whatcha think

wannalive · #1 10/05/13, 01:21 AM

we currently have 2 goats.. wife brought home one day a few months ago. Im not real sure what breed.. im assuming kinder, as the guy told her pygmy crossed with Nubian... but anyway.. I am looking at growing my herd.. I am mostly interested in meat, but wifey says she wants to milk(I personaly don't think she will get into it). so im having trouble deciding what breed to go with.. so what you you all recommend, the pasture will be roughly a acre and a half.. half being flat ground(grass) the other being hill woods... thanks

Alice In TX/MO · #2 10/05/13, 07:09 AM

Breed doesn't really matter. You need to research breeds and decide what you like.

What DOES matter is disease. Have the current goats tested for CAE. Run your hands all over them, feeling for knots/abscesses that would indicate CL. Dispose of any positive testing goats.

Ask any herd owner you are buying from if she tests annually for CAE. If the answer is no or she doesn't understand the question, leave that farm and don't go back.

If any herd owner is casual about CL, leave that farm and don't go back.

Getting healthy stock far outweighs breed selection.

Backfourty,MI. · #3 10/05/13, 07:23 AM

Exactly what Alice said! So many times I've read about a HT members new goats & how excited they are, they fall in love with their new goat & then find out later it's got a disease & their heartbroken.
Please buy from tested herds. Even with meat herds it's best to have disease free healthy goats!
Your wife may really like milking. I never thought I'd like it but LOVE it, it's my time with the girls & we love the milk.

wintrrwolf · #4 10/05/13, 09:03 AM

Weeelll you have 2 goats now a kinder breed will most likely meet your meat needs, if you think she will not really get into milking then no worries. But if she does.. start training them for the milking stand now it will go much better when they are in milk. Some will say that you can milk ANYthing.
With increasing your herd as stated above always check for the health issues ALWAYS it will save you heartbreak later on, and yes you pretty much get what you pay for.
You stated you have 2 goats are they both doe's? Cause if you breed them then you can start increasing your herd that way...
I have found in my own experience in the past you can milk them they may or may not provide as much or as long but if milk isn't the priority then stick with what you have.

Doug Hodges · #5 10/05/13, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backfourty,MI.

Exactly what Alice said! So many times I've read about a HT members new goats & how excited they are, they fall in love with their new goat & then find out later it's got a disease & their heartbroken.
Please buy from tested herds. Even with meat herds it's best to have disease free healthy goats!
Your wife may really like milking. I never thought I'd like it but LOVE it, it's my time with the girls & we love the milk.

We bought two milk goats because my wife wanted the milk for our upcoming child and family health. Now I do all the milking and I love it. I milk three a day. Two Nubians and a Lamancha. I love the time with all the goats.

wannalive · #6 10/05/13, 02:25 PM

no, its is a doe and buck... and im not sure they are kider.. just assuming.. as he said pygmy and Nubian.. but I don't really know... and maybe she will enjoy milking.. heck I might...

wannalive · #7 10/05/13, 02:26 PM

can you test for cae at home.. or draw blood and send it in.. or do you have to take goats to vet

Doug Hodges · #8 10/05/13, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannalive

can you test for cae at home.. or draw blood and send it in.. or do you have to take goats to vet

Draw blood at home. Send it in to bio tracking. Cost is $4 per test. Plus I ship priority mail. Go to the website. Print off the paperwork. Follow directions. Very simple.

Backfourty,MI. · #9 10/05/13, 09:27 PM

Here is a pretty good video showing how to draw your own blood.
Alice has showed one where a 9 year old girl draws the blood but I couldn't find that video.

LFRJ · #10 10/07/13, 12:00 AM

If you have Kinders, you have both meat and milkers! Or at least that's what the breed was intended for - dual purpose - though as Alice says - any breed will do.
We have kinders. We have one terrific milker - nice high butterfat, and they are meaty little devils, though smaller in stature = you can't compare with the output of Boers, et al - but they pack enough on their smaller frames such that you can't complain - particularly from the feed conversion angle, and on that point (feed - to hanging weight) I'm told they compare quite well to their heavy weight colleagues.