foresee the demand for goat meat, goat products or goat services doing anything but growing in the next decade.”

Although 90% of the U.S. goat inventory is raised for meat, other uses include milk, hair and livestock shows.