Good deal on a Alpine?

[bstuart29]

Someone has a bred alpine for $75 so I was wondering if others thought that was a good deal. I don't know that much about goats especially alpines so others opinions would be appreciated. Thanks. Below is what the ad said:


For Sale: Alpine Nanny bred to an Alpine buck. Due to kid, end of January 2010 - asking $75.00 obo.

[ozark_jewels]

No one can tell you if its a good deal or not without seeing the doe in question.
For $75 I'm sure she is not CAE tested. For $75 I would be really skeptical of her CL status. For $75 I would wonder at her quality.
For $75 for a "bred" Alpine doe......I would wonder about everything.
If she is disease free and has a milkable udder, that is very cheap. If not disease-free, or with a non-milking udder, that is not cheap at all.

[bstuart29]

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

No one can tell you if its a good deal or not without seeing the doe in question.
For $75 I'm sure she is not CAE tested. For $75 I would be really skeptical of her CL status. For $75 I would wonder at her quality.
For $75 for a "bred" Alpine doe......I would wonder about everything.
If she is disease free and has a milkable udder, that is very cheap. If not disease-free, or with a non-milking udder, that is not cheap at all.

Thanks Emily. I thought generally that seemed cheap if she was healthy but I wasn't for sure what Alpines usually run price wise.

[Tracy in Idaho]

Exactly what Emily said.

Asking what an Alpine (or any other animal) costs is sort of like asking what a house costs. Lots of variables go into the equation.


Tracy

[billooo2]

From my experience......anyone who uses the term, "nanny," has never tested for anything, has probably never wormed them, has fed them either little or no grain, has fed them poor hay.....and almost always exaggerates about how much milk they give.
There seems to be a great variation in price in different areas of the country. Around here, (Ohio), you should expect to pay around $200 for a "non-show quality" milker. Other areas, apparently, you should expect to pay more $350 and up.
With livestock, often what seems to be a good deal ends up costing a LOT more money after you have them.

[mygoat]

You'd be surprised how affordable quality yearlings are from an LA/DHIR herd. I paid 275.00 each for two French alpine yearlings - gorgeous - and the herd owner held them in isolation until I could get test results back on them, too. They were bred to a buck with an LA score of 90 and their dams had pretty high LA scores too if I recall correctly. The doe's dams, granddams, and other herd mates are always top of the list in DHIR for Michigan. Both were excellent milkers when they freshened, with beautiful udders. Sadly I had to sell out of the dairy herd, would've loved to have milked their 2nd freshening udders.

Shop around and email some breeders. Try your state's dairy goat association, they usually have breeder listings either on the website or in their regular mailing that most have.

[General Brown]

Originally Posted by billooo2

From my experience......anyone who uses the term, "nanny," has never tested for anything, has probably never wormed them, has fed them either little or no grain, has fed them poor hay.....and almost always exaggerates about how much milk they give.

Please, do not make that assumption. I have a 3 year old doe and a 9 month old doeling, and I always refer to the dam as "Nanny". Your assumptions are way wrong. You are saying if someone calls their goat a nanny that they lie and dont give them proper care. Shame on you!!

[goatkid]

Without seeing the doe, I couldn't say whether or not it's a good deal. It could be someone trying to sell off a sick goat, or it could just be a backyard breeder with too many mouths to feed who needs to reduce the herd quickly. I've been known to sell a CAE/CL free yearling doe with a wether kid on her for $100 to a family who wanted a couple of goats because I have to keep my herd size reasonable. If you're interested in this doe, visit the herd and check them all over for abcesses, scars near lymph nodes and general health. See if the seller would be willing for you to test her for CAE before buying her.

[shiandpete.1]

Around here the term "nanny" is usually used by people who raise meat goats and not by people who raise dairy goats. Strange but true!

[Oat Bucket Farm]

Originally Posted by shiandpete.1

Around here the term "nanny" is usually used by people who raise meat goats and not by people who raise dairy goats. Strange but true!

Its the same way here in Kansas. Strange isn't it?

[deafgoatlady]

bstaurt,
I know a lady who selling her goats. They are alpines but the doeling is alpine cross lamancha. She want them gone because she dont have time anymore. They are CAE and CL negative. I saw the paper my self and I already purchase one doe from her.

[deineria]

I have found that the terms "Nanny" and "Billy" are honestly used here by people who
do not know much about goats, provide very good care, etc. . .HOWEVER - I know a 'few' people who do provide good care and have paid top dollar for their goats, though not breeders by any stretch - who do use the terms. . .
so I know what the one poster was saying. That is here in WV. I can't speak for other areas.
Price is pretty low. You can't tell much from such a vauge add and without seeing photos.

[QoTL]

I purchased a buck yesterday for a steal. (and he's very mannered so will probably get to stay on. YAY!)

While talking to the previous owner, dh found out the man had advertised his purebred Nigerian doelings for $200.

The economy is terrible.

He dropped the price. Then again, then again.

Finally at $75 he sold 4 in an hour.

Last year when I went to buy a different buck, the lady tried to GIVE me another doeling she had. Unfortunately, that doe was too wild for me to have time to tame.

And earlier this year, I had a lady offer to let me have a purebred Nigie and a mixed breed Sanaan for $100 for both because she was switching to Boers. I didnt take them because I didn't "need" them, although I REALLY wanted the mixed breed girl.

Sometimes you are just in the right place at the right time.

$75 is cheap, just check her carefully for health first, and make sure she's what you want (good udder, etc.). I don't show, don't see that I ever will, and am perfectly happy with a clean mixed breed doe with a decent amount of milk. There are much more serious goat people than me who always insist on top of the line girls, and I completely understand. However, for me paying $300 for a goat is crazy... because I just want a nice, healthy doe who will milk.

btw- I'd pay extra for a tame girl because they are SO much easier to work with right from the start. Wild can be tamed, but it can be a long hard road (I speak from experience). So take your time and choose the right girl for you.

I actually bought a very elderly Nigie girl for $50 (she was more rescue than anything else). My father thinks I was robbed blind. She died last spring, but we got much more than $50 out of her, even though she didn't milk, was a hard keeper, and never gave me any babies. To us, she was worth way more than what we invested. It's been 9 months and we still get teary thinking about her. She was more dog than goat, and would pass on grain and hay for cuddles.

[billooo2]

Originally Posted by General Brown

Please, do not make that assumption. I have a 3 year old doe and a 9 month old doeling, and I always refer to the dam as "Nanny". Your assumptions are way wrong. You are saying if someone calls their goat a nanny that they lie and dont give them proper care. Shame on you!!

I apologize for offending anyone. I simply stated my experience. I have met many people who used the term, "nanny." None of them tested for anything, nor wormed regualrly, and their goats were not particularly well fed. If that means I deserve a "shame on me,"..........then I will wear that tag.

[General Brown]

Apoligy accepted. I guess I am a little sensitive with all the thrashing going on with the other thread. As a child, I always heard a doe goat refered to as a nanny, and I call them that to this day. I know that the correct term is doe and doeling, and buck and buckling for the males. Its just what I call them. as far as my husbandry with my goats, they are well fed, and cared for, and will be drawing blood again this weekend.

[dosthouhavemilk]

In this area they are nannies and billies. No way around it. I still use buck and doe when referring to them.
The woman who works at the feed mill has "nannies" and "billies." They aren't tested for disease, but they are well cared for. She has had quints and quads and her keeps up on the nutrition and parasite management.
A lot really has to do with the area you are in and who you hang out with. Dairy breeders, especially those that show and register goats, will use Doe and Buck. It does tend to be more the meat breeders that use nanny and billy *but* not always.

$75 is a deal. But you really ought to be sure she is disease free and if possible find out about udders in her line.
I sell CAE test negative and raised on CAE prevention does for $75. I usually can't get much more than that around here. I sold CAE Prevention raised, test negative does, trained to the milk stand with a kid by side for $80 a pair. There just isn't a huge market in this area and most have no clue or concern about the common goat diseases.

[prairiedog]

also it might mean they just really need to get the goat gone. I have sold some nice goats at very cheap prices that were tested and good breeding, registered and all just because time was against me. So guess if you were interested in the goat you would have to go look, and talk to them.

[dragonchick]

IF they can't afford to feed, the low price would assure a quick sale and hopefully a home for their goatie friend. Low prices do not always mean something wrong with the animal.

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by dragonchick

Low prices do not always mean something wrong with the animal.

Very true. But it makes me look *VERY* closely at its quality and health.
In the area where this goat is, demand for milk goats is very high. To find a *good* one for $75?? She is worth much more than that if she is any good.

I too, have seen steals on good goats before for this type of price, but not as often as I've seen crappy goats for this type of price.

[bstuart29]

Thanks everyone for the advice and information, I never heard back from them so I'm guessing they sold the doe.