1/2 Toggenburg 1/2 Saanen

crookedoak · #1 07/04/12, 12:48 PM

Has anybody ever had an 1/2 Toggenburg 1/2 Saanen does and what was the milk and personality like.
thanks
Erin

PNP Katahdins · #2 07/04/12, 12:56 PM

A Saanenburg?

CJBegins · #3 07/04/12, 12:58 PM

I have a togg/ Alpine/ saanen doe. She is a doll and milks well. Dora was bottle raised and can be goofy but once she learns what is expected of her, that is what she does. This is my first milk goat and first goat's milk so I don't have any experience to compare her to but it tastes really good.

Cliff · #4 07/04/12, 01:01 PM

Toggs in general make strong (which means goaty tasting when discussing goat milk) tasting milk. They were bred for cheese-making milk. I personally have never known anyone who had one who could stand the milk. I wouldn't touch a togg or togg cross with a 10 ft pole. But I'm very sensitive to that goaty taste in milk, can't stand it. You might not be so sensitive.

In general for the full-sized breeds (there can be individual differences) Nubian and Lamancha are the most dependable about producing reliably good milk. I can't say with experience about Lamanchas, but I've had a good variety of the other breeds milk and for me Nubian is best. Lamancha is supposed to be as good or better than Nubian.

But like I said in your other thread, taste the milk before you buy. You don't want to fall in love with a goat then be stuck with a stinky awful milk maker. There's no way to fix that.

Zilli · #5 07/04/12, 01:07 PM

I have a "Saanenburg" and she's awesome. Really, just the sweetest, calmest old gal you can imagine.

But I tend to think that anything with Saanen is pretty wonderful.

She has been retired from milking for years but I don't remember there being any issues with the taste of her milk. And I do remember her being pretty much perfectly behaved on the milk stand, too.

I know some people say the Togg milk is "strong," but my very first goats many years ago (over thirty) were Toggs (registered, purebred) and I don't remember any issues with their milk, either.

I have a yearling Samancha who is very loving and sweet and affectionate, too. While her mom (the Lamancha) is a great girl, she doesn't have quite the affectionate nature her daughter has. Zoey loves nothing more than to have me bend over so she can cuddle her cheek up against mine. I chalk that up to the Saanen half of her. LOL

Seriously, I know there are exceptions, but I think that cross should make you happy.

Cliff · #6 07/04/12, 01:14 PM

I noticed you said in your other thread that your husband is really picky about his milk. I would definitely say no to the togg in that case.

crookedoak · #7 07/04/12, 01:40 PM

He is very picky. That is the one thing I haven't be able to break him of is his milk. Lol
I just came across an ad for this cross and they also have the lamanchas. I have only ever been around nubians at other peoples farms. I also want a friendly goat, one that doesn't run to the hills when they see you coming.

cathleenc · #8 07/04/12, 01:43 PM

Try the lamanchas is my advice.

I had a toggensan and she was a total sweetheart of a goat - and had stronger tasting milk when it was hot out.

Cliff · #9 07/04/12, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crookedoak

He is very picky. That is the one thing I haven't be able to break him of is his milk. Lol
I just came across an ad for this cross and they also have the lamanchas. I have only ever been around nubians at other peoples farms. I also want a friendly goat, one that doesn't run to the hills when they see you coming.

Any trained milker won't run for the hills when they see you coming unless she's just been abused or something. Goats are really really greedy lol. They know where the feed comes from.

Zilli · #10 07/04/12, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crookedoak

He is very picky. That is the one thing I haven't be able to break him of is his milk. Lol
I just came across an ad for this cross and they also have the lamanchas. I have only ever been around nubians at other peoples farms. I also want a friendly goat, one that doesn't run to the hills when they see you coming.

If they're a reputable place, and one that treats their animals well and takes good care of them, then the goats will be used to being handled and being around people, so "running for the hills" shouldn't be a problem.

Mine have all been bottle raised and the only time they "run for the hills" is when they escape the fence and they want to torture me for a little while. All in good fun, though (or so they think).

I would go take a look at them. Try to go around milking time (if they are milking any that they are selling) so you can see how they behave on the stand (it would suck to get a stinker on the stand as your first goat milking experience) and taste the milk of any doe you might be interested in.

coso · #11 07/04/12, 03:42 PM

I'm milking a Sannenburg right now. Milk is fine just doesn't have the BF as my Lamanchas. She is milking like a freight train for a FF too !!!

Zilli · #12 07/04/12, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coso

I'm milking a Sannenburg right now. Milk is fine just doesn't have the BF as my Lamanchas. She is milking like a freight train for a FF too !!!

Funny how our experiences can be so different, huh?

The only time I remember having a problem with my Toggs' milk was when the buck got in with the does. And when I got my Toggs, I had never tasted goat milk before that and I think that would have made me even more sensitive to an overly strong taste.

I had a boyfriend at the time who loved Amaretto and he introduced me to the joys of Amaretto.......and goat milk.

I have heard some people say they can't stand the taste of Alpine milk and others who wouldn't have any other breed (I've never had Alpines myself so can't attest to that one way or another).

Sometimes I wonder if a lot of it doesn't have to do with location and what is available in the way of feed.

Congratulations on the freight train FF. When I bought my Lamancha doe two years ago, she was a FF and gave me a whopping quart a day. Now, seven weeks into her third lactation, she's giving between 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 pounds per milking, with one 7 pound milking a couple of weeks ago (yes, I weigh each milking LOL).