How did you start out with goats?

[BlsdMama]

I ask because I have a few options right now. I approached a dairy goat farmer about selling a couple does. He'll pretty much sell me my pick of his bred does (with the exception of his wife's named ones ) or any doelings.

DS wants a doeling for 4H that will be his own. I need a bred doe for milking. I had my heart set on a LaMancha, but I've finally decided that I'm going to settle on a Saanen. They are anywhere from $300-$400 for bred does that are purebred but unregistered. He has a very clean, quiet, peaceful loafing shed and the does look good. (We were there and got the full tour, plus got to feed kids, milk a bit, and see milking time. I was so incredibly appreciative.)

Here's what I'm wondering... We will definitely need milk from two goats. We have seven children and the majority can only drink goats' milk without issues. Do I just get one bred doe and plan on having CJ's doeling bred in the fall or do I buy two does now?

Why I ask: I SAW a first freshening doe's udder. Handmilking THAT looks like an absolute NIGHTMARE! The teats are so tiny... Plus I wondered if the doe would need companionship from more than just two young whethers her first weeks here. (We're getting two little ones for meat.) But obviously then we're talking about spending around $700 instead of $350 for two does. I know that's relatively inexpensive, but it's a big layout for a first time goat owner right now.....

[CookingPam777]

If you price shop you can get good deals. Someone bought her for me but I have a purebred Saanen unregistered that they were selling for $100. She was bred and due in a couple months. Very worth $100. Never have had any problems out of her.

[goatkid]

I was working on a commercial dairy when I first got my goats. I didn't have need for a milking doe then because I used very little milk and could get it at work. I bartered for a few doelings, who I bred that winter. I got a good deal because of the sheer number of kids born there along with being an employee. My goats came registered. I later bought a few adult does and a buckling as well. I guess it depends on where you live, what you have to pay for a decent doe. Here in Montana, I can still buy a registered adult doe for under what tham man is asking. I have a couple of doelings that are bred that I'll sell for $150 each, with registration applications. Mine are Nubians. I know in places like Texas, $300 is a standard price for an adult milker.
Now, for what you should do, keep in mind that if you bought two bred does, you should get at least one doeling out of them. This way your son could raise his 4H project from the day she's born. Also keep in mind that the does' kids will need milk for at least 12 weeks and goat's milk is best for them. If the seller doesn't test for CAE, have them tested by either Biotracking or WADDL. Also be sure they come from an abcess free herd. That goes for your meat wethers as well. You don't want CL on your place.

[TennesseeMama23]

Originally Posted by BlsdMama

I ask because I have a few options right now. I approached a dairy goat farmer about selling a couple does. He'll pretty much sell me my pick of his bred does (with the exception of his wife's named ones ) or any doelings.

DS wants a doeling for 4H that will be his own. I need a bred doe for milking. I had my heart set on a LaMancha, but I've finally decided that I'm going to settle on a Saanen. They are anywhere from $300-$400 for bred does that are purebred but unregistered. He has a very clean, quiet, peaceful loafing shed and the does look good. (We were there and got the full tour, plus got to feed kids, milk a bit, and see milking time. I was so incredibly appreciative.)

Here's what I'm wondering... We will definitely need milk from two goats. We have seven children and the majority can only drink goats' milk without issues. Do I just get one bred doe and plan on having CJ's doeling bred in the fall or do I buy two does now?

Why I ask: I SAW a first freshening doe's udder. Handmilking THAT looks like an absolute NIGHTMARE! The teats are so tiny... Plus I wondered if the doe would need companionship from more than just two young whethers her first weeks here. (We're getting two little ones for meat.) But obviously then we're talking about spending around $700 instead of $350 for two does. I know that's relatively inexpensive, but it's a big layout for a first time goat owner right now.....

I would get 2 bred does and let your ds have pick of any doelings born, if you only have bucklings, I'd buy him one this spring (maybe). Good compromise, spring isn't that too far off, and it would be a great experience for him to watch them get born.

If you need the milk, I'd not wait 2 year before you get enough.

[cathleenc]

you have a real compelling need right now - and you have an answer at hand. I'd buy the 2 bred does and try to bargain 2/$600. For unregistered does he's asking a lot.

I'm getting a registered purebred saanen doeling, bred to a registered buck for may kidding, for $175 this week. the doeling won grand champion reserve and her mother won grand champion at a smallish county fair this year. Not saying they are national winners.... but at least they should be decent.

Can you get a bred doeling and a bred somewhat older doe for a reduced price? So you wouldn't have your entire milk source age at the same rate and you'd get the benefit of an experienced milker and the reduced cost of a doeling?

[hoofinitnorth]

Originally Posted by BlsdMama

Why I ask: I SAW a first freshening doe's udder. Handmilking THAT looks like an absolute NIGHTMARE! The teats are so tiny...

Will he let you try to hand milk one of the FF udders? If it really is hard to milk or is "too small", don't buy. I breed for easy-to-milk girls (among other things) so tiny teats and other similar udder troubles are out in my book. If you can help it, don't perpetuate this trait in your own herd. You'll thank yourself later.

[BlsdMama]

I will admit I have no idea what going rates are. It seemed pretty reasonable to me... After all he's giving up my choice of does, plus whatever her babies are? So if the doe was worth $150 and each baby was worth $50 and they average 2.45 babies per birth, and you have to toss in the breeding to his ram.... Then he's giving up over a $300 value? He will sell me a doeling for $25 because it's participation in 4H. So you think he's high? We're in the midwest and there are a lot of dairies around here. But I will say that his personality alone sold me, lol, such an incredibly nice guy and to let the kids feed the babies, let me milk, show us around, etc.

[copperpennykids]

You are not paying too much.

Sometimes folks get lucky and get a very nice goat for a "deal", but many times, "You get what you pay for".

Some pros for buying from this farmer:

- You've been there and his whole herd is healthy and happy.
- He is willing to help you with feeding questions/management etc. Worth its' weight in gold. He may even help if you have kidding problems - at least over the phone
- He is close, so future breedings would be simpler for you

As far as the small teats on FF, not all FF have small teats, so if you purchase a doe who has not kidded before, look at her dam and pick a doe whose dam has a teat size that you like. We like large orifices as well - the milk just streams out. Nice.

You may be able to find some nice registered Saanens for about the same price (or a little more) but you may not. So if you think you have time, shop around a little and then go from there. What kind of milk production do his Saanens have? If you get a 2 year old 2nd freshener, she should give well over a gallon a day (and her teats will get a bit larger in the second lactation as well). Will a gallon a day suffice for your family? She will peak at a higher amount, but at 6-8 months of her lactation she should still be giving that basic 1 gallon/day +. I think that should help you decide on whether or not to purchase 1 or 2 adults (no matter who you buy them from).

Does this farmer test for CAE? I wouldn't buy anything unless I had a negative CAE test in my hot little hand. Registered or not, you don't want CAE, and you are certainly paying a nice price for the goats, so they should be healthy. And yes, abscess-free as well.

As far as registered goats - If you were to purchase registered stock then the doe (all other things being equal) will be worth at least $200-250.00 and her kids worth $150.00-200.00 each (and I am giving you low numbers, as mine sell for much more than that) and if you think about it, that doe will kid next year and the year after that and you will can have all of her feed paid for just from the sale of her kids. Just something to think about. Not everyone wants to go that route, but just be aware that that is how the market works.

Pay for the CAE test if necessary, while you shop around. At least then you will KNOW that you are starting off right. Good luck.

[billooo2]

The prices sound high for this area, especially for unregistered animals (central Ohio).

If you are a beginner, then you may want to look for a second freshener, or older doe (and skip those tiny teats).

Most people that show will have milkers to sell in the spring. They will often keep does until they see the udders. You can find some very nice animals that may not get blue ribbons in the show ring, but do great as milkers.

If you know someone that belongs to the American Dairy Goat Association, they will have a Directory that lists the names of all members, and the breeds they have. You can see who is close to you, and contact them to see if they will have any milkers for sale.

Around here, you could probably get the 2 milkers and a kid for what you have been quoted.

[cathleenc]

not sure where you are but there are some oberhaslis, adga registered, being sold bred for $150 each in western wisconsin. The owner is a member of the wisconsin dairy goat association and I 'believe' to be reputable. Just saw it posted on a community board.

I love saanens. I love having local breeders to help me out -that alone is worth quite a bit. And I've never seen unregistered animals go for more than $200 around here, even bred.

You can't count your kids' value till they are born - who knows what could happen. Most likely nothing will happen - but at the moment they still are a possibility.