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Post by Tara's_Rowdy_Kidz on Dec 26, 2010 16:36:46 GMT -4
I'm kind of considering purchasing a dairy doe for next year because this past year I had a few does reject babies and have bottle babies....It'd be nice to have a source of milk besides the expensive goats milk from Walmart!
My question is, is what breed would produce the most and what should I be looking for? It doesn't have to be pure, I just want something I could milk! I have Pygmy does with huge udders but wont let me milk them....
Any ideas? Thanks!
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Post by littleears on Dec 26, 2010 23:02:02 GMT -4
Well you could do with something as small as a nigerian for no more milk than what you would need for a few kiddies. The saanens are the greatest milk producers of course they come with a steeper price mind you LaMancha's are and always will be favorite though
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Post by Oat Bucket Farm on Dec 27, 2010 16:07:57 GMT -4
A LaMancha of course
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Post by Longs Lil Caprines on Dec 29, 2010 14:35:57 GMT -4
Dito... munchies all the way.
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Post by Tara's_Rowdy_Kidz on Dec 31, 2010 15:39:57 GMT -4
Hehe guys! I was actually thinking about an Alpine or a Nubian if I get the okay from my parents.
My mom can't stand Lamancha's "earlessness" as she calls it. I would like to have a munchie but that would be a definite no! My mom thinks they look like aliens! LOL!
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Post by Longs Lil Caprines on Dec 31, 2010 15:43:21 GMT -4
well tell her she's wrong they don't look like aliens they look like dinosaurs. and after she's owned a Alpine she'll learn to like a Muchie a whole lot more sure Sophias cute but live with her.
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Post by littleears on Jan 1, 2011 0:37:10 GMT -4
I have owned every dairy goat breed, and I can tell you from experience the following things on alpines: most (at least mine were) are psycho. Seriously they are fine one minute and bazzurk the next. I loved their looks and high immune systems and everything but their attitudes I could do without! They are great animals but a lot of them are unpredictable. Sorry to word it that way but from my experience that is the way it is.
Nubians are mouthy, loving, beautiful goats- BUT they are the blondes of the goat world so to speak. I currently own nubians so trust me I know. They are also the lower immune systemed of the dairy goats. And some are just pure out dumb acting when they kid. For example I have one doe that is a great mother for the most part EXCEPT for when she first has the kids. She has freshened 4 times- so- it is not because she doesnt know how to care for them and we literally have to hold her and force her to let them eat the first couple times. then she is ok. A dear friend of mine also has this same problem with almost all of her does.
BUT now you get a cross and you are going to do just grand for the most part. My nuns are a prime example. Half Nubian and Half Alpine. Gentle, easy going, good immune system, hardly ever has to be wormed, the whole package.
I realize every breed has their faults but I just wanted to point that out.
If I were you- I think I woud do a little additional research and then decide. BUT if you are dead set of one of those two I would personally go with the alpine to start off with because they are easier maintence than a nubian as far as worming and everything goes.
Mind you that these opinions are based on my experience with my animals. Your experience ~could~ be different.
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Post by Longs Lil Caprines on Jan 1, 2011 1:29:33 GMT -4
well you did have that market goat who was half alpine so you have a idea and just so you know all the bad things he did was the alpine. Now all the stupid stuff he did 50/50 alpine or boer you chose?
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Post by littleears on Jan 1, 2011 2:09:31 GMT -4
I wouldn't say ALL of the bad stuff was alpine- but alpines are that way
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Post by Longs Lil Caprines on Jan 1, 2011 10:44:29 GMT -4
lol
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Post by Tara's_Rowdy_Kidz on Jan 1, 2011 18:19:09 GMT -4
I'd probably have to say his "stupidness" was the Alpine side because I've spent alot of time around Boers and really never seen them act like he did. I'd actually love to get a cross of Boer/Alpine again... That market goat was the ditzyest goat ever when he wanted to be but I think he ended up being one of my all time favorite goats...
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Post by Longs Lil Caprines on Jan 1, 2011 20:14:37 GMT -4
well there you go alpine only less... my boer alpine Astolia climbs trees and falls out of them. so he wasn't alone in the crazy area lol
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Post by Oat Bucket Farm on Jan 4, 2011 19:51:18 GMT -4
I always find it funny that people can think otters,seals and beavers all look cute but give them a goat with the same kind of tuny ears and they don't like it. Strange. Of course I am one of those people that actually prefers the Mancha look to the bigger ears of Nubians or even the Alpine style ears. And beyond their tiny ears being absolutely adorable, their personalites are completely awsome.
I used to have Nubians and now you couldn't pay me to give up my Munchies and go back to the obnoxiously loud, squirrely Nubies. Nubians are pretty enough (not as pretty as Manchas and I like the other swiss breed looks better too) as long as they are in someone elses pasture. Preferably a pasture far enough away I don't have to hear their hollering.
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Post by ohiogoatgirl on Feb 17, 2011 22:22:08 GMT -4
the second goat my mom got was a la mancha. the only la mancha we've ever had. i prefer the eared look. my family had dairy goats for about 8 years. they were all "mutts" but they milked great! we had 6 milking does and we had at least 3 gallons of milk in the fridge at all times!!! of course we are a big milk family so that was just enough for the 5 of us. and we froze milk for winter because we didnt stagger breedings. but i hate milk thats been froze never tastes right... it all depends on personal preferance and the specific goat. best of luck!
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