What kind of goat should I get for goat milk for myself and what do I need to do?
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Question by puppyparadise: What kind of goat should I get for goat milk for myself and what do I need to do?
I would really like to have a goat for goat milk. I am confused on how to achieve it.
Can you help? Leave your own answer in the comments!
5 Responses to What kind of goat should I get for goat milk for myself and what do I need to do?
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There are a variety of goat breeds suitable for milk production – you should look for local goat breeders/keepers in your area. They will give you tips on the care of goats.
I assume you realise that in order for your goat to produce milk, you’re going to have to breed her regularly? Like any other mammal, goats don’t produce milk unless they’ve had a baby…and they need to keep having babies to keep making milk.
MJF
October 20, 2011 at 4:15 pm
You need 2.
You need proper housing, hay, and grain.
You need a vet that is familiar with goats.
You need to know of a buck who can impregnate her in the fall.
You need more knowledge.
.
saaanen
October 20, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Goats are great to have around and are, of course, great milkers. But they are a lot more time consuming then a lot of people think. First off, unless if you want a goat that is constantly screaming its head off for attention, you will need to get two. They are herd animals and don’t do well alone. Perhaps since you just want some for family milkers, you could get two mini breeds. I would suggest either two mini girls to be milked or two large breed–one female, and one castrated (fixed) male for company.
The castrated male (also known as a wether) doesn’t just have to be for company of the female, he can be a great companion to you as well. Wethers are the most human friendly, because they don’t produce any of those hormones that puts other goats in bad moods (for production) they are really just dogs with hooves. I’m bottle raising one right now–he is learning to use the dog door to go to the bathroom. They can be used to carry backpacks for campers and hikers–upto 65 pounds if you get a really large breed like saanens. They can also pull carts–that you can ride! Even people weighing over 200 pounds can be pulled by an extra tough goat.
My favorite mini breed in a cross between LaMancha and Nigerian Dwarf. They are called Mini Manchas and have the best temperment and highest milk production (that I know of) for any other mini breed. If you want two get two large breed goats, then there is the LaMancha, Oberhalsi, Saanen, and Nubian. Well, they are the most common for dairy.
Dairy goats are a lot of work. They need to be milked twice a day and breed once a year to continue producing milk. Breeding doesn’t have to be a negative though! You get cute little babies, a lot of people bottle raise them for easier weaning and so they don’t have to share all the milk with the baby goats for a few months; and then you can sell those baby goats for a profit, and sometimes make up all the cost for feeding and caring for your goats that year.
You will also have to trim feet about every 6 to 8 weeks, deworm about every 6 weeks, have medicine on hand in case if a goat gets sick in an emergency, etc. It is a LOT of work. But goats are so much fun it is definitely worth it–but it’s not for everyone. It’s a huge responsibility–you are expected to care for these goats just as well as you care for your dogs. That can mean a 400$ vet bill to save an animals life.
I would suggest this website, homesteadingtoday.com (the goat forum), to learn a bit more about goats, and to use as a great resource if you end up buying some.
Bri
October 20, 2011 at 5:30 pm
There are alot of dairy goat breeds, some of the most popular being Nubians, Saanans, and La Manchas. You will need to get a doe(or does) that are atleast 18 months old and ready to breed.
You can either own a buck (which by the way is alot of work. They produce an awful odor and can be more aggressive than the does) or pay for a stud. After 140 to 160 days of being bred the kids should arrive. Your does udder will then fill with yummy milk.
I’m a Myotonic goat(a meat breed) breeder so I’m not really sure if you begin milking them then or wait until the kids are weaned. You will need to do some research on the actual milking.
wutupwitu
October 20, 2011 at 5:55 pm
As you can see from the answers you’ve gotten there are many personal opinions out there. The very best thing to do is to talk to breeders in your area. Most of them will be willing to help you gain the knowledge you need to become a good goat keeper and have the milk you want.
Goats actually take much less care than many people think and much more care than some people believe. There are management systems that are anywhere from just adequate to way over the top and everything in between.
Most breeders breed their kids to give birth at 11 to 14 months. Some people don’t like that idea and breed them much later.
Some people love the little breeds and some people find them even more difficult to keep confined than the larger ones.
Many goats need to be bred every year to stay in milk but other goats can easily go 2 or more years between kidding while still giving lots of milk.
Some people just want milk and continue to just want house milk while others soon decide that they love showing and get interested in breeding better goats.
How to find a breeder in your area: Ask at the local extension agent, at local feed stores, check the internet for state dairy goat associations to see if they have a breeders listing, go to local fairs, look for local breeders with web sites.
Everbely
October 20, 2011 at 6:25 pm