Which Mini Breed is Best for us?
- Thread starter Devonviolet
- Start date
Southern by choice
Herd Master
I have heard Pygmy milk is VERY Good!
Kinders seem to be hard to find.
Then you also gave those that breed them and have them that DON'T put up pictures... often enough... not mentioning any names.
Kinders seem to be hard to find.
Then you also gave those that breed them and have them that DON'T put up pictures... often enough... not mentioning any names.
OneFineAcre
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@Devonviolet
If you go to the MDGA website they have a section "about mini's" that has some production information.
http://miniaturedairygoats.net/about_minis_page.html
According to the site there is a pretty wide range. 1 quart per day to 1 1/4 gallons. Average of 3 quarts.
I would seem to make sense that the best output would come from the F-1 crosses, the first generation hybrids. When you cross two hybrids they will not breed true so there would be a lot of variation on that next generation.
If you go to the MDGA website they have a section "about mini's" that has some production information.
http://miniaturedairygoats.net/about_minis_page.html
According to the site there is a pretty wide range. 1 quart per day to 1 1/4 gallons. Average of 3 quarts.
I would seem to make sense that the best output would come from the F-1 crosses, the first generation hybrids. When you cross two hybrids they will not breed true so there would be a lot of variation on that next generation.
frustratedearthmother
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My kids describe Pygmy milk as tasting like a melted milk shake...and I've gotta agree. I've had several very good pygmy milkers.
I showed my goats for many years and what a lot of people don't realize is that there are points given for udders even in Pygmy shows. I started breeding for good udders over 20 years ago and I can honestly say that every Pygmy doe in my herd has a nice udder. I can't even say that about my Nubians. Think about it though - a pygmy goat with a pendulous udder has a huge disadvantage when it comes to raising babies, lol. Hard to nurse from a bag that's dragging the ground!
And for those photo addicts: I picked this pic because besides my wonderful MIL it shows Nubians in the background, a Kinder in the foreground and a Pygmy right behind one Kinder and in front of the other(and various chickens not wanting to miss out on the action). You can see that the size of the Kinders is pretty much right in between. The doe in the foreground is the doe I'm milking now...she's a pretty meaty girl.
I showed my goats for many years and what a lot of people don't realize is that there are points given for udders even in Pygmy shows. I started breeding for good udders over 20 years ago and I can honestly say that every Pygmy doe in my herd has a nice udder. I can't even say that about my Nubians. Think about it though - a pygmy goat with a pendulous udder has a huge disadvantage when it comes to raising babies, lol. Hard to nurse from a bag that's dragging the ground!
And for those photo addicts: I picked this pic because besides my wonderful MIL it shows Nubians in the background, a Kinder in the foreground and a Pygmy right behind one Kinder and in front of the other(and various chickens not wanting to miss out on the action). You can see that the size of the Kinders is pretty much right in between. The doe in the foreground is the doe I'm milking now...she's a pretty meaty girl.
OneFineAcre
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MsDeb
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The waiting is KILLING me! We made the decision to give up our ND doe that was bred, purchase a baby Nubian and wait until next year to breed her with our ND buck. Just too much going on in our lives to take on first time milking experience this year. But the discussion and the pictures of the milk (and the fact that we have 3 heavy duty milk drinking grandkids that just moved in with us) is making me anxious to get started. I think I need to find a local person who has too much goat milk.
Southern by choice
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Loving the Kinders!
My friend has Pygmy/ Nigerians... She has a beautiful blue doe that has the biggest, prettiest udder... and always needs to be milked out when she has twins because there is too much milk... this year she had triplets and for the first time she doesn't have to be milked out!
They keep saying they want to milk... but she will be a handful to train to the stand. LOL
With developing any of the mini's it isn't an easy task. There really is a range when it comes to size. When you look at the maximum height allowable... that is pretty big. We don't want our mini's to be big at 100 lbs. We are working for actual mini's, larger than the Nigie but not 27" either. We like 24" and max 75 lbs.
The milking is variable as it is on most of the smaller breeds. However the breeders we know of mini's generally get 2-3 qts. If they are on the maximum side of the standard at 27" and 100 lbs... they seem to produce 1 gallon or more.
The first generation is not ideal. The offspring sometimes will take after the Nigie more and sometimes the Standard Breed used. In a way it is more about simply using the nigie to shrink down the Standard. Pretty much the Nigie "look" is eventually eliminated.
We bought 2 Mini mancha Bucklings this year... one more so for companionship for the other. The better of the two looks far more Lamancha and was used for breeding this year. The other that we have been undecided whether we would use him or not has surprised us and is developing far better than we thought. Losing his Nigie look and we are just keeping an eye on him.
I LOVE the Nigie look on my Nigies! Just don't want the mini's to look like Nigies with no ears!
If I had to pick just one breed I don't think I could. I often say it would be the Lamancha but truth is... LOL
I really do love all the breeds we have.
Of course in the mix of Nigies. Lamanchas. Minis, and Kikos I only have 1 Alpine and 1 Nubian so not much to base the breed on but the 2 oddballs I have... They are dream goats!
I love the variety!
My friend has Pygmy/ Nigerians... She has a beautiful blue doe that has the biggest, prettiest udder... and always needs to be milked out when she has twins because there is too much milk... this year she had triplets and for the first time she doesn't have to be milked out!
They keep saying they want to milk... but she will be a handful to train to the stand. LOL
With developing any of the mini's it isn't an easy task. There really is a range when it comes to size. When you look at the maximum height allowable... that is pretty big. We don't want our mini's to be big at 100 lbs. We are working for actual mini's, larger than the Nigie but not 27" either. We like 24" and max 75 lbs.
The milking is variable as it is on most of the smaller breeds. However the breeders we know of mini's generally get 2-3 qts. If they are on the maximum side of the standard at 27" and 100 lbs... they seem to produce 1 gallon or more.
The first generation is not ideal. The offspring sometimes will take after the Nigie more and sometimes the Standard Breed used. In a way it is more about simply using the nigie to shrink down the Standard. Pretty much the Nigie "look" is eventually eliminated.
We bought 2 Mini mancha Bucklings this year... one more so for companionship for the other. The better of the two looks far more Lamancha and was used for breeding this year. The other that we have been undecided whether we would use him or not has surprised us and is developing far better than we thought. Losing his Nigie look and we are just keeping an eye on him.
I LOVE the Nigie look on my Nigies!
Just don't want the mini's to look like Nigies with no ears! If I had to pick just one breed I don't think I could. I often say it would be the Lamancha but truth is... LOL
I really do love all the breeds we have.
Of course in the mix of Nigies. Lamanchas. Minis, and Kikos I only have 1 Alpine and 1 Nubian so not much to base the breed on but the 2 oddballs I have... They are dream goats! I love the variety!
MsDeb
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@Southern by choice , could you be any less specific about which goats you love? 
Southern by choice
Herd Master
Only met one goat I didn't like... he went into the freezer!
How can I pick? The Nuby is like a well trained dog and loves bear hugs and kisses. The Alpine... oh my goodness could she be any sweeter... she has to give you a kiss and has this whole ritual of kiss then hug then kiss
the Lamanchas each one is different from totally a brat to "I am quietly standing here waiting for your love" to hey,,, LOVE ME NOW... the mini's stinkin cute, the Nigies... all are different they are the snobbiest of all our goats one day don't touch me the next hey love me and the Kiko's super affectionate!The BUCKS-
them all! Big babies!Goats are simply wonderful animals!
