I want mini manchas

LearningLife · #1 11/11/14, 04:21 PM

I've been looking at minis, wondering about how they would compare to our current herd of all NDs. I love our girls, and I do prefer smaller animals, but I've been giving serious consideration to the possibility of eventually moving toward a herd of minis. I really like the idea of keeping fewer animals while increasing milk output. (And maybe I love lamanchas.) If I decide to go this direction, it won't be immediately. I have too many girls to whom I am too attached to downsize drastically right now, and I kind of even love our bucks. I'm pretty much just thinking out loud (?) right now, but if you have any input or experience in the best ways to transition a herd, I'd love to hear them.

dozedotz · #2 11/11/14, 04:31 PM

First, you need to talk to Nehimama!! Second, we transitioned from Kinders to full sized Nubians. Not difficult at all. We had chosen big, milky Nubian does for the Kinder moms and we just kept them...added a few of the more modern Nubian girls for people who want the "less bone, more neck" look. It was hard letting our fabulous Pygmy boy go...we are in MO and went all the way to Alabama to get him as a baby. He was and still is a real looker!!! He is in a great home - the same one we sold him to - and they love him, too, so that helped the transition. We then purchased two Nubian boys from different parts of the country (Tennessee and Texas) who had some great breeding that blended very nicely with each other and the girls. The end. Not hard at all.

Cannon_Farms · #3 11/11/14, 04:32 PM

how about a mini mancha buck that is smaller ? how big are your does?

Cannon_Farms · #4 11/11/14, 04:43 PM

if you get a lamancha doe you can get a smaller bred one then by the time you cross one you will have a whole mini herd before you know it

SJSFarm · #5 11/12/14, 08:14 PM

I started with LaMancha and moved to MiniManchas.

Since you have the Nigerian Dwarf now, get a pair of LaMancha does and use your bucks on them. Since you like the nd, you will probably want to keep as close to a 50/50 as you can.
Use a second quality buck on those girls again, and a MiniMancha buck on their off spring. You will have a herd before you know it!

Become a member of the mini dairy goat association, and you should be able to find some MiniMancha near you.