Goat housing

[annabelle333]

Good point! I haven't talked to my husband about the barn plans yet, he is working so I am sure he will have ideas about that part when he gets back.

 

[babsbag]

yes, @Southern by choice, the dairy is my way of justifying my addiction, lets just hope it doesn't cost me my marriage is the process. Worse than building a house, and I have done that too.

However it did take me 7 years to go from 3 goats to 30 goats (not counting kids), the trick to is to try and limit the number of breeds you own. I have mostly Alpine, so an Alpine buck is needed. Then came the Toggs, don't care for the milk so no more, only the one. Then added LaManchas to increase butterfat in the milk so I think I need an LM buck...so unless I send these kids to Southern the buck I have to use next year is related so that won't work. And I just got a Nigi buck so I can breed and hopefully sell minis. They add up quickly.

 

[Bossroo]

I'm with Southern for anti deep litter ... it may save some work for a time , but sooner or later it will cause you so much huffing and puffing and when you finally clean out the barn. The original idea for formica counter tops came from this compacted manure experience. Why oh why Nigerian dwarf goats ? Money loosing venture from the word go ! I get 1 or 2 almost every year from folks that finally give up on them for free and I get the bbq benefits. I would raise a dairy breed if I wanted to get milk or a meat type goat if I want to eat the meat.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I'm with Southern for anti deep litter ... it may save some work for a time , but sooner or later it will cause you so much huffing and puffing and when you finally clean out the barn. The original idea for formica counter tops came from this compacted manure experience. Why oh why Nigerian dwarf goats ? Money loosing venture from the word go ! I get 1 or 2 almost every year from folks that finally give up on them for free and I get the bbq benefits. I would raise a dairy breed if I wanted to get milk or a meat type goat if I want to eat the meat.

One day you are an expert on sheep, the next day cattle, the next rabbits and then horses.

Seems one time your necropsied a killer whale didn't you?

Now, you are telling folks what kind of goats they should buy?

You are a real jack of all trades. '

Master of none?

 

[Ridgetop]

The deep litter system is not for everyone. I am in southern California so don't use it often. BUT the years we had El Nino we had somuch water coming that it was the only thing that kept our goats and sheep up out of the water. The ground was so soaked that it couldn't absorb any more. If we hadn't used the deep litter system that year we would have probably lost most of our herd. Lke I said the water stood 2"deep on the barn floor. And in the spring we didn't have a tractor so it all had to be shoveled out into wheelbarrows and hand carried out! Our barn is on the side of a ridge, 4' lower than the main driveway so everything has to come up by hand. Now we have a tractor, but because of the barn location we still can't use it to clean out the
barn! My back still remembers those winters. I just cleaned our smallbarn yesterday and took out 5 large garbage cans full of berries, straw and wasted hay. The good thing is it makes wonderful mulch for my garden and wi save back labor this summer on weeding and save water wunde we are on water rationing because of drought.


Therry:
That is another thing to keep in mind, have an opening large enough to get at least a small garden tractor in!

 

[Southern by choice]

Why oh why Nigerian dwarf goats ? Money loosing venture from the word go !

She is using the Nigie to do mini's.
First Nigerian Dwarfs are a legitimate dairy goat not a meat goat. Although there is a wide range when it comes to production a well bred Nigie can be an excellent producer.

The mini's have been around for some time but now just getting some attention.
When people look up dairy goats it has always been the normal Standard breeds listed and then only one small breed is listed which is the dwarf.

The mini's are getting more attention because they are a small goat which people want BUT can produce as well as many standard breeds. Of course there being a range...
If I can have a 60 lb goat that stands at 23-24 inches and gives me 3 qts a day in milk eats very little and is far easier on the land then it is a no brainer. There are many that just don't want big goats but want more than a Nigie can give.

Not all families can utilize 1 gallon + per day but may need more than 1 1/2qts.-2 qts.

Although my family can utilize 3-4 gallons per day that is not the norm. We have Nigies, Minis, and Standards.
As breeders we care more about the end needs of the people. For some the Nigies are the absolute perfect goat, others a mini and yet others a standard.

Most people will still keep 2 goats in milk at a time. 2Nigies can give 3qts- 1 gallon per day (good milkers).... for many that is the perfect amount. Year round breeders that rarely ever have issues with mastitis, best feed conversion.... a lot can be said for the Nigi.

Why get more goat then you need?

In our region there is a great market for Nigies.
Anything from true milkers to pets. It is up to the breeders of the goats to be honest and if they have low producers and more pets than they will promote them for what they are.

 

[Ridgetop]

What is the difference between minis and nigerians? I thought Nigerians were minis? What are the expected yeilds from each?

 

[OneFineAcre]

What is the difference between minis and nigerians? I thought Nigerians were minis? What are the expected yeilds from each?

Mini's are crosses between Nigerians and Standards. What I see the most of are Mini-Mancha's and Mini-Nubians, although there are some of all of the standards.
ADGA is a strictly purebred herd book for Nigerians, but there is an organization called the Miniature Dairy Goat Breeders Association that maintains a herd book for these.

 

[Southern by choice]

http://www.miniaturedairygoats.net/

or the "MDGA"

Having all 3 Nigies, Minis, and Standards I can honestly say there is a wide range for all.

First several factors are to be considered.
~ First freshener, second, third
~how many kids- a single, twins, trips, quads
~parent stock
~ how many times per day milking
~pulling kids at birth or dam raising

Nigies can really range from pet quality to true milker.
Some Nigies as FF may give 1 quart a day. But 2nd freshening may yield 1 1/2 or 2. Keep in mind it is not just the yield but the duration of lactation. 2 quarts would be on the high end and not all Nigiies will give that.

For example you may have a Nigie as a FF that gives 1 1/2 qts a day... that is great but what if that Nigie burns out in 5 months... not a long enough lactation cycle IMO.

Now take a Nigie that gives 1 qt as FF or close to it but stayes in milk for 10 months.

I'd take the second. LOL With the hopes that 2nd and 3rd Freshenings will produce more.

A Mini-
minis aare very different as you have generations that you are dealing with to get a mini that meets the mini standard.
So for an F-1 generation... meaning first generation where you have the Standard breed doe bred to a Nigerian buck you will have generally a small goat with pretty good lactation.
2nd generations and so on are for perfecting the standard for that mini. IOW I do mimi manchas... there are EARS on Nigies, yet Gopher ears on Lamanchas the face is also different.... 1st and often 2nd gens will give elf ears and the faces may still be dished.

I like the f-1's the most because I find the milk to be the best. a 50/50 gives great butterfat!

Mini's depending on generation... I will stick to first and 2nd gen will give 2 qts a day as FF and with consecutive freshenings will increase. A good Lamancha mini will give 3qts- 1gallon per day.
Small goat less feed great milk and productivity.

I know several mini breeders that have f-5 f-6's and they produce well over 1 gallon a day... BUT the goats are larger....

We want our minis to actually remain mini... as some go further into f-6 generation etc those minis may not stay so mini. LOL
Basically it is breeding all the Nigie out except size to get the miniature version of the standard breed.

With mini's like with any others starting out with good stock is important.

Minis production and output will be dependent on the breed. I imagine a Mini Sanaan can give ALOT of milk as Standard Sanaans generally give 2 gallons a day.

Standards-
Depends also on the breed!
One of our lamancha does dam gives 16lbs (2 gallons) day. She is on the DHIR program... the breeder that we have gotten several of our lamanchas from has always done LA and DHIR. She no longer shows.

Our standard lamnchas are young and are giving 1 gallon per day... they should increase some next freshening.

Our Nubian gives 1 1/2 gallons a day... she is a larger goat. We bred her for mini's (not our focus though) and we will moniter her mini does production once she kids.

Lamanchas generally don't produce as much as a Sanaan and Alpines usually are also on the higher end. BUT BUT BUT much depends on stock.

Some show for udder confirmation only but are not doing milk production testing. Sometimes this means beautiful gorgeous udder but might not be a top producer. Sometimes goats can have a meaty udder and look gorgeous but production suffers.

I LOVE ALL 3! All have their benefits!

Our nigies are also our fill in goats! I mean that in a great way not in a disparaging way. If you have a goat have aproblem or you need to pitch milk for a week or a goat gets mastitis and you lose her production for awhile the Nigies can save the day!

We like having the ability to breed year round with the Nigies and always have someone in milk. Seasonal breeding can kinda stink especially if you miss a window of opportunity.

Most people hat have never had small goats do have a hard time wrapping their head around going to a small goat. There was I time I thought I'd never want a bunch of big goats. LOL

Maybe you should get all 3... Standard, mini, dwarf.

You will be well rounded!

 

[OneFineAcre]

This is from the MDGA website;

How Much do Miniature Dairy Goats Milk?

Miniature dairy goats have been reported to produce anywhere from 2 lbs. a day (1 quart) to 10 lbs. a day (one and a quarter gallons) with the average around 5-6 lbs. (3 quarts) of milk daily. Genetics and management will play an important part in milk production.

http://miniaturedairygoats.net/about_minis_page.html