Goat owner-wanna-be quesions!

[HooliganMe]

Hello! I'm new here. I want to get a goat or two possibly, and i figured i would start by figuring out what breed i am going to get. It will have to be a milker, because any animal of ours have to give back in some way. Dad says. I am leaning toward Alpine or LaMancha. Would you mind giving the pros and cons and how much i should expect to pay for a quality goat? I do not plan on showing it, so i don't know if that affects the price.
Thanks in advance!
~*~HoolingaMe~*~

 

[pridegoethb4thefall]

HI!

Wecome to BYH!!

I have nigeran dwarfs, so I cant say about which breed would be better for you- although ND's give a good amount of milk for their size.

I think Lamanchas are cute, but I hear they needs their ears cleaned often (I try not to have too many higher than usual maintenance animals!). Havent had Alpines either, so I cant comment on them.

I have had a Saannen, and she produced alot of milk and she was a good girl, so nothing negative to say about that breed.

Do make sure you investigate the prices on milking equipment, sanitation supplies (for equipment and udders and the actual milk, depending on if you plan to pasturize the milk.) as well as the cost of a milking stand (milk stanchion).

Try to find a goat that has good udders and has been trained to be good when milked, and that may affect the price. depending on your area, you could pay anywhere from $150 to 350 for a quality doe.

Best of luck and Im glad your dad is cool enough to consider letting you have a goat- but remember, you cant have just one- they are herd animals and NEED to have a goat companion.

Hope you are not offended by the way I am talking to you, you sound like you may be a younger person (under 16?), so as a parent of younger persons', Im trying to help you out. Parents LOVE when their children fully investigate something like this and when you can answer all the questions a parent has, and have thought up solutions to possible problems, and prepared ahead, it really, really helps thing to go your way!

 

[HooliganMe]

Yes, i am under 16. I wanted chickens and my dad said "do the research" So i did, and know i have 12 chickens. I'm hoping this comes out the same way.

 

[SarahFair]

I dont have either of those breeds but I do have a Oberhasli mix that is the most personable goat Ive ever come across.
If Im outside she is right next to me.. even when I go inside she usually tries to follow.


Look for a good personality along with the other milking traits!
...and they do sell minis of some breeds as well

 

[TGreenhut]

My experience with Alpines is that they can be kind of mean. Not necessarily to humans (although sometimes) but to other goats. I sold my Alpines because they were using their horns to injure my other goats. Alpines produce a lot of milk, though.

My experience with LaManchas were that they are EXTREMELY loving and sweet, but they are also very smart so they know how to get out of the pasture, get into the feed rooms, and even let themselves out of the stalls! You'd need a good fence or shock wire.

I specialize in Nubians now because I think they are very very sweet, easy-going, great milkers, and darn cute!!! (But they are really loud and cry for me constantly because they want food and love/attention. I don't mind it though!)

 

[HooliganMe]

Hmmm...Do you think and Alpine would be mean to another Alpine? I am think of getting a female and a wethered male.

 

[SkyWarrior]

I have three LaManchas and one Nigerian cross. The LaManchas are by far the sweetest critters. So far--knock wood--no ear problems.

Any goat can be an escape artist. Look at the definition of "escape artist" in the dictionary and you will find a picture of a goat. I've had my girls get out precisely once because I didn't fix the fence. You bet I had it fixed the next day!

Welcome aboard!

 

[TGreenhut]

Also, If you are going to get goats, buy a book or two on raising goats and know some good websites you can turn to for help. One of the books I have found helpful is called "How to Raise Goats" by Carol A. Amundson. A website that I constantly use for help on almost ANYTHING is Fiascofarm.com.

I would highly suggest (especially if you want milk) to buy goats ONLY from tested CAE (Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis) and CL (Caseous Lymphadentitis) negative herds. Know about these diseases and how to prevent them before you get goats because it can be quite scary if you end up with a herd of CAE or CL positive goats.

Some people don't mind horns, but I have found that they are a pain. I would recommend you consider buying goats that were disbudded because horns can be dangerous and difficult.

Also, read up about certain health care such as deworming goats and vaccinating goats because these kind of things are very important and new goat owners sometimes don't realize all that a goat needs.

Good luck and I hope you are able to get goats. They are amazing creatures!

**All things "goat" are very debatable, though. These are my opinions.

 

[TGreenhut]

Hmmm...Do you think and Alpine would be mean to another Alpine? I am think of getting a female and a wethered male.

If they have grown up together, or lived together for awhile, I'm sure they would be fine together. Just don't buy them from seperate places because then they would probably fight establishing "who's boss". Yet all goats do that to new herd members.

 

[HooliganMe]

Ok, thanks all! What is the basic "stuff" needn't in goat keeping? eg feed, minerals, hay, ect. And do i have to do anything special to the goat/milk to sell the milk?