what is the best type of goat for a beginner?
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Question by Kara: what is the best type of goat for a beginner?
i might get a goat and i was wondering what is the best breed to get and gender. i wanted to do 4-h with it.
Can you help? Leave your own answer in the comments!
4 Responses to what is the best type of goat for a beginner?
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make sure you know EVERYTHING about them!! please!
Justin Smitherman
February 11, 2013 at 4:55 pm
Its best to get a girl thats young. If you get a boy, make sure is don’t have horns.
Christy Satterfield
February 11, 2013 at 5:44 pm
if you want to raise a meat goat, and sale it at auction for its meat, get a meat breed. I do believe boer goats are a meat breed. IF you do this, I do believe you have to use a wether, or casterated male.
If you want to do breeding, then just about any breed is ok. But still, most people do Boer goats for breeding also.
you may also do pygmy goats, and pygmys are breeding stock only.
Or, you may do a dairy goat.
read up about goats as much as you can, in fact heres a website I really like…
http://www.goatwisdom.com/index.html#topics
cowgirlzrock1
February 11, 2013 at 6:22 pm
Unfortunately, some area 4-Hs will only let you show meat goats, so you might be limited to Boers or maybe Kikos. With any goat, go for a doe or a wether; not a buck. Pick out the friendliest kid with the best conformation that you can.
If you CAN show a dairy goat, do that. Just try to find a goat that is already fairly gentle when you buy it. A good dairy goat should be VERY gentle and loving; many are raised on a bottle if they come from a milking herd, so you’re “mama.” Nubians are the most commonly available. They can be loud, but most of the ones I’ve had have been friendly. LaManchas are funny because of their “no ears” look. I REALLY like the LaManchas and they get lots of attention. The Toggs and Oberhaslis are a little smaller, but I have not experience with them. Saanans are BIG and WHITE; Sables are Saanens that turn out some color other than white. I knew a lady who milked Saanens and liked them.
If it’s possible to show a Nigerian Dwarf or Pygmy in your area, consider one of these breeds. They are small and usually easier to manage since they usually weight about 70 lbs. or less. They also eat less and can be housed in a smaller space. We keep about 60 goats, probably 80% are Nigerian Dwarfs and most of them are really sweet and affectionate little goats. I will say, too, that we’ve never had an aggressive Nigerian Dwarf buck. We have a friend who raises Pygmies and they appeal to a lot of people because they have a very rounded, kid-like face with big eyes. They and Nigerians are also very tiny as kids…almost like puppies….and they bounce around like wind-up toys.
I have only had about 6 Angoras, but if the ones I’ve had have been any indication of the temperament, they are the sweetest goats around. Try to find a bottle-baby. Of course, with an Angora you will have to shear it twice a year.
With ANY goat: get a doe or wether. Wait until you’re a little more experienced to get a buck. Bucks pee on themselves and they REALLY get fragrant during breeding season. A properly trained buck is not usually aggressive, but they WILL rub on you so that you can smell good, too!
Goats are VERY intelligent, so you will need to train your goat well. Don’t be surprised if your goat learns to open her gate if it’s not latched well, or if your goat quickly learns to open her feed-bin. Be sure you have EXCELLENT fencing: big goats can jump; little goats can go under or through a fence. Remember the old Texas saying: If you can see through it or blow smoke through it a goat can get through it! This is slightly over-stated, but goats ARE good escape artists. You need a good net-wire or cattle-panel fence as well as a draft-free shelter or barn (even a dog-house will do for the smaller goats.)
Of course, goats know their names, too, like dogs. They will learn your commands, so (as with a dog) teach them to obey.
I hope this helps.
angelharp7
February 11, 2013 at 6:23 pm