So we're back to considering goats... Nigerians or Kinders?

[mom2jedi]

I completely blame Becca and Harley at Shadow Paints for the resurgence of considering goats for milk!

Was reading up on Nigerians and it looks like this might be what we want for milk for our family of 6. This project will be researched thoroughly before we embark on it and hopefully we will be ready to start our own herd in a year or year and a half depending on availability. Now, I know I have only begun the long process of learning about these animals but I have a few general questions that I would like some opinions on. I will list them to make it easier to answer each one.

1. In general, how long to most Nigerian dwarfs live? Wiki lists their lifespan as 11-18 years but that's a pretty wide range so was hoping to narrow it down some.
2. How long will they successfully produce milk year after year, in other words, at what age should a doe retire from kidding?
3. After a doe has retired, what do you do with them at that point? Are they used for meat, sold as a companion for younger ones, or kept on as a pet/browser for weed control?

During my google searching stumbled upon Kinder goats. Not a lot of research done on them yet but would like opinions on this breed for the previous questions as well as the following.

1. How big are they fully grown? I have a good idea on size for Nigerians but have never seen a Kinder.
2. Do they produce the same amount of milk as ND?
3. I read they are less prone to escaping therefore making fencing less of a challenge, does this seem accurate?

I like the idea of being able to have a dual purpose breed that we could get meat from (even though I've never eaten goat meat). If sheep is a better option for meat, we're open to that as well. The other consideration is processing, I live in a suburb on the edge of a large city, finding a butcher in my area is proving to be a challenge but I haven't given up looking. I really don't have the space to do my own butchering aside from the fact that I really am not fond of the idea since we have small children. I know there are quite a few goat enthusiasts so I can't wait to hear from everyone!

 

[Lifesong Farm]

I personally like the Oberhasli because they are a meduim goat but that's not what you asked.

I know Kinders are about the same size as a ND.
One warning about the ND that I have seen... when you buy make sure the teats are large enough to milk! I have seen some where they were 2 finger milkers. They had itty bitty teats. (One of the reasons I stopped reasearching them)

Goat meat is good. I butchered my first one last month and I was in heaven. I have never had lamb so the closest I can compare goat to is deer.

 

[babymakes6]

I don't know about goat or sheep meat, but I grew up on lamb every so often and it is delicious!

 

[bagendhens]

if going for mini milkers id go with a nigerian over a kinder...mostly because nigies are pure dairy...where as kinders are nubian x pygmy. kinders can be good for milk but in my mind are more dual purpose, not as heavy in the milk (but nice fat content) but meatier.
i would think the average kinder would be "bigger" than a nigie just because the pygmy is a heavy dwarf breed and of course nubians are a standard breed, while generations have brought the nubian size down to a dwarf breed, id imagine the pgymy blood will make for a much stockier animal.

the only real downside ive heard of with nigis is the occasional small nipple size...

if you like the kinders and nigies it might be worth looking into mini nubians (nigi x nubian)

but that all being said, i personally have big spots for nigies and nubians so...

 

[mom2jedi]

Great replies so far! Thanks guys! Anyone else?

 

[mom2jedi]

Quote:
Hmmmm, what if I had Nigerians for milk and bred them to a Nubian? Would that give me better meat animals in the offspring? There's a mini farm near me that offers Nubian buck stud services and since I'm not planning to have my own buck this might be a good option.

 

[scrambledmess]

Kinders are held to the same standard dairy-wise as all dairy goats by the ADGA. I am starting on my quest of having a Kinder herd and my goal is meaty Kinders with ample milk supplies. This should be the goal of any Kinder herd.

 

[dutchhollow]

Milk for a family of 6, you would be better off with two standard size does, you can breed them to a boer buck and use the kids for meat. You would have to have a lot of nigi's for a steady supply of milk for six and if you plan on making cheese or anything else, well you will need to house a lot of goats. I would not breed nigi does to a nubian, getting your hand in there to pull a kid with the potential to be that big would be impossible. With the kinders with f1's (first generation) you could get the udder of the nubian or the pygmy, maybe in later generations they are more predictable.

 

[mom2jedi]

Quote:
I don't have the room for standard goats. Which is why I was looking at Nigis. I thought they produced around 2 quarts a day, is that not really the norm? As for breeding to Nubians, DUH

completely forgot about the large kid issue. I know that, must be my sick brain (fighting a cold) made me not even think about it. As for making cheese or anything else, hadn't really thought about it much yet. If I can just get 2 to 2 1/2 gals of milk a week that would be enough for our family. We don't use a tremendous amount of milk despite having 4 kids.

 

[dutchhollow]

Just make sure you buy from a breeder that is out for milk production and look at their records, check the does udders. I was thinking you would be going through a gallon a day with 6 in the house, lol!