Many goat producers have succeeded in targeting various ethnic markets by planning their production and breeding schedules around specific religious holidays. The traditions of these holidays vary widely between different religious belief systems and can affect the preferred size, weight, sex, and harvesting method of the animals usually consumed.
The holiday calendar below is a great resource for producers to plan the breeding and sale of specific animal groups for slaughter at auction or directly to the consumer. Dependent on the number of days within each religious year, the actual timing of these holidays may shift from year to year.
Holiday | Religion | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
Chinese New Year | | Feb 10 | Jan 29 | Feb 17 | Feb 6 |
Eid ul-Adha - Festival of the Sacrifice | Muslim | June 16 - 17 | June 6 - 7 | May 27 - 30 | May 16 - 19 |
Muharramm/Hajra - Islamic New Year | Muslim | July 7 - 8 | June 26 - 27 | June 16 | June 5 |
Mawlid al-Nabi - Prophet's Birthday | Muslim | Sept 15 - 16 | Sept 4 - 5 | Aug 25 | Aug 14 |
Ramadan - Month of Fasting | Muslim | Mar 10 - April 8 | Feb 28 - Mar 29 | Feb 17 - Mar 18 | Feb 7 - Mar 8 |
Eid ul-Fitr - Festival of Fast Breaking | Muslim | April 9 - 10 | Mar 30 - 31 | March 19 - 20 | March 9 - 10 |
Pesch (Passover) | Jewish | April 22 - 30 | April 12 - 20 | April 1 - 9 | April 21 - 29 |
Rosh Hashanah | Jewish | Oct 2 - 4 | Sept 22 - 24 | Sep 11 - 13 | Oct 1 - 3 |
Chanukkah | Jewish | Dec 25 - Jan 2 | Dec 14 - 22 | Dec 4 - 12 | Dec 24 - Jan1 |
Western (Roman) Easter | Christian | April 17 | April 4 | April 5 | March 28 |
Easter Orthodox (Greek) Easter | Christian | May 5 | April 20 | April 12 | May 2 |
Christmas (Western) | Christian | Dec 25 | Dec 25 | Dec 25 | Dec 25 |
Christian | Jan 6 | Jan 6 | Jan 6 | Jan 6 |
Here’s a guide to the preferred size, weight, sexes, and animals preferred at each holiday (courtesy of Ohio State University and Cornell University):
Christian Holidays:
Western/Roman Easter:
Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 20-40 lbs
Acceptable: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 40-50 lbs
Less Acceptable: Milk-fed kids weighing less than 20 lbs
Eastern/Greek (Orthodox) Easter:
Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 25-50 lbs
Christmas:
Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 50 lbs and under
Islamic Holidays: Eid ul Adha – The Festival of Sacrifice:
Preferred: Unblemished yearling goat kids weighing 60-80 lbs
Acceptable: Unblemished yearling goat kids weighing 60-100 lbs
Muharram – Islamic New Year:
Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs
Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs
Acceptable: unblemished older animals
No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids
Ramadan:
Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs
Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs
Acceptable: unblemished older animals
No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids
Eid al Fitr – The Breaking of the Ramadan Fast:
Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs
Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs
Acceptable: unblemished older animals
No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids
Jewish Holidays: Chanukah:
Preferred: Young milk-fed goat kids
