Lots of questions from a soon to be first time goat caregiver

[Mike CHS]

Thanks Cindy - The NG's are in the plan so that's good to know.

 

[Support]

Welcome to BYH!!!!!!!

Yes ... lots of info! Don't get overwhelmed though...one day at a time and you will be an addict too... oops did I say that out loud?
JK!

We have both the Dwarf and the Lamancha and we have the mini-mancha. Hmmmm where to begin.... we had our dwarfs first but over time I had just REALLY wanted the Lamancha and then came our beautiful Millie! Then came our first mini-mancha from Millie.

The following is my opinion and experience....

Advantages and disadvantages....
~Large dairy breeds are harder on the land than the dwarfs.
~Large dairy breeds eat more than dwarfs.
~Large dairy goats can strip trees faster and are more likely than dwarfs.
~Large (at least most) dairy goats are seasonal breeders.
~Dwarfs breed year round.
~Large dairy goats have larger teats and can be easier to milk depending on the size of your hands.
~Large dairy goats produce more milk.
~Large dairy goats tend to have a hard time recouping body condition after kidding and during lactation.
~Large dairy goats are stronger and heavier ... something to keep in mind when treating for anything and also routine hoof care.
~The dwarfs are much gentler on the land.
~Dwarfs are smaller and much easier to handle and work with.
~Dwarfs can have very good out put if pretty good milking lines. ~The range for dwarfs varies more in a way than the larger dairy goats. A larger dairy goat that is smaller in size and not coming from "great" milking lines is still going to produce a good amount of milk. The dwarfs really will have a rang from low,mid, to high....and the pricing will reflect that.
~Feed to production conversion is better with the Dwarfs.
~Dwarfs commonly produce twins and triplets and can easily manage without having to pull kids. Many produce quads- not very desirable though.
~Large dairy goats commonly have singles/twins... unusual for triplets.
~Dwarfs teat size can be a real challenge sometimes.
~Dwarfs tend to have less issue with internal parasites (this also depends on many other factors such as management, region, etc)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Lamancha is a hard goat to describe... ask anyone who has one... People who own them adore them...simply adore them and love them and wouldn't have it any other way.... so forgive me when I chuckle and tell you... BUT..
They are highly intelligent and very very very calculating.
My daughter says that is why they are so quiet... they never make a sound... it is because they are planning... probably to take over the world. Sweet and friendly but can figure out locks etc and NEVER have one with HORNS! I refer to ours as the naughty goat but cannot really explain it. She doesn't try to escape... none of our goats do, but she will be the first to jump up or climb on something and always wants to be the boss of the herd. She is a BRAT! Her daughter the mini-mancha is like her momma but DIS-BUDDED, and just as sweet and smart. Her name is "Trouble".
We our LAMANCHA! Would not be without one.
The dwarfs... can not say a bad thing about a dwarf ever! They are the perfect goat in a smaller package. Very pet like and lovable.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
So that was probably NO help.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
As far as woods... GOATS LOVE IT! It is ideal! Spring through fall they can get much of their nutrition through this. IMO providing some hay is still good. They will do best to have free-choice minerals around however during the heavy forage months may not eat it because they tend to know when they need it. In the lean months good hay and feed is important.
There are a few things to remember, your milk taste will be affected by their forage. That is why many dry lot and feed a controlled hay/feed diet. The farther away they are you will need to get them to your milk-room.
This management style also reduces parasite problems because they are not eating off the ground.
We rotate our Kikos throughout heavy woods and we use hotwire tape for sections... set up and the goats stay for so many weeks in an area then are moved BEFORE they dead-kill it. They can dead-kill very quickly so if you want food to grow back you need to move them. Our dairy goats are moved around but they are not left in the areas... they would die if they couldn't see the house. We have both hard fencing and a front field that is hotwire tape only... and that is on the highway. They do not challenge the hotwire.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The breeding thing is an important one... I love having the ability to stagger my does so we have ample production year round.
BTW- the mini manchas are awesome... just sayin'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope some of this helps.

Great info @Southern by choice

 

[Support]

Btw, welcome to BYH @SixFizzle

 

[SixFizzle]

Thank you all for the welcome and super good information. I am so excited to move to our place and get started!