Kinder goats

[mad_misky]

How come I'm just finding out about these now?! I kept wondering why there wasn't a dual-purpose goat breed. Does anyone else have them? I think I might start a registered kinder herd.

[billooo2]

Usually when something is called "dual purpose," it does not do either "purpose" as well as a breed bred specifically for either meat or milk. There have been "dual purpose" breeds of cattle around for a long time. But I do not know of many large dairy farms that actually use an entire herd of "dual purpose" cows.
If you think about it, the conformation, nutritional needs, etc are different for a dairy animal vs. a beef animal. It is like trying to travel east and west at the same time.
I am sure that they are cute and charming. If that is what you want, then go for it!!!

[Painted Pony]

I disagree that having a dual purpose breed is equal to travel in two directions at once. I would say that dual purpose breeds are average milkers and average meat producers though. Obviously they do not put all their energy and calories in to JUST making meat or JUST making milk but you can breed them so that they do both things. My Kinders are worth butchering because they have meat on the frame. They also produce milk. Now Kinders may not produce gallons a day but let's face it there are milk goats out there that don't either. They may not covert feed as well as Boers but not everyone needs that much meat or milk. For a homesteader with limited space to maintain a herd & bucks, these goats will provide milk & meat rather well.

In my opinion, if you want a mid-size goat you can milk and you want to get more than 30% back in meat for any animals butchered, the Kinders are a good choice. My dairy breeds kids aren't worth spending the money to have them butchered. There's no meat on their frame.

[LaManchaPaul]

A friend has Kinder. I LIKE 'UM - a lot ! NOT because they are cute - and they are; but they are meaty looking rather than a boney-looking milkgoat. They are great foragers.
In addition to Painted Pony comments, they tend to be hardier and more parasite resistant.
Paul

[mad_misky]

That's what interests me - moderate on both counts. I don't need to be swimming in milk, it's just for my family. I want the meat, too, and those dairy breed are just all bones and udders. I think I'll go for it.

[ozark_jewels]

It depends on the dairy animal. I have a Nubian(dairy) buck who carries more meat than the average Kiko(meat) buck. Nubians actually carry a good deal of meat, unless you own the ultra dairy-type Nubians. The older-style Nubian carries more weight.

[grandmajo]

I have kinders, I have a doe who kidded in April with twins, and she is awesome. Easy kidder, great momma and she puts out a consistent amount of milk, around a half gallon a day as a first freshener. I like her smaller size for handling (shots, feet trimming, etc). My original intent when purchasing my nubian girls was to breed kinders, and thankfully I was able to recently registered pygmy buckling to breed to my registered nubian girls, for more kinders! In my opinion, they are the perfect homestead goat, and all that LamanchaPaul has mentioned about them I have found to be true.

As another poster said, if the kinder is what you like, then definitely go for it!