Is there an animal that will provide me with meat, milk and fiber?

[Hens_And_Chicks]

I'm not sure which country, but somewhere in the world, they have milk sheep herds just like we have dairy herds. I suppose I could have googled - too lazy before I posted... lol

 

[MissPrissy]

We have a sheep dairy here about 5 miles from me. I am in Central Virginia.

Sheep dairies are not as rare as people think. Look around and you'll be surprised what is going on right under your nose.

 

[FrChuckW]

I would also recommend the Angora Goat for all three, meat, milk, and fiber. Also you might want to look at Merino Sheep for wool and meat, and possibly milk. Don't forget to take in the climate conditions of where you live at, as some breeds were developed in warm climates and others in colder climates.

 

[MissPrissy]

You could try the columbia breed sheep

http://images.google.com/images?hl=...&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

 

[patandchickens]

Certainly there are goat and sheep breeds that will fit your bill but you will not get as good production of any of those things as if you had two (or three) different kinds of critters that really excelled in their own field so to speak. "Jack of all trades, master of none". So it depends what you need and why you want it in just 1 critter.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[CupidsDelite]

You may consider cross-breeding. Say you find a breed of goat that is great for milk and fiber, but not so much for meat, breed her to a meat goat and eat the offspring. Kinda like when people breed their dairy cow to a beef breed bull to flesh out the offspring for butchering.

 

[coffeemama]

Get a few diary sheep or goats and a llama for a guard. Not the same animal, but the llama will guard your meat/milk animals.

 

[Guitartists]

Lots for me to look into

Thanks for all of the information and leads..... I looked into the Angoras but so far it appears that they are not suited for wet cold areas and I'm afraid with spring being so much of both that I would have a pretty hard time with breeding them

Saw some Nigerian Goats.... TOO cute! Sounds like they have great personalities to boot

Going to have to do lots of reading and researching, which is good because I have plenty of time

I still have to build an enclosure and housing for whatever I end up getting... so I've got at least a year to mull it over. I'd LOVE to get a couple of each (sheep and goats) but my DH is a hard sell

Hopefully though he'll fall in love with the first pair of animals and agree that we need more

Mostly he's afraid that they won't provide enough of anything.....or that we won't have use for it. Of course... he has no idea just what all can be used from them and what I can make

 

[luvarabhorses]

I WANT A YAK!!!! SOMEBODY BUY ME A YAK!!!

 

[deerman]

How about highlander cattle, now sure if it wool or just real long hair.