What goat breed should we get?

We're moving to a new farma nd I'd like to get some goats for the place. We have several needs for them and it makes sense to have them around.

The needs are:
1. Milk. I have 6 kids and the closest grocery store is about 15 minutes away. It's either I go get milk a few times a week or get another fridge and stock up. Or we get dairy goats.

2. Pasture control. They'll have a pasture that used to have 20 head of cattle on it. The cattle kept it down pretty good. They'll have a lot of browse available.

I'd also like the kids to to be responsible for the animals (with Mom's oversight, of course!) and goats aren't too big, but yet they have enough personality that the kids can be entertained by them somewhat. The kids will probably tire of them after a while (like kids do), so I want a breed that will entertain ME!! Just be aware that even a barn full of goats won't be enough to keep my children from me. The goats will be around my kids.

So what breed would you get?

[LaManchaPaul]

LaMancha .. OF Course!!! LaMancha
big smile.
Paul

[mygoat]

I would say get any dairy breed that appeals to you, with decent production.

Goats give back in many ways if properly managed, and every little bit helps.

Extra bucklings make excellent meat animals, or you could possibly get 1-2 boer does (which you could breed to your dairy buck) for meat animals every year.

A good dairy doe should give about a gallon per day for a 10 month lactation if properly managed. Their milk can be used to raise a few meat calves.

Genetics and conformation are VERY important when starting a herd - you can just go to an auction house and get some goats - But along with disease, it's likely they aren't anything spectacular. While that may be OK for producing milk, keep in mind you'll have to sell kids every year... The better the kids, the higher the price you can sell them for, and the higher demand. In theory if you keep them properly, it will actually cost less over the years to keep a well conformed and high production animal than a poor quality one. The better quality animals will cost you more to begin with but will effeciently produce more over more years of life.

Section that pasture into 2 or more pastures to rotate between, and look into local herds. Beware CL, CAE, and Johnne's diseases - do tests. Build a couple cheap isolation pens using cattle panels and isolate ALL new stock. Don't be afraid to pay for quality. Find a good local livestock vet that knows goats. Start getting equipment, vaccines (prepare to do all your own vet work). Try www.jefferslivestock.com for equipment. For excellent information on the web, try www.goatworld.com and www.fiascofarm.com. REad up and research. If done properly, goats are very profitable small farm animals, but you can't cut corners or try to starve a profit.

[gryndlgoat]

Which breed?

Why, ALL of them, of course!!
You can never have too many goats!

But seriously, for gentleness and LOTs of milk, Saanens are a good choice.

But for creamy yummy milk and a laugh a minute at their personalities, Nubians are great.

[TennesseeMama23]

I love it (sometimes) when my girls tell people "we have goats with no ears they're supposed to have no ears they are born that way they are lamanchas we milk them it is good milk I can milk 2 goats by myself the other ones are harder to milk so mom does those".

Way more entertaining. Good personalities. Lots of fun. I have always liked weird, out of the ordinary stuff.

Other breeds are nice, too though. We have alpines, a nubian cross, a boer, and lamanchas (my fav).

[Chaty]

Well I started with Nigerians and Alpines and now have added La Manchas, Nubians...I love all of them and they are all Great producers. I milk all different types and if you have small children the Nigerians are great But with me the larger are easier to milk.
Bloodlines helps alot also with the milking types as some produce more and some dont. My LM produces 1 1/2 gallons when she first freshens and if milked 2x a day but have went to OAD milkings with her. With just a Nigi and a LM I bring in 1/2 gals a day and I do freeze it also.
I think each person has different tastes as to what goat the like but I love them all....
Forgot to add all of mine love to go for walks and they love browse and we have 144 acreas to stroll on so we go to different areas each day and sometimes they take themselves if I have other things to do...I can always tell where they are because the LGD's go with tehm and I have some that have on bells...So they are like potato chips you cant get enough of them and are very addictive I started with 5 and now have 26 but did have 40 so watch out...

[billooo2]

I have Alpines, and really enjoy them.

I like their personalities, and the variety of color that one can have. Mine give 3/4-1 gallon of milk/day. (One peaked at 18#/day last year, but that is the exception, and not the average.)

They tolerate our winters very well......as long as they can a dry place top get out of the rain and snow. Wind does not seem to bother them. This past summer when we had all kinds of wind damage from the remnants of a hurricane, they stayed outside all day long.

Another thing to consider........is there a "long-established" breeder somewhere in your area? (I consider 20 years to be 'long-term'). They can be an invaluable source of advice for a newbie. And if I were hoping to have them as a source of advice, then I would support them by purchasing form them......even if it means paying more than I might from someone else.

[rranch]

Attend a goat show if you can. Go to the fair. Do the research. Goat people love to talk goats. Also visit the farms in your area. My place has four types of goats and you can play with all of them, if that was an option.
Consider mini goats also. Like mini mauchas, mini nubians...

[copperpennykids]

We have 8 children and I vote Saanen. They are excellent milkers (generally over a gallon/day, most of mine are 1 1/2 gallons/day), they milk for 10 months easily, even when 3 months bred, and though they are large, they are the gentlest and easy going goats. Affectionate, the kids are entertaining (the adults have interesting personalities but not in your face, nor are they "needy" - personally, I have lots of little people who need me and don't need any pressure from my goats!) The milk is uniformly tasty (and whoever you purchase from, whatever the breed, try the milk first!). And because of these attributes there is a good demand for family milkers/kids for Saanens so you can sell kids to help pay for feed.

This of course assumes well fed and well managed goats.

Any goat will keep your pasture mowed/cleared.

MYGOAT has good advice too. Purchasing healthy stock and hopefully a good breeder that will help you along is also a big plus.

[southerngurl]

Where are you located? I mean, if you are in Alaska, you probably don't want Nubians, and if you are in Texas, you probably don't want Saanens.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Why wouldn't you want Saanens in Texas?

[hoofinitnorth]

And why not Nubians in Alaska? We have a couple of nice herds up here already. I thought the ears would be a problem but the breeders tell me that as long as they don't dunk them in the water trough and let them freeze, they do just fine (and some of them do have LOVELY ears).

I'm biased, but I do vote for the Nigerian Dwarf goats. They are great for children and people like me that are in poor health (with low stamina) and if you make careful purchases and practice good husbandry, you need not worry about difficulty milking or low production.

[farm mom]

La Mancha's!!!! I have owned Saanen's, Nubians, and crosses but I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I got my La Mancha's. They are very hardy, excellent milkers, super sweet and easy to work with, and the loveliest personalities.

[crazygoatgal]

I am going to try and make you see the light with Nigerians. LOL. I raise these little cuties and you cannot find a funnier goat with more personality than these guys. They are great for kids(human) and disabled or elderly people. Their milk is to die for and they were the goats chosen for the biosphere experiment some years back. They are roughly 1/3 the size, eat 1/3 the amount of food, and give 1/2 the milk of a full size. They also have multiples regularly, up to 6 but that is not common. I have a couple that were quints though. They are hardy and generally are an extremely friendly animal whether or not they are bottle fed. Of course, as with anything, there are exceptions. But for the most part they are ideal for a small family farm. And don't forget the sale price for these babies is the same or better than the full size ones. And contrary to what others may say, not all Nigerians have tiny teats. Just do the right thing and investigate, research, and look at a lot of animals so that you know what you want and from whom you want to buy it from. A good breeder will sell you quality animals that are healthy. I believe that if you find the right breeder first, you will then find the right goats for you. I am Nigerian crazy all the way and darned proud of it!!!! LOL

[southerngurl]

Originally Posted by Rose

Why wouldn't you want Saanens in Texas?

They sunburn and can get cancer.

[DQ]

I would look around at healthy well cared for dairy herds in your area and pick your breed that way. no sense in getting your heart set on a breed if you will have to drive 5 hours just to look at any or feel you have to by from the only farm you can find that breeds them whether they have quality animals or not. you will probably love whatever you end up with! that being said, I like the lamanchas. when I first went looking I was sure I wanted nubians. turns out there really aren't many nice ones around (that I found). a breeder convinced me to come check out some nubian/lamancha doelings from an oops breeding and that is how I ended up with my main milker. she was affordable due to her being an unplanned breeding but came from quality stock on both sides. I couldn't be happier with her.

[Twilite]

I've got Nubians and I love them to death. Some people say that they're dumb but the ones I've got sure aren't. (too smart for their own good sometimes) But I agree with DQ look around and see what's available before you get set on a breed.

[AnnaS]

Really, any breed *could* meet your requirements for milk, pasture, and personality. I would suggest looking at breeders who are on milk test (DHIA) and graze their does. Then you'll know what that line will produce on pasture. There are lines in all breeds that will make great milk if they are intensively managed, and lines that will make great milk on free grass and a couple of lbs of grain.

Does that were raised on pasture will be important. Does that are used to being served hay in a pen have a very difficult time adjusting to going out and finding food. Does that are raised on pasture will go out on pasture even if they have hay in the barn.

Goats have distinct individual personalities, more than a horse, similar to a dog, but without the dog's concern for the owner's opinion.

Where are you located? I have a pair of bred doelings for sale in Iowa, and one or two milking does here in MN. All have milk records, are pastured, and have lots of personality!

[midkiffsjoy]

I would have NOTHING but Lamanchas on my place, myself. I love their HUGE udders. Any wethers can provide meat. And mine love going nuts on pasture brush (however they will charge an electric fence to get to your rose bushes...but I think thats an any breed goat thing)

BUT.........My kids like my mother's Nubians because they are so "blond" that they'll let my kids lead them anywhere. But......they are LOUD AND NOISY!!!! They will SCREAM like they are being eaten to death to let their kids (who are standing RIGHT NEXT TO THEM) that they are eating feed!!!!! ACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK. One more reason that I LOVE my Lamanchas!!! They are QUIET unless they actually NEED me for something!!! NO playing wolf!!!! grin.

[Twilite]

midkiffsjoy~ Not all Nubians are noisy. Mine are actually very quiet for the most part. (except the buck right now) The neighbors are always saying how they are so surprised with how quiet my Nubians are. I think its partially the lines. lol