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'We are now reverting to our previous non-recession baseline forecast'

Tyreek Hill was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife

Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for The Daily Signal, speaking on a Monday that the market’s gone down 300 points. It’s about where we were two years ago, January of 2023. Remember, the market, in the last two administrations, eight years, has doubled in value. So, it’s not like this big collapse. But more importantly, is this panic we’re watching on Wall Street based on hard data or evidence or experience? What do I mean by that? First term, President Donald Trump, was he an enemy of Wall Street? Is there a better alternative? Did he crash the market? No. The market grew 65% under Donald Trump. He basically repealed what Wall Street hated most, the Dodd-Frank oversight act. He deregulated, he cut taxes, he simplified. He stood up for American companies and their disputes overseas. They loved him. Is it based on data that we’ve seen so far in his first 80 days? Unemployment? No, actually, the job report came 100,000 jobs more than the government itself had predicted in March. Maybe it’s inflation. It’s gotta be inflation. The Fed, the Fed. No. The inflation rate, as it annualized in March, fell to about 2.6%. It was very—2.6% for the year. Maybe it’s based on other things he’s done that are chaotic. No, there were 10,000 people crossing the border. He said he was gonna stop it. Former President Joe Biden said you had to have comprehensive immigration reform or it was impossible. There’s zero. It’s almost statistically insignificant. There’s nobody crossing. He did that in 80 days. Maybe abroad, Donald Trump, he’s as reckless with the crate as he was abroad. No. The Red Sea, for the first time in four years, is navigable. The Houthis are emasculated. They’re descending to the status of Hezbollah and Hamas. The octopus itself in Tehran is terrified. They’re sending back-channel messages to Trump to negotiate so they don’t lose their nuclear plans. In other words, it’s pretty stable. How about Ukraine? No. Donald Trump is not doing what Joe Biden said: We’re gonna go as long as it takes. He’s trying to find a ceasefire. We are closer now to stopping this 1.5 million dead, wounded, missing, killed, Stalingrad than we’ve been in three years. So, if it’s not based on data points and it’s not based on what you could infer from his first term and it’s not based on his agenda in other areas or the world scene, what is it based on it? It’s based on panic. It really is. It’s based on what we saw in 1929. It’s what we saw in 2008, where Wall Street goes into a fit of hysteria. Part of it is fed by left-wing street theater, media hysterics, which they feel will help their counterparts, their soul mates in Europe, so they can put pressure on Donald Trump. To end, I wanna finish with just two considerations. They’re very important. Ten percent of Americans, the elite, they own somewhere between 88% and 93% of the market value in the stock market. Think of that. So, what we’re talking about is the mass hysteria of investors, of academics, of media, of lawyers, of wealthy people, the professional classes. In contrast, 50% of Americans—160, 170 million people—they have 1% of market capitalization. Their wages only went up 35%. Not doubled, like the stock market did, over the last two. It was a good rise. It was impressive. But if the stock market had gone up 35% instead of doubled and wages had gone up a hundred, then you might see them a little bit more interested. Another final consideration, Donald Trump sold this trade readjustment on reciprocity. Indeed, 70 countries are now willing to negotiate. For this first round, he’s got to keep to that. If there’s a country like Israel or Australia that either has similar tariffs to our own or is running a deficit with us and this first round he should let them go. And if a country says, “We want no tariffs and we’ll match you zero to zero,” he should take it. Now, you’re gonna say, finally, “Victor, they have excise taxes. They put phony security and health regulations to intentionally block American imports. And that is a tariff of sorts. They use money manipulation.” I know all that. But that’s for Round 2. Right now, at this moment in time and space, it’s very important to keep people on your side. And the only way you’re going to do that is reciprocity, equality. Whatever they do, we do. Parity. We can work out all of the hidden machinations our trading partners use under the word “safety,” “health,” “tax,” “value added.” That doesn’t matter. Right now, he’s got to at least say in Round 1, “If you don’t have a tariff on us, we won’t have a tariff on you.” And he’ll get his $300 to $400 billion anyway from the countries that resist. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Don’t Be a ‘Panican’ Over Trump’s Tariffs, Wall Street appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Given the regular flow of dollars out of the country and into foreign economies, it bears mentioning that one ally has, in fact, extended financial support to help revitalize American shipbuilding. Australia, one of America’s closest and most dependable allies, is doing just that. A total of $3 billion will be provided to restore shipyards where the U.S. builds its submarines as part of AUKUS—a trilateral alliance the U.S. commits to with Australia and the United Kingdom. Two foundational pillars The alliance is built upon two foundational pillars: Pillar I includes an agreement for Australia to purchase three Virginia-class submarines from the United States, with potential for an additional two to be ordered. Considering, however, that our current defense industrial base produces only 1.2 submarines per year, indeed a substantial investment was required to meet both our own Navy’s annual needs as well as to fulfill the order for Australia. Pillar II, meanwhile, facilitates joint cooperation on and development of “advanced capabilities,” such as quantum technologies, hypersonic missiles, and artificial intelligence integration, to name a few.  As agreed upon by the alliance, Australia will invest $3 billion in U.S. submarine industry capacity. The first payment of $500 million was made Jan, 29 following a phone meeting between Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles. The Australian investment will, ideally, expedite not only the construction of submarines for the U.S. but also the submarines Australia purchased under Pillar I. Senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral John Mead, said that Australia is “investing early in the U.S. industrial base in order that we can have those Virginias fast-tracked to us in the early 2030s.” This was no altruistic gift. It serves the Aussies’ defense needs as much as ours. Nevertheless, America is grateful, and our allies could take a page from Australia’s playbook. The need to strengthen our industrial base As the strategic demands of the Indo-Pacific grow, so too must the contribution of our allies. For too long, the burden of maintaining regional security and technological superiority has fallen disproportionately, and unjustly, on the United States. But strong alliances are not one-way streets.  For the United States to lead, it must also be able to deliver. That requires a defense industrial base worthy of a global superpower. Strengthening it is not only in our interest, but it is also in the interest of every nation that benefits from an alliance with America. Australia has demonstrated an understanding of this through its strategic and crucial partnership with the United States, the primary goal of which is “a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, secure, and stable.” The alliance already has been successful across multiple domains in defense cooperation. Other allies provide additional opportunity for collaboration This is not the only avenue for success though. Several key U.S. Indo-Pacific allies have built highly-efficient defense industrial bases providing additional opportunity for collaboration. Japan, namely, is an excellent and critical ally in the region whose defense posture is increasing in strength as is its geopolitical importance. Tokyo’s efforts to raise defense spending and modernize its own defense industrial base indicates a readiness to meet the demands of the regional threat environment in which it now finds itself.  South Korea, meanwhile, has perhaps the strongest defense industrial base of any single U.S. ally at present. Not to mention, recent reports suggest they have overtaken China’s lead in global shipbuilding. Thus, there are numerous opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between our defense industrial bases. For example, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, one of the world’s foremost shipbuilders, has even been proposed as a potential partner for constructing U.S. naval vessels. If our allies expect American security guarantees to remain credible, they have a vested interest in investing in U.S. industrial capacity that makes those guarantees possible. Australia has set a commendable example. Others may choose to follow suit, not out of charity, but as equal stakeholders in the shared pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The post $3 Billion Up from Down Under to Help U.S. Build Submarines appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Beijing’s latest retaliatory tariffs—now at 84%—reveal a familiar hypocrisy: the world’s most notorious trade abuser crying foul when held accountable. In response, President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 125%, while dropping nearly all tariffs on countries that seek to trade fairly. We applauded the president’s zealous focus on dealing with the world’s greatest trade abuser, who has an unbroken pattern of dumping cheap goods made with slave labor, forcing companies to transfer proprietary information, and using its economic reach to infiltrate critical infrastructure worldwide.   We at The Heritage Foundation agree that it is long past due to deal with the threat China poses to America’s economic and security situation. Two years ago, in March 2023, Heritage released a major research paper titled Winning the New Cold War: A Plan for Countering China. The threat from the Chinese Communist Party was so unique and pernicious that we broke with Heritage’s longstanding opposition to tariffs, urging the U.S. government to deploy tariffs to “punish Chinese predatory behaviors” and “compel the CCP to end unfair and predatory economic practices.” We agree with Trump that we must deploy the full arsenal of American economic statecraft to combat Beijing’s coercive mercantilism. China spends more than $400 billion in industrial subsidies, operates roughly half a million state-owned enterprises, and steals $600 billion annually in American intellectual property. Since almost a third of Chinese manufacturers are unprofitable and survive only by taking “government guidance funds” from the Communist party, the U.S would either need to engage in a pyrrhic subsidy war or implement tariffs to realign supply chains away from adversaries. China’s strategy is clear: to dominate key industries, bend developing nations to their will, and erode America’s industrial base. To respond, the president must be given a full toolbox of properly structured trade tools that revitalize American industry for a new Golden Age. DEFENSIVE TOOLS International Emergency Economic Powers Act—In response to the fentanyl crisis that China has fomented on America’s southern border, Trump used his emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act . This authority allowed him the latitude to raise tariff levels on China and hold them accountable for their economic warfare against the United States.   Section 201 and 301—Under the Trade Act of 1974, Section 201 and Section 301 authority has been delegated to the president from Congress to safeguard American industry and punish unfair practices. These tools enable the president to respond to unfair trade practices with countervailing tariffs and address concerns such as IP theft and non-market barriers to trade. However, these sections have historically taken longer to implement and, therefore, have less utility for timely negotiations. OFFENSIVE TOOLS Reciprocal Trade Act—Trump supported this proposed legislation in 2019 to level the playing field with countries that impose steeper tariffs on U.S. exports. In addition to the emergency measures under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, it would give the President formal authority to impose tariffs—grounded in parity, not discretion—and could help dismantle the complex patchwork of foreign barriers that hurt American manufacturers. It could also reassure the market as these tariffs would be binding, and not liable to be reversed or altered unexpectedly by simple Presidential decree. Border Adjustment Tax to Fix Value Added Tax Imbalances—While most of America’s trading partners use a Value Added Tax which taxes imports but exempts exports, the U.S. does not. This disparity subjects American exporters to double taxation—once abroad under foreign Value Added Taxes, and again when profits return home—driving production offshore. Adopting a border-adjusted tax could end this disparity, applying taxes to imports while removing them from exports. The tax would also raise revenue to make permanent the pro-growth reforms in Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which largely expire this year. It can also be structured to be a World Trade Organization-compliant fix to global tax distortions that GILTY (Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income tax provision) and BEAT (Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax) currently try to address.   REINDUSTRIALIZING TOOLS 5. Revenue-Neutral Tax Reform and Full Expensing—Tariffs are taxes, who pays them aside. But when paired with growth-oriented tax policy, tariffs can fund productivity, not bureaucracy. For example, permanent full and immediate expensing of capital investment could supercharge domestic manufacturing. This provision would allow factories built in America to be written off on taxes in year one instead of three decades. Deregulation and Permitting Reform—Reindustrializing America requires more than tariff walls. It means unleashing private industry from decades of regulatory suppression. Environmental micromanagement, environmental, social and governance mandates, diversity, equity, and inclusion bureaucracies, and permitting paralysis have strangled production requiring the Department of Government Efficiency to highlight these issues for Congress to address. Shrinking Washington, Reindustrialize America—At America’s founding, tariffs funded the entire federal government. Today, government devours nearly 25% of gross domestic product—crowding out investment in the real economy. Every dollar of tariff revenue should be matched by real budget discipline. The New Cold War will be won not just by taxing imports, but by governing lightly and prudently to foster industrial reinvigoration. While China’s economic warfare is not new, America’s ability to respond has been hamstrung by legal ambiguity and decades of political hesitation. Trump’s second term presents a historic opportunity to reset the rules of global commerce for free and fair trade, not just for America, but also for the world. The Heritage Foundation made the case in Winning the New Cold War: tariffs—properly structured and paired with reform—are a critical tool to restore economic sovereignty abroad. Congress could decide to act decisively to give him the authority he needs—not just to fight back, but to win this New Cold War. The post The Seven Tools Trump Needs to Win the Trade War with China appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Christianity’s decline in America has slowed and could be turning a corner upward—just what our country needs to return to its rich history rooted in “In God We Trust.”  As a 2017 convert to Christianity from agnosticism myself, this is encouraging news. Pew recently reported in its annual religion study: “After many years of steady decline, the share of Americans who identify as Christian shows signs of leveling off.” Pew began its religion poll in 2007. There have been several profiles in major national media—e.g., secular-leaning outlets—on the rise of Christianity in Silicon Valley, including from The New York Times, as well as The Atlantic and WIRED. While these trends are encouraging, there’s still cause for concern. The majority of younger Americans are now non-Christian, and the proportion of young Christians has fallen significantly in the past 10 years. However, COVID-19 seems to have disrupted this trend of decline among young people somewhat. The Wall Street Journal’s Clare Ansberry, writing on polling data from the Springtide Research Institute, reported in 2023 that a growing share of 18- to 25-year-olds say they believe in the existence of God or a higher power. This figure started to grow as young people reported a loss of connection and meaning, coinciding with COVID-19 isolation. The rise in faith is good for public health, as numerous studies confirm the mental, physical, and emotional benefits of personal and group religious practice. Women who attend religious services at least weekly are 68% less likely to die “deaths of despair”—suicide, drug overdose, or alcohol poisoning. Men are 33% less likely, according to 2020 research from Harvard University’s School of Public Health. On the other hand, the National Bureau of Economic Research reported that states with declining religious worship attendance also showed increased deaths of despair, and vice versa with states with increasing attendance. A literature review appearing in Psychiatric Times reported: “Of 93 observational studies, two-thirds found lower rates of depressive disorder with fewer depressive symptoms in persons who were more religious. … A review of 134 studies that examined the relationships between religious involvement and substance abuse [concluded that] 90% found less substance abuse among the more religious.” And what of the fruits of religiosity? Turns out that American Christians are more likely to adopt a child, volunteer, vote, and contribute to charity than secular people. Christians are at the forefront of fighting global human trafficking. And late pastor Billy Graham’s charity, the Samaritan’s Purse, is a nimble and powerful player in disaster response. Samaritan’s Purse often moves more quickly than government bodies to provide food, water, shelter, medicine, and other relief worldwide for people suffering crises, disasters, and wars. From hospitals to soup kitchens to schools for indigent children, the Catholic Church is a blessing for countless people worldwide as well. Graham taught, “When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God.” Indeed, the model of Christian servant leadership means caring for others is the true measure of greatness and a way to become closer to God.  The late theologian Tim Keller disagrees with socialist Karl Marx, who called religion the “opiate of the masses.” Keller believed that by coming to earth, Jesus showed how God cares for the needs of the physical world. Marx charged that religion “is a sedative that makes people passive toward injustice because there will be ‘pie in the sky bye and bye.’ That may be true of some religions that teach people that this material world is unimportant or illusory,” Keller wrote in his book “The Prodigal God.” “Christianity, however, teaches that God hates the suffering and oppression of this material world so much, he was willing to get involved in it and to fight against it. Properly understood, Christianity is by no means the opiate of the people. It’s more like the smelling salts,” Keller wrote. That’s not to say a subset of extremist religious people from various backgrounds haven’t engaged in heinous acts through a counterfeit use of God’s name. Religious extremism violates the Christian virtues of love, joy, peace, kindness, and self-control. Despite a few outliers, Christianity in America is a potent force for good.  It’s encouraging to see Americans returning to the faith of our fathers as evidence shows lives of faith are also more meaningful and less isolating. Let’s pray this trend continues. Carrie Sheffield is author of ”Motorhome Prophecies: A Journey of Healing and Forgiveness” and program manager of Healthy Faith at United Charitable. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post New Research Shows Christianity Growing in America, Reversing Downward Trend appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Learn what goat breeds are best for raising goats on your own homestead.   You are reading Chapter 1 of our Homestead Handbook: Raising Backyard Goats Chapter 1: Goat Breeds & Types of Goats What Goat Breeds are right for your homestead? First off, if you decided to take a look at this guide you are probably interested in goats in general but likely do not know much about them. It’s always valuable to learn about the fundamentals like knowing the basic terms or facts and certain myths that are not true. Female goats are referred to as does or doelings (if they are under a year old). They are naturally very gentle creatures and will not attempt head butt or bite you under any circumstance. The male goats are called bucks or bucklings (also if they’re under a year old). They can be a bit aggressive at times compared to females, but they are certainly not mean. A wether is a male goat that has been castrated. One myth I mentioned previously is that they will be a lawnmower for you. They also are not capable of chewing alive your old furniture, clothes or your kid’s toys. However, they are curious animals and like a bit of variety and may do a trial taste. Goats and deer are relatives so they are more browsers than they are grazers so anything hanging will often grab their attention, but it’s as a test to them. The challenge most people encounter is knowing which breed they should go for, and it all depends on your intent. Are you looking to raise a goat as livestock for meat and dairy or as a pet? How much meat or milk do you want? Around what weight would be best for you? If you are thinking of raising them like dogs you should remember not to let them roam. They still have instinctive tendencies that can’t be tamed and may cause you more trouble than you expected in your home. Regardless, no matter what size area you live in, even if it is small, you can raise a goat.   1.1 – Types of Goats Boer Goat   Spanish Goat   Meat Goats are of course you can raise to yield the best meat. There are several common breeds that are popular: Boer, Kiko, Spanish, and Myotonic. The boer is an extremely popular breed to choose in the United States and is white and red in body appearance with a solid red coated head. Some may be black, red or brown spotted. They mature fairly quickly at around six months and are very low maintenance. They are excellent milkers make the best of mothers. The does weigh around 200-230 pounds and the bucks around 240-300 pounds of mostly muscle and thus have a high quality, high carcass production rate. Boers originate from South Africa and have distinct swept-back horns, loose skin around the shoulders and pendulous ears. They are sweet natured creatures and because of their massive size they need more supplemental intake compared to other breeds. If you are the type, that has some interest in showing, the boer would also be a great pick. The Spanish goats were brought to the New World by the Spanish Explorers to be meat source. Their sizes vary but female does roughly weigh between 60-130 pounds and bucks around 85-200 pounds. This breed is unique in the sense they come in every imaginable color. Their hair, ear shape, body shape varies as well, but they often possess spiral-like or swept back horns. They are typically inexpensive to purchase and highly available within most Southern states. The kikos, originating from New Zealand, are hardy breeds primarily used for production and has a high feed conversion rate. The word ‘kiko’ literally means meat or flesh. They are smaller in comparison to does with females weighing around 110 pounds and males around 220 pounds. Characteristically, they have a strong, straight head with non-pendulous ears. They are an ideal pick for low input farming with rough and rugged tasks. Though they are born small, they grow at an exceptional rate and as mothers they tend to be protective and kind. They live great on pasture fields, requiring little supplementary food, and this breed is very resistant to worms and parasites. The Myotonic originated the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, which is an organization that works to promote and preserve endangered breeds of farm animals. They are also called Tennessee Fainting Goats or Wooden Leg goats and are medium sized animals weighing between 40-200 pounds. The Myotonic breed characteristically has large hindquarters, a straight profile and polled or spiraled horns. They are the quiet and gentle type, but they are not the greatest climbers or jumpers. They grow up to be good mothers that can produce two to three offspring each year. Like the kiko, they are parasite resilient, calm and great browsers. They are the breed that is most vulnerable as prey, and they often mature at a slower pace than other breeds. There are also composite breeds as well which is when breeders choose to cross breeds in order to obtain certain desirable characteristics. Dairy Goats can produce about 900 quarts of milk each year. Good milkers have soft, wide and round udders with a strong jaw. Their teats are typically the same in size and do not lay on the floor. In the United States, there are several breeds recognized as great milkers: Alpine, Saanen, Oberhasli, Nubian, LaMancha and the Toggenburg. Nubians and LaMachas come from warmer to tropical climates and often best raised around that whereas the other listed breeds are best around cooler climates. The French Alpine originally resided in the Alps and was imported by Dr. DeLangle to the United States in 1920. They come in a mix of patterns and colors, but usually have erect ears and a straight nose. Does weigh at least 130 pounds and males at around 170 pounds. On average, they produce about 3.3% of butterfat and 2500 pounds of milk in a nine to a ten-month period while lactating. They are the most popular breed to go for if an abundant amount of milk is wanted. LaManchas are the only dairy goats that distinctly is an American breed. There is no way to mistake this breed for any other – you can’t miss their peculiar and nonexistent “no ears” characteristic. It is initially shocking to look at because you automatically will think “where on Earth are their ears”? Those unaware of their trait might accuse someone of improper treatment or had chopped them off. Compared to alpine, they are smaller by a few inches and average about 2,200 pounds of milk and 3.9% butterfat each year. They are productive, sweet-tempered animals with a quirky personality – even when they can hear fine, they will play deaf when it is fitting. The beautifully named Nubians come from Europe and Africa and have two easily recognizable characteristics: Roman noses and long, pendulous ears. You can find them in any color or pattern arrangement and are not the best choice for those who enjoy serenity and tranquility. Their distinct nose acts like the bell and they are noted for their boisterous voices while portraying some stubborn, bossy attributes. Such a fearless bunch nonetheless, they show an apparent dislike to rain and require shelter even when it is just drizzling out. On a greater note – they make the cutest babies out there. A Nubians milk production each year is around 1800 pounds with 4.8% being butterfat; quite excellent for cheese making if I do say so myself. Swiss Alpines, now referred to as Oberhasli after the 1970’s, date back to Switzerland and are rich in appearance with their red coat and black markings along their face ears, back, belly and udder. This breed produces about 2,200 pounds of milk each year, with 3.8% comprised of butterfat. It is not just their looks either; they are very dignified and rarely aggressive even when around other breeds who make a commotion like around feeding time. The Oberhasli display a people-person attitude and enjoy the attention when they are the focus. They also have no issues sharing shelter and scratches with herds belonging to its group. The Saanen are large, white or cream colored goats that also originate from Switzerland. While lactating, this breed can make more than 2500 pounds of milk a year, with only 3.3% being butterfat. Because they have a much lower ratio of butterfat to milk, they are best for those with the intent to have only milk. However, they are still a good pick for both for someone who desires cheese and milk. The Toggenburg, also from Switzerland, is the smallest of all the breeds. They only are brown in color, but can come in a variety of shades that are light brown or as deep as chocolate. Some will have white markings often riding down their face or lower legs. They make about 2,200 pounds of milk and 3.1% butterfat in a year. Angora   Dairy goats can supply enough milk, meat or leather should you need it, but if you are interested in becoming a homegrown fiber, consider two popular fiber breeds: Angora and Nigora. The Angora is the primary choice for many who make clothing because of its lush, silky supply of fiber called mohair. Does weigh around 70-110 pounds; bucks weigh about 180-230 pounds. You can shear them up to twice a year rather than once a year unlike most sheep as their long and wavy coats can grow multiple inches in a matter of months. They are usually short, white and have curved horns. They are delicate animals are sensitive to cool, wet climates and are susceptible to internal parasites. Don’t count on them as good mothers if you plan to breed more, they are known to abandon their offspring and will need human nursing. The Nigora has the same qualities as the angora, but one extra advantage they have is that they can produce a generous milk supply as well as colorful fiber. They are a mixed breed crossed between the Nigerian Drawf and the Angora. If you want a Companion Goat, the pygmy is a small breed that could suit you perfectly. They have short legs, broad head, a large torso and are pretty furry creatures. They come in a surplus of colors with the main color being grizzled. They are great pets because they have a friendly and calm nature. 1.2 – Where you should and Shouldn’t Buy Your Goats After you have done all your homework researching, you are totally hyped and ready to purchase your goats. It is important to look for a healthy animal that is responsive and productive, but where and who exactly will you buy them? These days it is as simple as going online through classified ads and find people who are selling them. The big issue the quality of the goats is questionable because you do not see them and pictures are often not enough; sometimes what is displayed is not what gets sold to you. It’s all a gamble in the online environment. You will not find sellers that would be willing to sell a $500 goat for $100, and if you do, there is a plausible reason. Rather than being generous you could instead find that the goat had some defect such as kidding compilations, poor milk production or has a disease. Most people will have to buy their breeds online, and it is not a bad thing. You should just be more careful about who the seller is and their trustworthiness. Going the local route through ads, bulletins and the like is fine too, but you should have extra guards up. The more trustworthy people you can find online through breeder directories your area by entering your state and breed of interest in search. Good breeders should have a separate website where you can learn even more about the breed you like, the breeding philosophy, milk and show records, and even a nice background story on their goat sometimes. For many reasons, it is a very good idea to buy your first goats from someone who has a similar philosophy to yours and can mentor you when you need the assistance. There are also several other great options to find reputable livestock sellers: Try contacting the American Meat Goat Association or breed registries – via a website, phone, e-mail or member-breeder directories to get more information. Check out the ads in goat magazines – Look for published journals and publications that are reputable such as the American Boer Goat Association, Meat Goat Monthly, and Goat Rancher. Visiting goat shows – You can check out the booths or converse with the exhibitors for reliable knowledge on raising certain breeds and buying them Be a part of goat related e-mail groups – Being a subscriber on a list is an excellent option to locate many goats or goat related supplies. When you are trying to buy a goat online, you need to narrow it down to which seller you will choose to buy from according to their reputation. There are several tips you should consider when you do decide on pursuing to buy. Ask for a video footage of the goat you like or recent pictures taken from various angles; attempt to receive a written guarantee; Have all answers done in writing and be concise as to how they will arrive at your location prior to depositing. It is a better idea to buy from people at production sales that have been around a while over neighborhood barn sales. Should you still decide to visit it, be sure to access goats that are coughing, limp, have diarrhea or, you see they have a sore mouth with scabs. Do not take them home with you.  It is also best to avoid livestock auctions like the plague as they are notorious for other breeders’ ill or dysfunctional goats. At auctions, you will be left unaware as to whether or not the goat was vaccinated, pregnant or infertile – and it is best not to take that chance. Some people are curious if they should purchase all their goats from a single herd, and yes, it is. If you decide to buy your animals from various areas, they each have their parasites and germs that may be ok for them, but not for everyone else. You should also be concerned about tuberculosis and brucellosis if you decide to get a dairy goat as these are diseases that are transferable to humans by blood, body fluids, milk or vaginal discharge during birth. Tests are available for these conditons, and though there is seldom any incidence, it is always better to be safe than sorry.     That was Chapter 1: Goat Breeds from our Homestead Handbook: Raising Goats Click Here to Read The Next Chapter >> << Click Here to Go Back to the Table of Contents  

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