Goat or a cow?

[Wolf-Kim]

Just for the sake of good discussion. I would like a dairy animal. I have a large pasture with two horses.

Dairy goat or dairy cow?

Why?

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i've never had a cow, but we have three Nigerian Dwarf Goats. They are cute and funny and very personable. i'm sure a goat would be much more of a pet than a cow. So, i vote goat!

 

[mylittlezoo]

Goats, every time! More productive IMO pound for pound, take up less space and their poop is FAR less offensive!!

 

[LarryPQ]

A mini cow. Eats less, poops less, good-ish amount of milk & meat. Of course, you'll need to be loaded to get one

Besides, don't you end up with a million kids from a goat? Wouldn't a cow only give you 1 a year?

Sorry, I don't really know much about goats.

 

[ChickenToes]

Goats are probably the better option, as they produce well, don't take up as much space, and eat less. But...I don't really like goats. I would someday like to have Dexter cattle, they are a lot smaller than regular cattle.

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/dexter/

 

[mylittlezoo]

Quote:
If you buy quality goats, and invest the money and time, you can easily sell the goats. I can't speak for other breeds, but if you breed a Nigi, you'll get perhaps 1-3 babies. Which, as I said, if they're quality, they'll sell for decent money. Then you get around 10 months milk, rest the doe for a few months, repeat process. So no, not quite a million.

Mini cows are VERY expensive and will use more pasture than a goat and is less able to convert other foods, such as scrub, trees etc into useful milk.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Make a list of the pros and cons for each. For example, you have to trim a goat's hooves, but you don't have to trim cow hooves.

I have raised a cow (bottle fed) and goats (bottle fed and mama fed) and personally I like the goats better. Mainly because of their personality and they are easier for me to handle.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Goat easier to house , cheaper to feed, and much more managble amount of milk daily...

 

[aussieheelr]

have you tasted goat milk before? I like it however I don't know anyone else who likes to drink it. Fresh goat's milk is a bit of an aquired taste. If your family DOES like it then I would get the goat... toggenburg preferably.

 

[protodon]

I like goats. They are more efficient and easier to handle. And I'm sure no one is really thinking of this but I would have no idea what to do if I had a cow and it died. Same with a horse. This is why I don't have these things, among other reasons.