The Perfect Goat *With Pictures*

[CaGoatLady]

Oh, I would take that Lily from you in a split second; she's beautiful!

 

[clayhill]

Yea, we want to get a few Kinders. Been talking about it for a year now. Just to have to do some more fencing, build a barn, get some hay, feed, etc, etc, etc. Just finished my second chicken coop and still waiting for a couple of breeds of chickens to fill them. But all it takes is time and money, huh?

 

[chickensioux]

Goats are soooooo cute. I miss mine. They made me smile everyday.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

For sake of discussion(and NOT argument), what makes Kinders the "perfect" goat?

So far you've stated they are a small goat, with high butterfat milk and 'plump' enough to make a decent carcass. Although this depends on the bloodline you get. Honestly, this sounds to the argument that Nigerian Dwarf breeders make, except you don't have the variability of a mixed breed. ( I know Kinders are considered a breed, but they are a cross between two breeds, Nubian and pygmy, and there is quite a bit of variability in the breed, depending on what the breeder breeds for.

How much is their feed to milk/meat conversion?

Again, I'm not arguing, I've been shopping for goats for a while, it's just I think if you start a thread called "the perfect goat" you need to back your statement(I know it was an opinion.

). Besides, I'm curious about Kinders.

 

[mandelyn]

Well the record Kinder goat at 3 1/2 years old did 305 days at 1,730 pounds of milk and 115 pounds of butterfat. The base production is 1,500 pounds of milk and/or 52.5 pounds of butterfat in 305 days or less.

Grabbed from okstateedu/breeds/goats/kinder:

Usually born weighing 4 or 5 pounds, they grow rapidly at a rate of about 7 pounds per month. Recently some 6-month-old wethers were slaughtered weighing about 50 pounds and dressing out at 30 pounds. This makes the dressing percentage a very favorable 60 percent. Older wethers have an even higher dressing percentage with some 14-month-old wethers having a live weight of 80 pounds and a carcass weight of 50 pounds - a dressing percentage of nearly 63 percent.

It is easily possible for a Kinder doe weighing about 115 pounds to produce five kids who in 14 months can weigh 80 pounds each and dress out at 50 pounds thereby producing 250 pounds of meat each year.

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Sparked my interest! I was previously leaning towards Saanens because of their size... but really, with how goats are, smaller would be better.

 

[KinderKorner]

I believe Mandelyn said it best. Those are facts taken straight from the Kinder Association.

Kinder Goats are not like Nigerian Dwafs. There is a very big difference. First because of their Nubian liness, their teats are fairly large for their body size. Second because of the pygmy they have the more stout shape. So they are dual purpose unlike the dwarfs which are pretty much a dairy only breed.


What makes kinder great is as like you said they can vary quite a bit. We have gotten our stock from several breeders. So we have both a dairy and a meat line. But both can be dual purpose. They are known especially for having many babies in one kidding. Most of our does came out of Quads.

You can go for different looks as well. Some have airplane ears, some have more nubian hanging ears. Some have the roman nose some have the dished face. I really like the differences.

Their personality is great! Especially handled at a young age. I have three bottle fed babies "not babies anymore" which are very up in your face. They give kisses, and are constantly under your feet.

I also have several that weren't handled much younger. But within a month or so of feeding them and petting them after I purchased them they too are extrememly sweet. Lilly is still shy. But you can still pet her, and she does come to you when she sees people.

My goats are more than just pets. I had one living in the house that does a ton of tricks, and pulls a cart, walks on a leash, loves going for car rides. And a lot more.

They are all intelligent. And every one can walk on a leash, and knows and comes when their name is called.

We did, and will dehorn every baby here. No horns for us or our customers.

We are still debating on prices. But it's likely to be around $200 for a weaned female. And $150 for weaned intact male.

We can also sell castrated boys for cheaper if some one is just wanting a pet.

And I will also have some unregistered crosses which are extrememly cute for around $75 for a female.

 

[KinderKorner]

Lilly is a cutie. She won't be for sell anytime soon. I was begging the person I bought her from for a year and a half. But after family issues, I was able to purchase most of her herd. So I feel very lucky. Not only is she beautiful, but her lines are superb. She is a dairy line. So she is more lean.

She's bred to Kody. Who is also beautiful, and who is from a meat line. So I'm expecting some nice pretty babies in march.

I'm so excited about kidding. Especially this cross.

Hmmm size. It really depends on the lines. My dairy doelings are about 10 months old right now are only 50 pounds.

But I have another meat line doe which is at a guess 110-120.

They are short though. Only about knee height.

 

[KinderKorner]

To compare Dairy Vs Meat. Here is two does. Same age. Same breeder, different lines.

Sara from a dairy momma and a meat daddy on the left.

Lilly from a dairy momma and dairy daddy on right.