What do you think? How many goats.

[Bricore]

I would love to know what YOU think a ball park number of goats would be to meet all the needs (dairy) of a family of 4. I am just looking for ball park average numbers.

Yes, I know each goat and each type of goat puts out different amounts of milk and that what you feed effects how much (not only that but each family needs for dairy are just as different as anything else) and that different % of butterfat makes a difference (which I believe the more butterfat the more amount of cheese curds you could get.. At least I think that's right..lol) I am not looking for the RIGHT answer to this just your thoughts on what averages would be.

Another thing I would like to know is how much land (of course average again because who knows what is growing in every single back yard) would support that same amount of goats that would supply a family of four (dairy needs.)

I have 5 goats. 4 Mini Nubains (3 Does and 1 buck), 1 togg (doe), 1 Sannan (doe), and we just bought a new place with 30 acres. No, it's not fenced in yet but I am tring to figure out how much we should try to fence for them. I want to keep the milking does close enough to me that I don't have to hunt them down to milk..lol.. We take in what I would believe to be "AVERAGE" amount of dairy products but now I do play around from time to time with some of it making soap but that's not so important.

I am just looking for what you feel would be about right. Right now we only have 5 acres and they only get an acre of that. I of course feed hay and grain mix to them also but with 30 acres (I may just fence most all of it if it's worth it) in Alabama I may not need to.. It would be nice just to call to the girls and have them come to a second fenced in area and give them their grain then and milk them at that time. What do you think? Am I dreaming? hee..hee..

[Spinner]

There are way to many variables for me to attempt to guess how many milkers it would take to supply your families milk requirements.

What I would do is figure how much milk you use, then figure how much each doe provides. Then you'll have a good idea of how many does you need to be milking.

I currently have 18 goats (11 adults, 7 kids) on 10 acres and they get enough browse that they don't eat hay. Now that the frost has killed off much of the browse they should start eating hay, but so far they are still finding enough browse to keep them happy.

I don't have a problem finding my milking doe. When I call her name she comes running. She knows there will be grain at the milking stand and is happy to come jump on the stand and wait to be milked.

[DocM]

2 lamanchas. Keep each other company, and keep one in milk when the other isn't. High butterfat content, good milk for cheese, and not so heavy producing that you have milk coming out your ears. Most of my lamanchas give around 8 lbs a day, perfect for a family of 4.