how much does a milk goat cost?

[ksacres]

You get Blue papers with them. You pay more for those papers. You get Green papers for Grade or not purebred.)

Actually, with ADGA (American Dairy Goat Association) the recorded grades, NOA, NOP, and Experimentals have brown paper.

ETA: I sell milkers between $150 and $300. I have Purebreds, Americans, one Experimental(a mix of two breeds, in my case La Manchas and Nubians), and two Grades. I sell kids between $75 and $200.​

 

[MissPrissy]

I have 2 does I will sell you. One 3 yr old doe and one 1 yr old doe. $175 for both. The older one milks 1.5 gallons + per day.

They are large goats. Nothing small about them at all. They are saanan nubian crosses.

Friendly and funny.

 

[ksacres]

I wanted to add, yes, you can find cheap goats to milk, at the auction especially, but I would not go that route. You don't know the health stuff (like CAE and CL), kidding history, if they've been handled or milked. A lot of times the does run through there have been dam raising their kids and haven't ever been handled.

It can be challenging enough convincing a tame doe that she needs to be milked, good luck with a wild one!

I would also recommend that you get some hands on experience milking different goats so that you will be comfortable with it when it comes time for you to do it yourself.

One more thing-older does are not always better does to milk. I took in a five year old on trade last year, and she's a pistol to milk. Ideally you would go and milk the doe you are interested in at least two times to evaluate whether she's a good fit for you or not, regardless of age. Most of my first fresheners milk like pros after a month or so.

 

[BeardedChick]

Thanks everyone -

Chirpy, I am on the western slope of Colorado. Goats occasionally come up for sale locally and I think there are some breeders I can get in touch with here.

I really like the big white Saanens.

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
I would recommend Karen Butler in Carpenter WY. She has some AWESOME Saanans.

www.mega-milkers.info

 

[kstaven]

Quote:
You can send them to me for christmas!

 

[MissPrissy]

If it were possible I would in a heart beat!

 

[BeardedChick]

Oddly enough, I spoke with one of our sheep raising neighbors (they live a ways from us) and they have good purebred milking Saanens for sheep nursemaids. Not sure if they are registered. Their stock is from Oklahoma. They have some that are kidding in Jan. and I could possibly buy the kids very cheap.

Would I be crazy to start out with a couple of kids? It sounds like so much FUN. I know it would be a long time before I had milk, but that would be OK as the Dexter heifer is due in Spring and I will be milking her, too.

 

[ksacres]

I don't think that's crazy at all. Just will take longer to get to the end product. And you'll have plenty of time to bond with your girls before they are producing for you.

Most first fresheners kid out just fine, especially if they are plenty big enough when you breed them.

I don't know why everyone thinks raising goats is hard. They are extremely hardy animals with proper care.

The first time you have to go into a doe after kids is frightning, doesn't matter if you've had goats for two months or two years. You get knowledge by experience.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide!

 

[MissPrissy]

My bottle babies are far more sweet and gentle than any of the others. Sometimes they are too tame and just get in your way when you really need them to go away. LOL