hi all what breed for me?

humbird · #1 08/24/10, 06:45 PM

Hi all i am very new to the "farming" thing but hubby and i have moved to his great-aunts farm now, we would like to grow our own food need all the hlep we can get! I'm afraid Im a city girl!!

We want to get some goats for milk and also making cheese. we've done some reading on the different breeds also visited some at the fair so have narrowed down to 3-

Nubian- for milk richness and I like the spots!

Nigerian- same as Nubian and like the colors on them too plus they eat less.

Toggenberg- they are getting rare the lady at the fair said we liked the heirloom tomatos maybe we should have heirloom goats too?

Well let me know what you think! We re not looking for pets though they need to "pay their own way"!

KimM · #2 08/24/10, 07:01 PM

Toggenburgs rare? Not over here!
The first thing I would suggest is to do a bunch of studying on goat health and management if you haven't already. Do you have anyone nearby (breeder or vet) that is goat-knowledgeable and can help you when needed?
When someone is deciding between Nubians and Nigerians, I always want to say, Mini-Nubians! The best of both worlds (from what I hear). I only have Nigerians but would really like to have a nice Mini-Nube someday.
I probably wasn't much help at all. Sorry.
Oh and welcome to HT!

humbird · #3 08/24/10, 07:12 PM

Hi Kim, thanks the gal at the fair told me that there used to be lots of Toggenbergs way back when but now people don;t have them anymore they are too small? I should have taken notes I guess LOL!

what are Mini-Nubians? I did not see them, don;t know what they are! Now do you like your Nigerians? Thanks!

Cannon_Farms · #4 08/24/10, 07:56 PM

I like the nigerian alpine or saanen cross because they keep the erect ears but some like the airplane ear look.
Im partial to the nigerians and I have had every breed but obers and alpines (which are kinda the same)
My nigerians give richer milk than any other goats I have had and make great cheese, and they give a pretty good amount even for there small size.

pygmybabies · #5 08/24/10, 08:16 PM

welcome, you came to the right place, i am still new so dont have lots of advice except read all you can and ask lots of ?s I didnt know all I thought I did when i brought mine home. go to www.fiascofarms.com ( i hope that is right) there might not be and "s" on it, which I would have found that site first.

Good luck

nehimama · #6 08/24/10, 08:18 PM

I really like the smaller size of the Nigerians. For an older person like me, they're easier to handle. They do eat less than their larger counterparts, and they do give less milk. However, it is rich & sweet.

Alice In TX/MO · #7 08/24/10, 09:04 PM

I vote for the mini varieties. A couple of mini-Nubians might really meet your needs!

Creamers · #8 08/24/10, 11:02 PM

2 of each - haa haa! No matter what you start with, lol, you're apt to end up with a few of this breed and that.

I like Nubians best.

humbird · #9 08/24/10, 11:26 PM

OK thanks all for all the help! I have done a lot of googling tonite! Well I have a couple more questions, how much milk does a Nubian give? And a Nigerian give? I found Nubians and Nigerians here in Minn but no Mini-nubians

Thanks Creamers ha ha I won;t get 2 of each I have seem the Lamachas I could never cut off the ears tho. Why do you like your Nubians best? I love Arabian horses, I am drawn to the Nubians I suppose because they are from the Egypt area too.

fitwind · #10 08/25/10, 12:27 AM

I love Nigerians..... they are perfect in size easy to handle and sweet.... seen some Mini Nubians they are cute too

Cannon_Farms · #11 08/25/10, 04:46 AM

are you thinking lamanchas have there ears cut off? they are born like that so no worries there.
I have one nigerian that gives a gallon a day and I have several that only give 3/4 and one that if you can get a quart out of her your doing good (per milking) so it really depends on the goat. my nubian I was able to get about a gallon and 3/4 out of per day, the saanans I have now give me about the same but I bought them when they where only being milked once a day. In comparison the nigerians are the more economical and hardy goats to go with.

mabeane · #12 08/25/10, 05:33 AM

Over the past 35 years I have had Toggenburgs (didn't like the milk flavor) Saanens (big and sweet), Oberhasli (mild and lots of average tasting milk), Nubians (loud, personable, wonderful creamy milk) and now in retirement have Nigies (miniature sized, excellent personality, people lovers, very mild temperment and the most delicious creamy milk milk)even better than Nubian milk. They don't give as much but they also don't eat as much.

motdaugrnds · #13 08/25/10, 07:37 AM

I have had Nubians, Alpines & Toggenburgs.

The best milk I have ever tasted came from my togg! She gave over (yes over) 2 gallons of milk a day. No her bag did not hang down. It was a perfect shape! I lost her before I discovered our local vets didn't know how to service goats ..... grrrrrr

Since I also enjoyed the richness of Nubian milk, I stayed with the Nubian breed. I enjoy large goats giving over 10 lbs daily for a 10-month lactation and these do!

wintrrwolf · #14 08/25/10, 09:27 AM

I love my Saanen, mini-saanen's, nigerian's, Nubian, and yes even the brat pygmyx. My nigi's and mini's may require less feed, but they think they should get as much as the big girls...
Now it is way easier to handle a nigi hoof trimming then a saanen hoof trimming, but my Saanen is much calmer then all of them.
Right now my Nubian is young and looks and acts like well a gazelle "see me run I can almost fly" "are you watching?" "Maaaameee"
I think you will end up trying a few different breeds...because goats are just plain ole fun to be around

KimM · #15 08/25/10, 10:06 AM

Mini-Nubian is a cross between a Nigerian and a Nubian. They're smaller than Nubians and larger than Nigeriens - think "medium" size. Since they both have the richest milk of all the goats, I, personally, would love to try the milk as I know that my ND's milk is just incrediably good.
You could get about a gallon a day from a Mini-Nube but that's my own guestimation.
Nubians are very large, loud and whiney....go check out a dairy goat show - follow the bellowing straight to the Nubians (but I'd still like to have one). ND's are mostly pretty quiet although I have some whiners too.
LaMancha's ears are not cut off, they are born that way. Did someone tell you that LM's ears need to be cut off?

Quote:

Originally Posted by humbird

OK thanks all for all the help! I have done a lot of googling tonite! Well I have a couple more questions, how much milk does a Nubian give? And a Nigerian give? I found Nubians and Nigerians here in Minn but no Mini-nubians

Thanks Creamers ha ha I won;t get 2 of each I have seem the Lamachas I could never cut off the ears tho. Why do you like your Nubians best? I love Arabian horses, I am drawn to the Nubians I suppose because they are from the Egypt area too.

thaiblue12 · #16 08/25/10, 10:06 AM

It also depends on how much room you have and what you are willing to spend on feed, how comfortable are you with a large goat getting in your stepping on your feet, can you milk small teats etc etc

My Nubians are fairly quite. My huge huge wether lays in the sun moans with every breath

my other one will get very upset if he is told No, pushed or smacked on his butt. He then proceeds to run around me crying like a big sissy. My doe is very quiet and loving.

I have one Nigerian who is loud at feeding time. But as a herd they are quiet for the most part. Cute friendly and do have lots of colors and patterns.

My mini Nubians as quiet and sweet and I do love them.

Why not find a Nubian doe and have her bred to a Nigerian dwarf buck and have your own mini Nubians? But you would need another goat to keep her company, maybe a Nigerian Dwarf. Maybe the person with the Nigie has buck service, it would not hurt to ask. This way you have a big and a small and will get meduim kids from the Nubian.

humbird · #17 08/25/10, 12:31 PM

Ok WOW thanks everyone for all the info it is a lot to think about! Everyone likes their goats it seems!
I didn't know the Lamachas came without ears i thought it was something they did like docking dog tails Well taht is good to know! I felt sorry for them, they looked sad

It is ok if they are loud we have 180 acres the house is in the middle and the cows are kind of loud they have been bellering a lot lately but nobody complaied! So lots of space and we are "willing" to spend whatever on feed just don't want to spend more than milk and cheese are worth, they should pay thier own way there

I have only had cats and horses step on my feet LOL so I hope a goat would be lighter than a horse!

Do the mini-Nubians also come in the different colors/spots like Nubians and nigerians I know they are for milk but I like to see pretty animals outside the cows are all on color so that's kind of boring too

Jay27 · #18 08/25/10, 02:48 PM

Lots of good Nigerian lines here in MN. Another plus is that Nigerians are not seasonal breeders like other breeds. This far north, most breeds only come into heat in the fall. Nigerians come into heat every 21 or so days and can be bred year-round. I can give you some names for quality Nigerians if you would like. Heck, I'd sell you some, but I am still building my herd.

wintrrwolf · #19 08/25/10, 03:24 PM

nigi's come in all forms of color and patterns. My black and white doe just had twins one is chocolate with white and beige, the other is white with black and chocolate spots.
Since mini nubians are part nigi I would say yeah you'll be surprised. No goats arent as big as a horse but dang if it didnt feel like my saanen broke my toe this morning...

shanzone2001 · #20 08/25/10, 04:05 PM

I prefer the Alpines and Saanens, simply because they are bigger. To me, they have the best temperment if you start socializing with them from birth.
I do have a Nubian-Alpine cross and she is cute. I am looking forward to seeing what my Saanen doe kids...I bought her already bred to a Nubian.
I had a few Nigerians for a while and while they are the cutest kids, they aren't as good looking once they are full-sized (just my opinion).

Milk goats are so much fun. I wonder how many you will have this time next year....they are VERY addicting, and with all the land you have, you have NO excuse not to have lots!:banana02: