Why are minis and dwarfs so dang expensive!!

[TeenyTinyFarm]

I mean really! I keep an eye on CL for all kinds of stuff. I am always running across ads for minis and dwarfs kids for sale, unregistered and unproven and when I inquire they are untested. And they want $300 to $350 for the does! Then there is a constant supply of standard size does, unregistered, for $35 that they are begging to get rid of at the local dairies. Are the minis and dwarfs so expensive because they are such a pet fad. It seems I could find a registered standard from proven milking lines that comes from a tested herd in the $300 to $350 range. I would love to have a mini Nubian, but the prices seem absurd for what you are getting!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Supply and demand. There just aren't many of them.

[Goats Galore]

I do not have mini's, but have chosen "small" pure nubians. Actually you can sometimes get a good deal because they are smaller than most people are looking for. One of our does who will deliver in April (second time) is around 70 to 75# and such a good milker. Her first delivery was a single buckling who weighed in at 4 pounds. I am happy with looks, milk and disposition. Though mini's are popular, choosing a small package might be an option to consider.

[nehimama]

As mentioned, I think a large part of it may be the "pet" attraction. If they've got blue eyes, watch for the prices to be even more absurd.

[Squeaky McMurdo]

Ehhemhemhem Goat explosion sale If you don't mind paying for shipping, the gal I got my mini nubian and mini sannen from had 35 doelings and yearlings does for sale with more babies expected CAE and CL tested mothers. $100 to get them moved along. Many of her goats have been shown too. Koolkidz is her herd name. She offers a multiple goat discount too so I spent $150 on some wonderful little girls from milky mamies.





Why yes. I am an enabler

[nehimama]

My MiniManchas are medium-range pricey because I breed carefully for conformation, udders, temperaments. Blue eyes are a bonus!

[IndyGardenGal]

Honestly, I'm suspicious of cheap goats. I would worry about people selling at higher prices to cash in on novelty, without being adamant about good conformation.

[BlueRose]

This is why I decided to go with full size. Can't afford minis.

[TeenyTinyFarm]

Originally Posted by nehimama

My MiniManchas are medium-range pricey because I breed carefully for conformation, udders, temperaments. Blue eyes are a bonus!

And I would pay for that! I just see these that have lousy udders and tiny teets and I am like "what! $350 for that!"

[2happymamas]

I wonder if it's regional. I am in Indiana and some of the really nice mini-nubians (registered) are $250-350. $250 is pretty standard and the best in the herd go for a little more.

We have mini-nubians and mini-saanens and will be selling both come kidding in June

[TeenyTinyFarm]

It might be a regional thing. I don't really thing of NC as a heavy agricultural state. The area I am in is urban with smatterings of rural. We are trying to homestead (for ourselves, not commercially) on two acres. In our region some people get a couple of chickens and a little nigi to milk cause it's the fad or whatever. But then the hens stop laying and they don't have the guts to put it in the stew pot, so shelters here have chickens in them, LOL! I guess it is demand from some of the uppity's around here encouraging folks to breed minis and nigi's to subpar standards and charge an arm and a leg because people are willing to pay.

[Backfourty,MI.]

We also raise mini nubians, I think I price ours very reasonable. Have ours disease tested & the does' I milk are excellent milkers in my opinion. The 1st gen. I have had the longest & last year easily 6 pounds a day & she's easy to milk. Teats not too big or too small.
I like the mini's because they are more mid size, less feed I less space needed than the standard size.
We'll have kids for sale this spring & I might even have a doe in milk for sale but will have to see.

[cnsranch]

I too don't understand the cost I would rather sell them to a good home cheaper than have to feed them all winter. I have 2 Kinder does and 1 kinder buck available. They came from CAE free stock but I will be sending blood in next week for moms and dad..just to be sure and have the records.they also came from heavy milking stock I am selling the does for 125.00 and the buck for 100.00 and if he doesn't sell by 3 months old I will wether him and sell for 50.00 and if he doesn't sell by fall he will go in the freezer.i also have a non papered not kinder buck that I will wether and sell for 50.00. Do those prices sound reasonable?

[Alice In TX/MO]

Sounds like you are giving them away.

[Frosted Mini's]

I have not found prices for quality Nigerians to be any different than quality standard breed goats. Quality mini's are much harder to move at pretty dang low prices, I have found thus far, which is really disappointing, as I love them most and wish others would as well!