New goats - what should I get?

[rmonge00]

Hi

I am looking to start a small goat herd on two acres of pasture land. I would like to be able to milk one female, keep one male for breeding purposes and then raise and sell the kids.

What breed should I get? What age should I buy my goats at?

Thanks!!

Ryan

 

[poorboys]

maybe you should start with yearlings, 3 does, and your buck, any milk breed you prefer. cause if your wanting to breed and raise your kids you'll need more than 1 female, you can dry the others off after the kids are weaned and just keep one in milk.

 

[TGreenhut]

Get nubians! They're great dairy goats and they're friendly too. I would agree with poorboys--that you should start with yearlings, 3 does and a buck.

 

[Ariel301]

You've got to figure out first what you want in a goat, then you can choose a breed easily from there. Here's some stuff to consider:

Do you want a LOT of milk, or just a little bit? (i.e. full size doe or a mini breed?) Does it matter to you if it's noisy? (Nubians are known for being very vocal and loud)
How much are you willing to spend? (some breeds may cost more than others, be harder to find locally, and a doe already in milk will cost more than a young kid)
Do you want to start milking right away or would you be willing to wait a year and raise a baby instead of one already grown?
What breeds are available within your area (or an area you are willing to drive to?) Some areas have one or two very prevalent breeds and others are hard to find--I have a heck of a time finding purebred LaManchas within driving distance
What breed's appearance appeals to you?
What will your market be for the kids you sell--4H kids? Breeders/Show people? Backyard homesteaders? Kids for meat? (People who are going to breed or show will want high-quality purebred stock, while those looking for meat or pets don't care about breed so much but they need to be suitable for that purpose)
Do you want registered/purebred goats or not? Purebred, registered kids will generally fetch a higher price than "mutt" kids.

I would advise you to learn what are good and bad points about a dairy goat so you know what you are looking for in a quality animal. Buy the best quality you can possibly afford in your chosen breed--it costs just as much to feed a good goat as a mediocre goat, so you may as well keep the best you can.

Now time for me to advertise my breed. I raise LaManchas. They're a medium-large breed, from 100-150 pounds. They are known for being able to withstand hard conditions and still produce, for the most part I find them to be very easy keepers and efficient producers on less than ideal feeding conditions. They average around a gallon of milk a day. Yeah, the ears look weird. But they do not have any ear problems, and their hearing is fine. They are typically very sweet, people-oriented goats with a will to please their owners, I compare them a lot to Golden Retriever dogs. They also come in a mini version if the full size is too big.

 

[rmonge00]

Great suggestions. The qualities I am looking for are: good milk production, nice around kids, and least likely to destroy my fruit trees. I live in Western Washington (which is very mild) and I have 2 acres of beautiful pasture, with a bit of forest. I also have a small orchard that I need to keep them out of (I hope to make small fences around each individual tree). Any breeds that fit this description? I would be willing to pay a bit more for a good breed.

My main purpose would be for milk, breeding would only be a little added bonus to keep the mother in milk. Would you guys still recommend three does in this case? If I buy yearlings, how long will it take until they breed and then make milk? What is an approximate price range for a good milking breed yearling?

Thanks!!

Ryan

 

[rmonge00]

p.s. appearance is not an issue for me...

 

[mossyStone]

any and all breeds of goats tall or short, will tear up your orchard! i know this from exp..

ours can no longer go in that area at all

 

[Pearce Pastures]

I keep pygmies but some acquaintances of ours have Nigerians-they are adorable, little, and give a great deal of milk for their size-they told us that they make better cheese from Nigerian milk than from the larger dairy breed they previously owned (can't remember what it was). Nigerians have a lot of babies though which could be a pro or con depending on what you are wanting in the long run.

We're actually thinking about getting a couple to add to our herd.

 

[poorboys]

If you buy yearlings, you can bred them this fall, and have babies and milk by feb. if you buy babies you've got alot of work and learning to do and they might not be up to weight by breeding season, the reason i say yearlings, is because all the hard work has been done, they might cost more but you won't get stuck with an old one, or a young one that might have problems.

 

[Mzyla]

...........Now time for me to advertise my breed. I raise LaManchas. They're a medium-large breed, from 100-150 pounds. They are known for being able to withstand hard conditions and still produce, for the most part I find them to be very easy keepers and efficient producers on less than ideal feeding conditions. They average around a gallon of milk a day. Yeah, the ears look weird. But they do not have any ear problems, and their hearing is fine. They are typically very sweet, people-oriented goats with a will to please their owners, I compare them a lot to Golden Retriever dogs. They also come in a mini version if the full size is too big.

Now you made me to think! Maybe my LaManchas are "mini version"???
They are 3 months old and shorter then my Pyrenees dog!
For the Full size goats, shouldn't they be bigger/higher???