Getting into Goats

[Uncle JD]

Shalom,

I am really wanting to get into goats. I'm not sure if I would sell them at a sale barn or anything, but I would really love to make cheese with goat's milk. Any advice on a good breed to start out with? Hopefully good disposition, and easy to take care of while I learn. I think I would start with not more than three. Maybe just two. Thoughts anyone?

Blessings,
jd

[Alice In TX/MO]

Two does. LaMancha goats are easy going. Saanens give LOTS of milk.

You need to spend some time learning about goat care, fencing, feeding, and diseases before you start shopping. There are a couple of diseases that you need to BE SURE the goats you are looking at DO NOT HAVE!!!

I recommend you spend some time at the following website:
http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm

Disease is a BIG ISSUE!! Study and shop for a while before purchasing goats, and you'll save yourself money and heartache.

[Uncle JD]

Shalom Alice,

Awesome, Thank you very much.

blessings,
jd

[mekasmom]

Oberhaslis are my favorites. LaMancha's have wonderful personalities too, but are more expensive to start out buying.
Both Nubians and Saanans give lots of milk, but I prefer the oberhasli (swill alpine) personality.

[julieq]

They don't give as much milk but my vote's for the Nigerian Dwarf as a starter goat!

[LoneStrChic23]

Hi there! I just got started this year and I think I got off to a great start. First keep in mind that odds are slim that you will not get a good milking doe, from a clean heard for under $100, but when starting your herd, going cheap is soooooo not the way to go. (My aunt tried this and had been doing nothing but doctoring & medicating her goats and has got nothing out of them). There are times to penny pinch, but when starting out get the best you can afford.

Study up on diseases like CAE & CL. When buying stock don't just take the breeders word for it that the goats are clean and CAE/CL free....ask for documentation to prove it. Steer clear of sale barns....extremely high chance of buying diseased stock and there is no way for you to know if the goats have diseases like CAE & CL unless you blood test them.

I started out with 2 bred miniature alpine does (one is mine, one is my moms....they room together until botg of us can afford more does)...this way I didn't have to wait for kids to mature to breeding age, and I don't have to own my own buck for a while. Not to mention I get milk much sooner. If I had my own buck, I would need a separate pen for him, plus a wether or another buck as a companion (goats must always have a companion)....so that means extra $ out out on housing, plus at least 2 extra mouths to feed.....Just wasn't reasonable for me, so buying pregnant girls worked out great for us. We recently added another doe, standard size alpine and she is also pregnant

As for breeds....everyone has a favorite and you'll get SEVERAL opinions there. The miniature breeds are what we started with for the kids....Nigerian Dwarfs are the smallest and usually have very high butterfat content to their milk.....the mini dairy breeds are a cross between the nigerian and a full sized dairy breed (nubians, alpines, toggs, la manchas ect. ect) My mini alpine girls are a bit smaller than a full sized dairy goat and bigger than a nigerian. They require less space, and if you buy stock from someone with great milking lines, they produce a respectable amount of milk that usually has a high butterfat content.

My vote always goes to Alpines though.... I grew up with standard alpines and love the breed On average they are high volume milkers (we had a doe as a kid who averaged 2 gallons a day), I love their personalities and you can get several pretty color varieties. Nubians are known to be loud and most I've encountered have been....on average they usually don't milk out the quantities breeds like Saanens & Alpines do, but they're not far behind on amounts and their milk usually has a higher butterfat content. Same goes for La Manchas.....and la manchas are known for their sweet, quiet dispositions... Of course, there are always goats who don't fit with what's typical of the breed.

If I were to choose a second breed to go with besides my alpines, I'd choose la manchas.

And keep in mind you don't have to go with a pure bred.....several people cross dairy breeds and get great milkers

The breed you choose is not nearly as important as getting clean, healthy animals from the very begining.... it will save you so much stress in the long run.

Best Wishes,
Crystal
http://noodlevilleadventures.blogspot.com

[Oat Bucket Farm]

Like others have said, find disease free stock and don't just assume that because they show or they have a really nice website, that the animals are free of disease. Be aware that a site saying they raise CAE prevention does not mean they have CAE negative stock and have the paperwork to prove it.

I personally am a fan of the LaMancha. They come in a variety of colors, they are good producers with long level lactations. They have more butterfat than the swiss breed but less than the Nubians. They are quiet with wonderful personalities.

I used to have a Nubians and while I still think they are pretty, I find them much more attractive when they are in someone elses barn and I don't have to listen to them or deal with them. They do have good butterfat though, come in a variety of colors and babies with the long puppy dog ears are typically easy to sell.

Saanen's are considered the gentle giants of the goat world and they milk tons. I have heard Obers are smaller but produce well and have good temperments. They and the Saanens don't come in a variety of colors.

Alpines are graceful and beautiful and come in variety of colors. They milk well and if I went with a second breed of goat, I would definitely have to consider Alpines.

The ND and mini breeds are nice, a lot of people like their smaller size. They come in lots of colors. I personally prefer the full size goats but just as a personal preference and not because they ND or minis are lacking in anyway.

[wintrrwolf]

Lots of good advise given one what to check for when getting your first goats. So gonna skip that part and go to what I know of the breeds I have.
If you are only wanting a couple of goats and cheese making is what you are wanting to do...
Nubian would be a good choice, higher butterfat content. Saanen give ALLOT of milk but really all its pretty much good for is drinking, unless you want to invest in a cream seperator yadda yadda because I have not been able to make decent cheese or butter from my saanen's milk, but drinkablity is great and so is a gallon plus a day!!
my Nigerian gave a thick creamy milk that would have been good for cheese and such but she only gave me a cup to cup in a half per milking so would have to have several nigi's or save and save for enough to try to make cheese.
Haven't had the pleasure yet to trying my nubian's milk, waiting for her to kid and freshen.

[Becca]

I have Sables, They are mellow, quite and so sweet and live lots of yummy milk.
They are a Saanen with color.
If i didn't have Sables i would have LaManchas.

[LaManchaPaul]

LaMancha.... LaMancha..yes
You've lots of advise here. As many have said, whatever you choose, get disease free.

Read and re-read about CL and CAE. I hope that you enjoy goats as much as I do. Best.