Goat breeds

[ksacres]

Quote:
Depends on the goat. Seriously. Make sure you milk (the way you are planning to milk) any goat you are going to buy before you buy it. I always have prospective buyers get up under a doe before a purchase. Owner/goat dynamics are very important.

A doe that is used to being milked by machine is normally very much less tolerant of the "learning to milk" process. A machine is consistent and rythimcal-and never forces milk back up into the udder. Be sure the goat you want to buy is an old hand and will tolerate you being a novice.

 

[annmarie]

Sorry, I thought I remembered LaManchas being naturally polled, but I guess it was just the LaManchas I knew! I'm going back quite a few years with all of this. I raised Toggenburgs and Nubians in a cold climate area. Yes, the Nubian's made in through the winters, but they certanily did not thrive the way the Toggenburgs did. They needed a lot of extra attention and those darn ears were very prone to frostbite. I remember making little headbands for them with socks at both ends that I would stuff their ears into on the extra cold nights. Likewise, during a summer heatwave, they were fine and the Toggenburgs were miserable!

 

[geareduplyn]

I just scanned the whole thread. As yet no one has mentioned the American Dairy Goat Association or the Dairy Goat Journal. Pick up a copy of the Dairy Goat Journal at the Tractor Supply Store. Has good information always. Contact ADGA for breeders/members in your area.

 

[qooqoomom]

Gearedup I will look for the Dairy journal today, I have to go get chicken feed anyway

Thanks for the idea.

I was planning to try milking before I buy, hopefully I don't look like TOO much of an idiot.

Annmarie I'm picturing the little headbands for your Nubians, it makes me laugh. My kids were teasing me that I'd be making little hats if we got Lamanchas to cover their little ears.

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
Really? I don't give mine anything extra, just moisture proof shelter and good quality roughage. I've actually never had an animal with frostbite. My friend did have a set of kids that that got a bit on the ears (moisture from being born + extreme cold = frostbite). She kept the doeling and she has white ear tips. I'll have to get you a pic.

We routinely have below zero temps and very -zero windchills and still never any issues with adults freezing their ears.

Wyoming is known for it's wind. And that's it.

 

[qooqoomom]

I've driven through Wyoming, windy is an understatement. We just hope we are driving with the wind, not against it or your gas mileage is horrid.

 

[FrizzleFreak]

Go Nubians! And, annmarie, be careful if you're dealing with naturally polled. They can have a tendency to turn out hermaphrodite! Nubians are no more stubborn than other goats, and they are like the Jerseys of the goat world. Their milk is very high in butterfat, and often has an orange tint! Plus, when they play or run or jump, those ears go flying!!

Edited to say: This is my 100th post!

 

[Chirpy]

I don't really have much to add but thought I'd give my 5 cents on the personalities of my milk goats. I have Alpine and Nubian. My Nubians are more laid back than my Alpines. But, all of them love attention and the Alpines are more in-my-face to get it.

 

[hollyk]

Quote:
Um, all breeds of goats grow horns. Polled animals do occur in most breeds (and I do have one polled La Mancha-that has never had a polled kid lol), but the vast majority of ALL goats grow horns unless they are disbudded or dehorned.

Also, while Nubians may have "originated" from desert breeds, my girls (both Nubians and La Manchas) tolerate our Wyoming winters just fine. Credit is given to a lady in Idaho for creating La Manchas, so I don't know why they wouldn't do well in the cold? And the ears are less prone to frostbite

What ears?!!!

 

[MissPrissy]

la Manchas are just not for me. I can't get passed the look. I love long long ears.