I want a back yard milk goat (or 2)...what breed??

[no nonsense]

key being the OP asked for best MINI milker.
the OP knows what they want.


I sometimes wonder why someone wants something...LOL
a full size dairy goat would normally be the way to go....but sometimes people want what they want for certain reasons.

True, but sometimes people think that they know what they want, when they really don't. The poster wants milk, year round. She won't get that with Nigerians. She has a small space for them, and seems to think that normal goats are too large for it, but they're not. Too many people nowadays fall for the mini craze, getting all googly eyed at the mere mention of the word. In this case, thinking that goats equals milk, equals enough milk. Doesn't work that way in practice. For those who admire the antics of goats, and don't want milk, and who can't handle normal sized animals, we already have the pygmy. People have tried to capitalize on the fanciful wish to have a dairy animal of the same size, and so created the Nigerian Dwarf in recent decades to try to fill the role. Nice idea, but in practice, a dairy breed of that size is not sustainable. Breed discrimination? Dramatize it by using that word if you must, but I have another word for it.........reality.

 

[Wild Wind Farm]

Why do you think you can't get milk year round with Nigerians?

 

[doo dah]

helmstead and FarmerChick please calm down, we dont want this thread getting locked .

OP, as mentioned before you really want to make sure there is a way for you to breed your does before getting them. You probably already know this, but you don't want to breed a mini doe with a standard buck due to birthing complications. If only standard sized bucks are available to you then you may consider a standard doe and mini weather. Just put enough milk in the freezer to last you a couple of months and you're good to go .

For "better tasting milk" look at the butterfat content, usually the higher the butterfat the more people like it. I hear that Nigis, pymies, boars (though these are a meat breed), Nubians and (some)LaManchas have good butterfat, esp the first three mentioned. I don't know anything about Kinder goats except that they are a new breed currently in development (same with all the mini standards).

Whatever breed you choose, remember to make sure you like the does themselves, because you're going to be working with them at least 2x a day. Good luck!

 

[ksalvagno]

Not being able to get milk from Nigerians year round doesn't even make any sense. You have kids at different times of the year and voila you have milk all year round. The OP also has to keep in mind that the goats will have to kid once a year to keep that milk going and you either have to butcher or sell the kids. If you feel you can't butcher, then you may end up with more goats than you planned for at least a period of time. No matter what anyone says, you can keep more small goats on a piece of property than the larger ones.

No Nonsense, you may be a "real" farmer and have your farming ways but this is someone who is going to have goats in their backyard. They will end up being pets as much as a milk source. Much different way of thinking and caring for the goats. Plus what good is it if you are dumping milk down the drain because you can't drink it all. The OP didn't say how much milk he was looking to get. You may use all your milk but others may not have time to make cheese and stuff.

 

[cmjust0]

True, but sometimes people think that they know what they want, when they really don't.

And sometimes other people think they know what the first person really wanted, when they really don't.

The poster wants milk, year round. She won't get that with Nigerians.

Two sentences, and you're way off the rails already.

Nigis are year-round breeders, so it's possibly to stagger them for year-round milk. Full size breeds, for the most part, are seasonal breeders..

So, the "reality" is that might actually be easier to get year-round milk from nigerian dwarves than standard sized breeds.

She has a small space for them, and seems to think that normal goats are too large for it, but they're not.

She never said she thought her space was too small. Go back and read the original post. She started her post by saying she wanted a mini breed...period...and then asked if her space would be big enough for two mini goats and some chickens.

Not once did she say "I'd like to have standard sizes, but I don't have room" or anything remotely like that....you're putting words in her mouth because you ASSUMED she didn't think she could accomodate full sized goats.

Too many people nowadays fall for the mini craze, getting all googly eyed at the mere mention of the word. In this case, thinking that goats equals milk, equals enough milk. Doesn't work that way in practice.

Because, of course, not only do you know better than the OP what kind of goat the OP wants, but you also know how much milk she consumes?!?

Ridiculous..

You have NO IDEA how much is "enough" for the OP. At last milking, my wife and I got 3qts a day from a Nubian and it was WAAAAAAAAY too much for the two of us. We could have done nicely with 1qt/day...which is actually on the waaay low end of what a single Nigi can crank out.

For those who admire the antics of goats, and don't want milk, and who can't handle normal sized animals, we already have the pygmy. People have tried to capitalize on the fanciful wish to have a dairy animal of the same size, and so created the Nigerian Dwarf in recent decades to try to fill the role. Nice idea, but in practice, a dairy breed of that size is not sustainable.

Which is why, of course, the Nigerian Dwarf population is dwindling on account of a lack of interest or breed sustainability.

Oh, wait...that's right...the exact opposite is happening!

Breed discrimination? Dramatize it by using that word if you must, but I have another word for it.........reality.

No, the real reality of the situation is that the OP has decided that she wants two mini goats for year-round, backyard milk production...a purpose for which Nigerian Dwarves were practically tailor made.

I'm not sure why you're so upset about that, but...well, that's still the reality.

And, for what it's worth, I don't even own a Nigerian Dwarf. We breed Nubians. I guess I just also happen to be able to look at things objectively, even when it means I don't get to promote the virtues of the animals I happen to raise.

 

[FarmerChick]

I am there with ya on this one cmj

 

[KinderKorner]

KINDER GOATS!

If you want an awesome backyard mini goat. Go with Kinders.

I started breeding and raising them last year and I'm loving them.

They are quiet, medium in size, have a lot of kids at a time, have one of the highest butterfat contents in goat milk, they give lots of milk, and are super friendly.

Look how cute they are!

Young Buckling

Doe

The are a 5 generation Nubian Pygmy cross. They come in all colors, have nice sized teats for milking, and depending on what you want you can get small or large ones. They are also dual purpose, and come in both meat and dairy lines.

I am located in IL.

If anyone wants any information on them, or has questions feel free to PM me. I would love to get more interest in them. As they are a newer and rare unknown breed.

I take my herd very seriously. I have gotten the best bloodlines I could find. I actually drove 14 hours yesterday to pick up a 4x Champion Pygmy Buck, and a nice Nubian doe. So I can begin a new line again.

They are outstanding breed, that has yet to be discovered.

I will have babies born on Wednesday, and lots more does kidding in the spring. So I will have lots of babies for sell soon. If anyone is wanting to get their own herd started.

 

[helmstead]

doo dah doesn't know what it looks like when I'm worked up - I don't think FarmerChick nor I needed any sort of warning.

cmjust0 - WELL PUT thanks, that was probably the best defense to one of the rudest attacks on the Nigerian Dwarf breed I've heard YET.

Kinder - thanks for all the info, I am super uneducated on Kinders (they are not heard of in my little corner). Would love to see more posts with udders and production, conformation, etc, on your herd! We just ventured into Mini-Nubians (because we want our Nubian does in milk, but DIDN'T want the liability of a full sized buck here with all our Nigerian does), so experimentals interest me, esp the mini-experimentals.

 

[FarmerChick]

All is cool on my side helmstead

 

[KinderKorner]

I will be birthing my first Full Kinder Babies on Wednesday.

I have had goats for several years. But I only got Kinders last year.

Lucie is still pretty small, but her udder is getting full. I can take some pictures of her udder after she births for you. I will put them on my other thread I have going.

Can't wait to see what the babies look like.