Best Breed of Dairy Goat
 

I know there is most likely another post some where like this one but, I have looked through so many, I might as well just post it. I would like to know your favorite breed of dairy goat and why. We are looking to get a couple as "family-milkers" and will most likely not show them. I have heard the Nubians are the loudest. We want lots of milk that is of great quality but, would also like a breed that is not going to stand outside and holler all day. Anyway suggestions?

Thank you Thank you

Saanens.

The milk is delicious. Saanens milk an incredible amount - A gallon a day as First fresheners and then 1 1/2 gallons or more when they are two or three. Better than that, they have an incredible will to milk and you will usually be getting 3/4 to 1 gallon / day at 10 months of milking.

Saanens are quiet, gentle, affectionate. They love to milk. They are the queens - calm and regal in their beautiful white clothes. The kids are like little white angels with their cute little expressive ears.

And did I mention how much milk they give and how good it tastes? LOL

(BTW, everyone on here loves the kinds of goats that they raise.... so you are going to get lots and lots of opinions. You should probably try to visit as many goat ranches as you can to see which breed appeals to you. Ask questions, learn some management stuff. And of course, only CAE negative animals - TESTED - and no abscesses (CL).)

Good luck. If you want to PM where in CA you live I might be able to point you to some excellent breeders.

I like alpines. They're the most beautiful, in my opinion. :) Of course, there are many does I admire of different breeds, but Alpines are the ones I'll probably always stick with. I do hope to eventually get some LaManchas, nubians, and Saanens, but I doubt I'd ever want 7 breeds of goats here (I currently have minis, french alpines, and am getting Boers soon.), so I'll likely stick with 2-3 dairy breeds at a time. Which is easier said than done. :)

I like alpines because they're not the loudest, have very high production, are lovely to look at, and have sassy attitudes. My miniatures will likely be my favorite breed overall, simply because they were my first - I learned about caring for goats with them. Plus, the babies are the cutest baby goats, ever. I raise my miniatures as meat-types, butchering the extra wethers. But, they simply won't do as dairies. :)

LaManchas are calm and great milkers. Can you deal with the tiny ears?

Saanens are higher volume producers and known for their placid personalities. They have 'regular' goat ears.

I have a LaMancha / Saanen cross that I dearly love.

We have Lamanchas and sables (which is a colored saanen) and I love both breeds. The milk of the lamanchas is creamy, mild and sweet. They give a gallon to a gallon and a half a day. They have great personalities and are fairly quiet. The Sables are sweet, gentle and great milkers. The milk reminds me of 1/2 and 1/2.

MKy vote is for Saanen's too! They make me happy! http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...dHermoinie.jpg

This is my Saanen buck. He LOVES to have his picture taken! http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...h/RonDec09.jpg

Of course the babies are incredibly cute, too! http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...rlsandkids.jpg

But you can make up your own mind....LOL

Thank you so much for the quick responses. We have already have two Nigerians who were very sweet but the one was really loud and hollered all day for me! I really really miss their milk. It was so creamy but, they also were only giving about a quart a day as a first freshener. We have looked into the Oberhasli breed which is our next choice but then I thought "why not research the other breeds?" There are many many people here is San Diego with Nigerians and Nubians.

Lately I have been leaning more towards Saanens or Lamanchas.

So super cute!!! I don't know.... you might have just made up my mind... baby goats are just a ball of cuteness.... I love it!

Tonya- I love the pic of you and the buck! And did you curl his bangs? Lol too darn cute!

Well if you want sweet creamy milk go with Nubians....Now if you want goats smarter than a rock go with LaManchas....Believe me I raise Nubians and sadly used to have LaManchas...Did I mention that Nubian milk go good on shredded wheat...Hope this help your choice...Topside

Yeah I know many people have Nubians around here and they all say they love the milk. But, I also know they are the loudest of the dairy breed.

I raised Nubians for years and love them. I can honestly say that I love goats and would have any of them! I have mules and maybe the Nubians...cute ears....mules....cute ears says something about my choices!
All the breeds of goats have different attributes and people choose their favorite breed for personal reasons. Bottom line is that any breed will make you happy!

Saanens! They are just so sweet.

The only other kind I've ever had are Alpines, and while they are pretty, they are just plain obnoxious compared to the Saanens. Not to say I dont like them, but I do like Saanens better. :)

my nubians pretty much only yell at feeding time or in one case when she is in labor - which is nice, because I can leave a window open and go to sleep!

two words - floppy ears.

I have Nigerians - and I have one that talks when she sees me and a wether that will scream if you are late with his breakfast but otherwise they are a pretty quiet bunch. Nigerians have the richest milk - avg is 6% butterfat.

You can't really judge a does production by her first year. I have a couple of 2nd year does doing a 1/2 gallon a day this time around that were quart a day milkers last year. I also am waiting on a 2nd year to freshen that was doing a 1/2 gallon as a FF last year.

Of course, the best breed is ALPINES!!!!!! Well, you asked for opinions. I like the quality and quantity of milk.........and the variety of colors!!

Creamy milk, Nigerians. But yes, they can be very LOUD. My next vote is for La Manchas. I'm convinced they will be my next breed (even though I previously thought it would be Nubians).

My first experience with goats was five Saanen milkers back when I was in grade school. My parents volunteered to keep them over a winter while some older folks went south. After that we got a Nubian, sold her when we moved and then a Toggenberg doe. Then I got a Brown Swiss cow, and then a Guernsey and .... When my children wanted kids to raise, many years down the road, I bought two doelings. They happened to be Alpines. I still have one of the two, and just lost the other to a hard kidding with triplets a month ago. I very satisfied with my Alpines, but may have been happy with another breed if I had started with them. I have one doe that milks through for 22 months (because I have always dried her up before kidding again). One of the big factors that I would say to look at is availability of other breeders of whatever breed you choose, to work with. There used to be a number of other Alpine breeders around, but now it looks like I am the only one in this corner of the state. I am not sure what to do for a buck the next time that I need one.
.... Just some thoughts.

The only pretty goats, to me, are Saanens and Nubians, with Nubians winning. . .but a long shot. LOL - you don't milk pretty though, I know!

I have Nubians, Pygmies, Nigerians and want to by a Saanen doe next spring.
We have 8 Nubians, and I don't find them to be loud all of the time at all. They are VERY, VERY loud when hungy, scared, etc. . only.
Usually, most everyone has a HUGE favorite once they have had some of each breed. I am personally not a big fan of Alpines, and that is going on looks and personality, and you don't milk either - lol. . .and I am sure many Alpines are fantastic, and I'd have some of them to if I ever come across a some I really like for sale. I have a lot of goat breeder friends and most of them have Alpines.

My Lamanchas are really quiet. I am milking my FF through without rebreeding and I weighed her milk the other day and it was 7 lbs. 12 oz. . That's almost a 12 mos. lactation so far. So they can have the will to milk. Plus Lamanchas are from Oregon and I'm from Oregon, so I had to go with Lamanchas. I consider the ear cleaning a little bit of an issue. I even worry about selling my kids, if the new owner will clean the ears. They get an ear cleaning lesson before they leave.

I just talked with a lady through Craigslist actually who has two Nubians (whom are her babies) that she needs to sell because she is moving to TN in a couple of months. She told me the same thing: that the Nubians are not loud all the time, they are only loud if you're late for a milking or something. But when they talk they are LOUD! I am apprehensive about that. I am afraid my neighbors won't like it one bit. Although, they didn't mind our Nigerian. They actually just told us that they tuned her out. They thought she was cute :)

I like Alpines because they are intelligent, hardy, productive, and the genetics are ample, so it is easy to breed for what you want. Also, there is not the stigma attached to Americans that is seen in some other breeds. I also like the color variety and the shape and look of the Alpine. They have a sharp wit and keep you on the ball. Mine were pretty quiet.

Saanens (at least the ones I've had) are sweethearts, also very productive, and they grow BIG. If you are breeding them, the fact that they are all the same color makes it less likely that you will keep a mediocre doeling because she is pretty, because all of them are white. Weak pasterns can be a problem in the Saanen breed.

LaManchas are nice, the herdbook is open so you can breed up to purebred, they are quiet and come in a variety of colors. They can be harder to sell to newbies because they have no pinnae to speak of on their ears, and ignorant folks will assume you have mutilated your goats. Butterfat is good, but again, I preferred the Alpine shape and style and personality.

I have only had one Togg in my life (compared to hundreds of Alpines). The anal retentive breed color requirements turn me off. Quality of bone, conformation, and udder is a lot more important to me than whether the belly is white or not.

Oberhasli are very nice, not as naughty as Alpines. They tend to be smaller, and the gene pool is limited, so it is harder to improve your herd, compared to larger breeds.

Nubians are my least favorite breed. They are cute, and the milk is fantastic, but the personality in my experience, has been one of a drama queen, and they are needy and sociable and clingy. Maybe I just had a bad experience, but the sound of them grates on my nerves. If you like them, they have many wonderful traits, but breed preference is individual, and they just aren't for me.

My first and still fav is my Saanen I think this is her 2nd or 3rd freshening since I am her 3rd owner. But I have been getting at least a quart a day from one side of her udder and only milking once a day, am letting her feed both her boys until they are 2 months. My oldest daughter tried some goats milk just last night for the first time and liked it :) She is pretty quiet and loves people attention. My Nigerians are a funny bunch a little more vocal but more apt to dance and jump for joy, haven't milked them yet 4 more months to go.
Will say my Saanen is the herd queen and for the most part keeps the nigi's out of trouble...for the most part! They will jump a fence in a second whereas my Saanen is not a jumper but if she can push her way through something she will.

I agree and have and LOVE Nubians. They are my favorite breed, but I totally think the above is dead on, and I think they are the least hardy of the goat breeds. . .still, they are my favorite. lol.

If I hadn't had goats and was reading this thread though. . .I'd be sold on Saanens!
I do want a Saanen doe, myself.

Thank you this helped me out a lot. :)

Oh, dear! Why didn't you just come in here and ask, "Who has the best children?"

LOL!

My favorite breed is what I own: Nubians. I like the milk, and yes, I love the personality.

"Needy? Clingy?" I suppose that's a matter of semantics.

Nubians are very attractive, people-oriented goats with lively, entertaining, outgoing personalities and a sense of adventure.

I'm sure the other breeds have nice characteristics, too.

Just not as nice as Nubians. :rotfl:

Oh, forgot to u/l a couple of pics...

Beaux Tie
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...iItsBowTie.jpg

Many Troubles, Beauty Queen (NOT drama queen!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...eautyQueen.jpg

and look at this studly buck!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ToughBeaux.jpg

I have only had Nubians... I fell for the ears. And its not so much that they are loud but more dramatic. They don't bleet they yell maaaaaaaaaa. I had a doe that was so stubborn and bossy and loud! The other is a deer and so patient and quiet the total opposite. Now the quiet ones doe kid loud and obnoxious . It was really irratating the sound of them.
I am looking for a new doe and thinking Saanens or maybe a nubi x, Mutts are usually healthier, at least with dogs!
I like the rich nubian milk and I am afaid that I won't like the other breeds milk. But I am set on trying something different since obviously I didn't do a good job on breeding for gentil quiet natures the last round!

Thanks for all the thoughts everyone. I think I am going to go with either the LaManchas or the Oberhasli breed. They both seem to match to my liking in personality and milk composition. Obviously, I am going to have to get used to the LaManchas ears :) but have heard that they are calm and quiet. Also, I just really really love the look of the Oberhasli. And for sure, later down the road when we get some property I will probably go back and get a couple Nigerians. I love their coloring, personality and their milk is the best! Thanks.

I hope I don't get yelled at..but I'll risk it.

I adore Nubians & Saanens. something in both breeds makes them perfect for my little homestead life style. Sooo...I bred my Saanen buck to my Nubian doe and got the best of both worlds in my Snubians. Now, this fall I am doing a buck swap with a lady that has Kikos. I'll breed my Snubians to the Kiko and see if I can get a nice dual purpose meat/milker for a homestead.

I really like Oberhasli's. I've had goats most of the last 27 years, and have had at least one or two of almost every breed (never had a LaMancha). I fell in love with the first Oberhasli doe kids I ever saw, almost twenty years ago, and five years ago finally got a reg. Ober buck. He was a sweetheart even by the time he was four years old, when I finally had to sell him because my does were both his daughters, and one was also his granddaughter. Now I have those two does (both part Alpine), a new reg. Ober buckling who seems to be just as sweet as my old one, and am getting a reg. Ober doe kid on Friday -- finally, all those years after I saw my first Oberhasli!

Their milk is good -- we used to have a slight problem with off-flavors with all the other breeds except Nubians and Kinders (LOVE the milk from both of those breeds). The Toggenbergs were especially bad for milk flavor. (And I DO know how to keep my equipment clean, etc.) I've had no off-flavors at all from the Oberhasli crosses that I've been milking for the last five years, just good milk, nice temperament, easy to keep, healthy, easy kidders, and I've been making sure that I get does (and bucks) from lines of goats that are easy to milk by hand. Obers are a favorite breed for pack-goats, I believe partly because they don't detest going through water quite as much as most of the other breeds. That gives you a potential market for the biggest and sturdiest of your buck kids.

Kathleen

Thanks for the advice Kathleen. I have noticed that Ober owners are few and far between. I love to hear from someone who actually owns them and has had lots of experience with them. I always hear good things too which makes me feel like I am making the right choice in going with the Oberhasli breed. Thanks again.

http://rachelsie.250x.com

The above is a website from an ADGA member who is hoping to be elected to the Board of Directors in District III. She is in Fla, but she has some nice Obers for sale.

Yes, there is no "best" goat, just the goat that is best for you in your situation.
Most people own what they like the best. I have owned, milked and bred Alpines, Lamanchas, Nubians and Saanens. I still own Nubians and Lamanchas. Those are the two breeds that just "do it" for me.
Nubians are affectionate, the milk is wonderful, a good mature milker will easily give 1-1-1/2 gallons of milk a day. They are loud when they want something, or if I am late for milking. Otherwise I don't hear them. I do not find them unthrifty or less hardy than other breeds.
Lamanchas are affectionate, hardy, gentle, the milk is wonderful and they are "troopers" about producing it. Their production is generally nice and steady where the Nubians tend to fluctuate a little more with weather swings.
I don't see how anyone can go wrong with Lamanchas.
I don't advise newbies around here to get into Oberhaslis, because they are hard to find in our area. Our area has several nice Nubian and Lamancha breeders.
Saanens, Alpines, are good goats, but we did NOT click. Nigerians are too small for me as I like big goats.

Emily... They don't have any EARS, woman! How can you go RIGHT with a goat that doesn't have any EARS???

;)

(Okay, in case anyone doesn't realize it, here's a disclaimer: I am joking about the ears. Well, no, I mean, they really don't have any ears to speak of, but I'm joking about it being a bad thing. I mean, there are people who just don't like ears... I don't know why...) :rotfl:

I love my Saanen. She is gentle, quiet, and ladylike, gives lots of delicious milk, and doesn't tear up fences like my Alpine and my Nubian did (but they were wethers, and I don't know if that makes a difference). Nubians are ridiculously cute and very affectionate, but can be needy.

I had a Nigerian doe for a little while, and Nigerian milk tastes like half & half! Best milk I've ever had. She was a jumper, though. Used to jump on top of DH's Chevelle and he was NOT happy with that. One disadvantage with Nigerians is that their teats can be small, and they are so low to the ground that it can be hard to get a pail under them if you hand-milk.

This year I bred my Saanen to a Nigerian buck for mini-Saanens, hopefully I'll get the best of both worlds! I really like the mini breeds that I've seen. Nice manageable size and a surprising amount of milk.

All I can say is.....you obviously haven't owned a Lamancha.;)
I said I would never own a goat that didn't have ears.....till I bought Escapade. Then I lost my heart to Lamanchas.

Yes, definately makes a difference. Males, even fixed ones, are usually more ornery and destructive than the females. I sometimes think does are nicer simply because they have a job.....

In fact, goat evil is stored in the ears, which makes LaManchas the least of many evils.

Ha - I beg to differ on this one!!! We have Nubians and LaManchas and the LM's are always the trouble makers!! or maybe it is the intelligence factor -always figuring out latches and what is the most irritating -our LM's are more athletic also but in general much quieter. First Freshener Nubians are the worst for noise -they think it is either time to eat or time to milk 18 hours a day!! Seems to take a few months into lactation before they start understanding the routine and how no amount of hollering is going to make any difference!

An important consideration when choosing a breed is the availability of a buck if you want purebred kids.