Nigerian's can be good milk goats!

[Wags]

I thought I would post this picture of my herd sire's dam just to show that all Nigerians don't have little teats or only give a cup or two of milk.

Jobi Maple averages 6lbs a day and comes from a long line of national top 10 milkers.




I know they aren't all this good, but if you make it a point to buy from breeders that are breeding for milking rather than just pets, then the odds are in your favor for getting a good milk goat.

[Alice In TX/MO]

WOW! She's fantastic.

[petaddict]

She's amazing. I wish I could buy some of her babies.

[goto10]

It has been my mission since I got Nigerian Dwarves this July, to find great milking lines. My main problem is having those breeders contact me back!

[Joel12mi]

how do you tell a Nigerian Dwarf from a Pygmy?

[DairyGoatSlave]

Shes Fantastic!

Joel12mi, Coloring is a big thing. That and pygmys are a meat breed, not milkers.

[Joel12mi]

DairyGoatSlave,

Ok, I understand what you are saying but I mean from an appearance level. How can I tell a dwarf from a Pygmy? The reason I ask is....I bought some goats that said they were pygmies in the add. I showed pictures to someone else and they said they look more like dwarfs than pygmies.

Thanks for any info.

[nehimama]

She's lovely, Wags. Thanks for sharing.

Joel12mi, I've heard it said that Pygmies look like barrels on legs. NDs are more svelte, you might say. Can you do an internet search on both breeds, and compare the pictures you find? That may help a lot.

NeHi

[Feathers-N-Fur]

Wags, beautiful doe. Who is she from?
I appreciated the story from the 4H judge up at state fair this year. She said they did a one day milk test a couple years ago and the only doe to meet what she should have was a ND.

Joel12mi, more than likely they are a cross of the 2 breeds. People cross their pigmys to ND's to get flashier coloring.

[LaManchaPaul]

Now that's ONE NICE looking Grandma!! Do you have pix of the babies?

[Backfourty,MI.]

Nice Looking doe & she sure gives alot of milk for a Nigerian dwarf it sounds like.
I would also Love to see pictures of the babies too!

[Wags]

Here is one of her sons - my herd sire at a year old:



His paternal Granddam, ARMCH Goodwood Water Lilly, was the 2000 AGS Best of Breed National Champion! her show record consists of MCH. (3 X Grand Champion)
Many Champion Challenges; ANDDA All American milking yearling '99, and best udder in her class at the 2003 National show! And just look at her Production record! AGS TOP 10 Production
2000 #9protein 2001 #4mlk, #5BF,#2prot 2001 #6mlk, #10BF, #6pr. 2003 #4mlk, #5BF, #1prot


ARMCH Goodwood Water Lilly *D

[Wags]

Originally Posted by Joel12mi

how do you tell a Nigerian Dwarf from a Pygmy?

According to the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association:

What's the difference between a Nigerian Dwarf and a Pygmy goat?

Although they have similar origins, Nigerian Dwarfs and African Pygmies are separate and distinct breeds, with recognized differences. Pygmies are bred to be "cobby" and heavy boned. Dwarfs are bred to have the length of body and more elegant structure that's similar to their larger dairy goat counterparts. Pygmies are also primarily "agouti" patterned, with black, silver and caramel being the most common colors.

[Joel12mi]

Thanks Wags...that is the best description I have seen so far.

I tried looking at pictures and I guess I just dont know enough to tell the differences.

From that description I would guess that the goats I have are Nigerian Dwarfs.

I hope I can get some milk from them. I was worreid about how to manage my time with

work and milking. I read a few people let the kids milk during the day so that the herder only has to milk once a day instead of twice.

I am going to give this a try.

Very nice Picture above!!!!!!

[Wags]

I dam raise my kids - at two weeks old I separate them from their dams overnight and milk in the morning. Once the kids are weaned around 3-4 months of age then I start milking twice a day. I know some people wean at 2 months of age, but that just seems way to young to me.

[Joel12mi]

That sounds much more managable to me than trying to milk twice a day from the start.

From what I read after you wean them you need to milk twice a day or the milk starts to dry up quickly?

[Wags]

Originally Posted by Joel12mi

That sounds much more managable to me than trying to milk twice a day from the start.

From what I read after you wean them you need to milk twice a day or the milk starts to dry up quickly?

I pay more attention to the size and health of the kids, when I'm sure they have a good healthy start to life then I wean. Yes I don't get as much milk as I would otherwise, but I don't mind. I still have enough for the family table and thats all that really matters.

[Joel12mi]

Thats all I am really wanting ..enough for personal use.

[Cannon_Farms]

I have an alpine nubian cross, so I didnt want much more milk so I swaped some of my boers for 3 ND does, one who was already in milk and low and behold she produces as much as the big doe I have. Im coming to the slow reality that I need to part with the bulk of my boers and since I can not go without goats we will be getting more NDs. Im hooked, and of course my famous words where Ill never have one of those, their pointless and too hard to milk and not enough for meat.
My three girls are out of really nice milk lines from Lil totts farm, though Im through showing Im really proud of these three.
Oh and big bonus, they are a heck of allot easier to handle!

[Sara K]

We have 3 does that were producing great milk.....unfortunately we now have to sell them :-( I'm going to miss that milk!!!
Sara