String Cutter,
First of all I agree with Stealthycat, llamas are very strong and also very agile and smart like a goat. What ever negative stuff you've heard about them is probably coming from people that don't know the first thing about them. Down here in Texas we have llamas everywhere and, guess what, we use them to protect our goats. The will kill a coyote or a bobcat in a heartbeat and I've been told they can hold there ground with a mountain lion. That's why we use them. Boer goats are big business down here and most people can't afford to lose them to a predator.
Now, with all that said, if you are still interested in a goat go to
www.abga.org and check for boer goat breeders in your area. There should be plenty in Virginia. Costs depend on the goat. They are not as cheap as you might think but since you are looking for a pack animal and not a show or breeding animal you should be able to buy 3-4 pretty reasonably. I would recommend wethers (castrated billies). When fully mature they will weigh in at around 250-350 lbs and will be as strong as an ox. If you are planning to train them yourself them get them when they're young (just after weaning, 3-4 mos) and start working with them. Just like any animal, including llamas, you will need to be patient and be dedicated to handling them alot. Most goats, except for the occasional bone head, love to be scratched and loved on. And if you ever abuse one they will never forget it! Down here a plan old boer or boer cross "wether" will cost you about $75-$125. I would imagine if you buy one already trained for packing it may cost quite a bit more. Maybe $500 plus. Down here quality breeding and show goats are anywhere from $250 to $5000, that's right...$5000, depending on their pedigree and genetics.
Sorry to be so long winded, but if I can be of anymore assistance, don't hesitate to ask. By the way, ABGA stands for the American Boer Goat Association.
Brett