Alpine or Saanen

Westwood · #41 10/21/12, 01:12 AM

But you can show a doe on appearance and grade up. And someone should cross a brush doe with a milk buck and breed a kid with resistance to a worm load and still maintain milk production.

Barber pole worms? We have to keep our does restrained until the day heats, and the barber pole worms got back down the plants. Betcha the brush goats don't suffer. We're so quick to isolate genes for milk production but we forget what makes our goats hardy. Breed for the perfect udder . . . . and they get so line bred that we wonder for their future.

While I thank our ancestors in goat tending for production, I wonder if we've traded production for weakness. CAE? CL?

Westwood · #42 10/21/12, 01:25 AM

If you introduce an alpine into your herd, you'll soon find that that particular alpine will be the herd bitch. She'll make heads or tails of what you let your goats get away with, lol And she'll be at the first of the line to be milked.

Zilli · #43 10/21/12, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ani's ark

I find the sight of a herd of pure white goats against green grass very striking and attractive. Just my biased 2c...

Me, too.

chamoisee · #44 10/22/12, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westwood

American alpines are the producers in our neck of the Ozarks. You can chase butter fat with breeds and feed, but when it comes down to production, Alpines prevail.

Oh, I agree....and the American Alpine lines I used to have were high butterfat (Shahena'ko Bellflower, etc). And I personally love the intelligence and mischief that comes with Alpines....they are so much more interesting and fun than goats that just act good all the time, lol....

But another thing I've noticed is that I've yet to see any breeder who has both Nubians and Alpines and is crazy for them both. Generally there's a Nubian breeder who is vexed by the Alpine in the herd, or an Alpine breeder cussing out that loud, needy Nubian. Moreover, Alpine breeders seem to have an entirely different personality and approach than Nubian breeders, and the ones I've known don't seem to get along except on a superficial, polite basis...although there are exceptions. So....is a person is awfully happy with Nubians, probably they won't appreciate my lively Alpine with the gleam in her eye, lol.

ozark_jewels · #45 10/22/12, 01:38 PM

Let me first say that having had both Alpines and Saanens, I found that both breeds were not my cup of tea. Good goats, just not the ones for me.
If I were picking between those two breeds now?? For personality, hardiness, looks, availability, production, I'd go Alpine all the way. My experience.
The Saanens were nice too, but, well they bored me.
Now, if you plan on mixing your herd of Alpines or Saanens with your herd of Nubians??
Go Saanen!!! They get along better with other breeds and the crosses are really nice.
Alpines tend to be the top dogs in any mixed herd. This can be hard on the other breeds.
Oh, and I do prefer Sable Saanens......they look like Alpines.LOL!!