How To Operate And Start A Goat Vegetation Management Business | Bonus Episode With Roy Austin Of Goat Central

SHOW NOTES

In this week’s bonus episode I am revisiting episode #195.  On this episode I was able to go “into the field” and interview Roy Austin, the owner of Goat Central, on location while we watched his Spanish goats do their work for a client.  I hope you enjoy getting his perspective on a goat grazing business.

KEY IDEAS: 

Roy Austin of Goat Central left his life in the heavily populated Bay Area of California for the Gold Country of the Sierra Nevada foothills about sixteen years ago.  He has always been an entrepreneur, but when he and his wife bought property near Shingle Springs, California he was introduced to goats.

Roy had very high chaparral brush on his property, and it was an extreme fire danger.  After paying over $2,000/acre to have the brush bulldozed for later burning he realized this was going to be a very expensive proposition that would have be repeated about every three years.  This led him to look for an alternative and he found Kiko goats.

Roy quickly started discovering the many positive benefits of browsing weeds and fire prone areas with goats.  He also noticed the benefits to the vegetation and land after goats had been on it.  This led him to start renting out his goats for weed control and fire suppression.

Roy is now fully engaged in contract browsing with his goats for private individuals, corporations and government entities.  He specializes in areas where the use of mechanical equipment or chemicals are not allowed to be used.  Roy states that in his region the use of goats is cheaper than using hand crews but more expensive than mowing for weeds.  So, he has a niche in the market that he fills, and he obviously loves his goats.

Roy has had articles published about his business such as the one featured here: link

ADVICE FROM ROY:

• Be On Site As Much As Possible
• Keep Fences Tight
• Keep The Voltage High As Possible On Your Fences
• Price Correctly So You Can Remain In Business

PERSONAL HABIT THAT MAKES ROY SUCCESSFUL:

• Keeping A Positive Attitude
• Do Something That You Enjoy

BEST BUSINESS ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ROY:

• Don’t Give Up: Roy says that you always have to keep trying

CONTACT INFORMATION AND LINKS:

Roy’s Website: http://www.goatcentral.com 

Email Address: kiko@goatcentral.com

Facebook Page: LINK

Telephone For Roy: 530-621-2920

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