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05/06/11, 05:27 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 371
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Cont. Third Goat Breed: Down to Alpine or Saneen
So, the choice is between an Alpine doe or a Saneen doe just because of what seems to be available from good CLEAN herds right now.
Anyway, first is Peek-a-boo and show-goat, who milks at her peak 2 gallons a day. She is sweet but can get a little pushy. She's also $300 because she has done really well in the show ring which, doesn't really matter to us because we are looking for a family milker to add to an already small herd. She's two and this next season will be her second round with pregnancy.
The other option is a dry yearling whom is a Saneen doe. They milk their does once a day and get a gallon from them. Pictures are in route. But they only want $150 for this doe and if we get her bred from their buck an extra $50 breeding fee. They don't show their does only milk them. And right now they are raising sheep and selling off their herd.
Anyway, what do you think? Alpine or Saneen. Remember we have an Alpine already, and her milk is phenomenal!
The other thing is I know saneen's have pretty low butterfat to their milk. Can I do yogurt and cheese with their milk?
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05/06/11, 05:59 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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Is the Alpine in milk right now or dry?
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05/06/11, 06:09 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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Saanen. Saanen. Saanen.
Saaaaaah-nin. <----pronunciation. 
__________________
Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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05/06/11, 06:13 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,244
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Saanen
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05/06/11, 06:15 PM
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Show us your teats!!
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Northeast Tennessee
Posts: 721
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Another vote for a Saanen. Of course I am biased.
Hey - what no LaMachas?!!
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05/06/11, 06:22 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: central south dakota
Posts: 4,096
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another saanen here! i love my girls and its funny, that was the one breed i wasn't interested in, now have nothing else!! and oh yeah, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, all from saanens. mmmm.
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05/06/11, 06:32 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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I love my Saanen/LaMancha cross very much. Have repeated that breeding this year and added a Saanen/Alpine cross. Kids due within a week.
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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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05/06/11, 06:56 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 371
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rechellef
Another vote for a Saanen. Of course I am biased.
Hey - what no LaMachas?!!
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I have a LaMancha too!!!
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05/06/11, 06:56 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 371
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LoneStrChic23
Is the Alpine in milk right now or dry?
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They're both dry right now. But we're okay with that because our Alpine is in milk right now so, it's a good opportunity for alternating milk for year-round milk
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05/06/11, 07:18 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Vermont
Posts: 984
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Do you know how much the saanen's dam was milking? I would go with whichever you think will be a better milker.
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05/06/11, 08:31 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Kansas
Posts: 6,143
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Don't you already have an Alpine and a LaMancha? Can't remember on the Alpine. If you already have an Alpine, go with the Saanen if you want more mixture to your herd.
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05/07/11, 12:33 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 371
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yep we already have an alpine. I think the Saanen would be the bigger milker because her mom milked a gallon a day at one sitting. But, I love the look of the alpines that's what is drawing me away from the all white.
Such a tough decision. 
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05/07/11, 02:06 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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I dunno if I would pay $300 for the Alpine dry...guess I would have to see her.
I'm biased because of my girls and vote Alpine, but personally I'd probably try to talk the price down a bit.....unless she had a good show record and milking stars or something of that nature. Was the Alpine milked regularly, or did she just raise kids? If she's already milk stand trained, that's a big bonus in my book.
Have you met the goats in person yet? If not, then choose the one who is easiest to handle. I'm not a fan of solid white and love the Alpine colors.....But, Saanens are known for their gentle dispositions so that could totally make up for lack of color...Cant milk color anyways, so that should be on the bottom of the list of priorities...
Either way, rest easy knowing that odds are good you'll have a great future milker, no matter who you choose
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05/07/11, 07:33 AM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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I didn't think the white appealed at first, but the personality of the Saanens is an appeal. My Saanen cross is SO serene. Love her to pieces.
__________________
Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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05/07/11, 09:02 AM
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Pook's Hollow
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,570
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Saanens do not have low butterfat!  Like any other goat, it's a combination of their individual genetics and the stage of their lactation. They may not be as high as Nubians, but they're as good as Alpines or LaManchas.
I love my Saanens. I've never had one be difficult on the milkstand, even the first fresheners - unlike my Nubian, my LaMancha . . .  . They love to milk through, and I've never had one reject a kid - in fact, mine tend to let other does' kids nurse. (Had an Alpine try to kill her newborn doeling  ) They're calm, intelligent, affectionate and wonderful milkers.
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"Crivens!" 
Half Caper Farm - breeding Saanens, Boers and Nigerian Dwarfs
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05/07/11, 11:15 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 371
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Well here is a picture of the Saanen yearlings. On the right hand side are the two does available. You can see the buck in the back whom they would be bred to. Their mom milks a gallon and a half a day but they were also only milking her once a day. They are asking $200 and that's including the breeding fee:
Here are the pictures the seller sent me of Peek-a-bee her Alpine doe. She is two years old and the seller said she just had bad timing with a buck this year so she couldn't breed and so she is selling her. This is a good shot of her udder:
This her at the show:
And her with her three kids last year:
She also said her milkstand manners are good but since she didn't get bred this season that she will need some refreshing. I don't think they milked her regularly only for show purposes.
Last edited by Kye022984; 05/07/11 at 11:19 AM.
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05/07/11, 03:29 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 1,694
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Based on the pictures: The Saanen.
Bsed on the History: The Saanen. When a doe doesn't get bred, such as the Alpine, that can be a red flag....You don't want to have reproductive problems on your hands.
I would also want the consistency on the milk stand. At least the Saanen folks milk once a day, not just for show purposes. Also, Saanens rarely need a "refresher" on the milk stand - once they have been being milked they just love jumping up on that milkstand for milking.
The Alpine is pretty - but she ain't a Saanen! LOL
Based on our own prejudices, which seemed to be shared by many here - Saanen. They are just amazing animals - sweet, affectionate, hardworking. Most everyone loves the personality and work ethic of a Saanen.
Plus the Saanen has a better price.
??? Are they planning to breed the Saanen now? If they can get a Saanen bred in May we sure would all like to know the secret! ROFLOL. Or are they offering the breeding come breeding season? (That would make more sense).
__________________
Camille
Copper Penny Ranch
Copper Penny Boer Goats (home of 4 National Champions, 4 Reserve Champions)
Copper Penny Pyrenees
Whey-to-Go Saanens
www.copper-penny-ranch.com
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05/07/11, 03:58 PM
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: outside of Huntsville, Alabama
Posts: 908
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My vote would go to the Saanen. I will take livestock from a milking herd over a show herd any day, whatever the breed. Also, "can get a little pushy" is a red flag to me.
-Sonja
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05/07/11, 04:05 PM
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Enabler!
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: CO
Posts: 3,865
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Saanen, plain white goats need love too lol
The herd looks good, the price is good and it includes a breeding, you already have an Alpine so do something different.
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You may not copy my posts or pictures without my consent on this board or any other.
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05/07/11, 04:05 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 371
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Quote:
Originally Posted by copperpennykids
Based on the pictures: The Saanen.
Bsed on the History: The Saanen. When a doe doesn't get bred, such as the Alpine, that can be a red flag....You don't want to have reproductive problems on your hands.
I would also want the consistency on the milk stand. At least the Saanen folks milk once a day, not just for show purposes. Also, Saanens rarely need a "refresher" on the milk stand - once they have been being milked they just love jumping up on that milkstand for milking.
The Alpine is pretty - but she ain't a Saanen! LOL
Based on our own prejudices, which seemed to be shared by many here - Saanen. They are just amazing animals - sweet, affectionate, hardworking. Most everyone loves the personality and work ethic of a Saanen.
Plus the Saanen has a better price.
??? Are they planning to breed the Saanen now? If they can get a Saanen bred in May we sure would all like to know the secret! ROFLOL. Or are they offering the breeding come breeding season? (That would make more sense).
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The saanen would be bred now. I asked him if they were ready to breed and he said "yep, they are driving my bucks crazy right now." And when I asked how come they haven't been bred yet he said "we are trying to get out of our saanen and focus more on the sheep but also we were waiting for the saanens to be big and grown before we did anything." The saanen girls are only a year old.
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