What breed do you think?

[KellyK]

We purchased a goat a month or so ago. We were told he was about 8 months old, but they did not know what breed. We are not sure if he is 9 months old now, He is smaller than my Nigerians. We paln to keep him either way since he is now my husband's pet goat.

Was wondering if anybody here would have an ideas. We were thinking togg mix due to the the wattles. I do not know if other breeds get the wattles also. Any ideas?

Goober

 

[OneFineAcre]

Any breed can have wattles.
Probably Nigerian as well. Nigerians can be white.
Or Nigerian mixed with something.

 

[KellyK]

Any breed can have wattles.
Probably Nigerian as well. Nigerians can be white.
Or Nigerian mixed with something.

We have talked about wethering him. I don't want him to breed since we are not sure what exactly his breed is. I had never seen one this white. He is whiter than my Maremma Sheepdog.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

Saanens are pure white... I would guess a saanen mix. His legs look a bit long for a nigi.

 

[KellyK]

Only problem is he is tiny for a goat that is suppose to 9 months old. We are starting to suspect he is much younger than we were told. More like 5 months old.

 

[babsbag]

I would guess saanen. And I would wether him ASAP. If he is not mixed with a ND he will get BIG and so will those horns.

I have some 9 month old Apline doelings that are probably about his size. How tall is he when he is standing up? Those legs look pretty long.

 

[KellyK]

I will have to measure him and see. I know he is smaller than even my smallest Nigerian. He also is still trying to nurse. He walks up to me and will head but my backside. We were told he was a bottle baby. Never seen that behavior in a bottle baby before. He really is sweet and loving. Follows me everywhere.

 

[babsbag]

Bottle babies will sometimes head butt their entire lives.

I have small goats this year due to most likely a selenium deficiency in my herd. I have some that are 9 months that are pretty darn small and some that are 6 months that are just plain tiny. Yours has pretty good horn growth, more than my 5 month old Alpine/boer cross kids.

If he likes to head butt watch those horns as he gets bigger. He may not want to hurt you but doesn't mean he won't by accident.

He is awfully cute BTW.

 

[KellyK]

The top of his head is about the top of my hip. Since I am 5 ft tall and short torso I would say he is 30 inches from the top of his head (not the horns ) tall. Sorry I am not able to get a better measurement until next weekend. He doesn't use the top of his head. he uses the top of his nose. He favorite trick is if one of the other goats picks on him he runs and hides between my legs. He gets much taller and that will be an issue.
He did have a mineral deficiency when we got him. Had to add extra minerals and give him a mineral paste every day for a few weeks. He is sweet and I know he sees me as his Mama. He does not do any of the behaviors with my husband. My husband is the one that plays with him when he is home. I am the meany that has to break all the bad habits my husband teaches the critters and the children. lol

 

[babsbag]

I don't think he is really that small, they can grow slowly sometimes.

Goats can be so sweet, especially the babies. But as a word of warning don't play any games with him that involves pushing on his head. As cute as it may be at this age it won't be cute for long. While visiting a farm last year I had a full grown Saanen wether come up to me and lovingly scratch his head on my hip, this boy was huge. I didn't care, it felt good, and then he decided to just give me a "push", not a butt mind you, he just shoved me, and over I went into a fence. One sprained finger later the owner told me that as a kid the owner had always played with him and pushed on his forehead in play. OUCH!!