Raising Goats Naturally Read online

  Teresa describes Guernsey goats as having a friendly and affectionate temperament. “Many people,” she says, “are attracted to their golden hair coats, which can be short or long and flowing and range in color from pale cream to deep russet.” She believes that the Guernsey breed’s “productivity and smaller size make them ideal for a household or a less intensive production system.”

  Because Guernseys are still new to this continent, official milk production and butterfat averages are not yet available.

  LaMancha

  The LaMancha is the only dairy goat that claims the United States as its home. Its history dates back only about a century, unlike many of the European breeds, which have been around for hundreds of years. The distinguishing characteristic of the LaMancha is its ears — or lack thereof. I had LaManchas for seven years, and typically the first thing anyone asks when they see one for the first time is, “What happened to its ears?” Gopher ears are supposed to be almost nonexistent up to one inch in length, whereas elf ears can be up to two inches long. Although does can have either type of ears, bucks can only be registered if they have gopher ears. LaManchas may be slightly smaller than Alpines, but not more than a couple of inches. LaManchas average 2,200 pounds of milk with 3.8 percent butterfat.

  This LaMancha doe and her buckling show the diversity of color available in the breed.

  Nigerian Dwarf

  Many Nigerian Dwarf owners originally choose this goat for its small size or its high butterfat, or perhaps both. The maximum height is 22.5 inches for a doe and 23.5 inches for a buck in order to be shown with the American Dairy Goat Association or American Goat Society (AGS). Sometimes confused with Pygmy goats because of their small size, the Nigerian Dwarf is a small dairy goat and has a very different body type from the Pygmy, which has more of a meat goat body type and does not produce as much milk. I once heard a judge say that the ideal Nigerian should look like someone took a picture of an Alpine or a Saanen and shrank it on a copy machine. The average Nigerian Dwarf produces 715 pounds of milk with 6.5 percent butterfat, making it an excellent choice for those who want to make cheese.

  In spite of their small size, Nigerian Dwarf goats do well in cooler climates.

  We’ve had a herd of Nigerians since we started our homestead in 2002. After our children left home, I realized my husband and I didn’t need many goats to meet our dairy needs, so either the LaManchas or the Nigerians needed to go. I ultimately chose to keep the Nigerians because their smaller size makes them easier to handle, and the high butterfat gave me twice as much cheese yield as the LaMancha milk. Yogurt made with Nigerian milk is also much thicker due to the higher milk solids.

  Some sources say that Nigerians will breed year-round and cite this as a benefit to having them. This was historically true because they originally came from Nigeria where there are not big differences between the seasons. However, I live in Illinois, and most of my does are seasonal breeders, so I decided to do a survey of Nigerian Dwarf breeders to get a better idea of what is happening with this breed in the US. When asked how many of their goats come into heat in the spring, 39 percent of the 212 respondents said that all of their goats could be bred for fall kidding, 18 percent said more than 75 percent of their does, 9 percent said 51 to 75 percent. Five percent said that none of their does could be bred for fall kidding. When asked how many of their goats got pregnant when they bred them for off-season kidding, only about one third said all of their does got pregnant.

  Nubian

  The Nubian, whose history goes back to Asia, Africa, and Europe, has two distinguishing characteristics that set it apart visually from the other standard-sized dairy goats — its long, pendulous ears and its Roman nose.

  The Nubian is also unique in its butterfat, which tends to be higher than in the other standard-sized breeds, although milk production tends to be lower, averaging 1,750 pounds at 4.7 percent butterfat. “The higher butterfat and protein are great for my cheese making,” says Brendia Kempf, who has Nubians in her herd at Triple Creek Dairy in Iowa.

  Tasmania is pictured here as a doeling at Triple Creek Dairy. The Nubian’s Roman nose, which is convex rather than straight or dished, is a disqualification in any other breed of dairy goat. When the ears are held flat against the face, they should extend at least one inch beyond the end of the muzzle.

  OVER THE YEARS, I’ve owned several breeds of dairy goats, including the controversial Pygmy goat (is it a dairy goat or isn’t it?!). I finally settled on three breeds. Currently I raise Nigerian Dwarves as my main breed, Alpines, and Nubians. Why? I suppose there are a variety of reasons.

  The Nubian — I love to watch them regally cross the pasture. None of the breeds quite measure up to the Nubian in its gait or stance. They have nice butterfat and protein numbers and produce very sweet milk. Mine, however, are quite dumb and try my patience on a daily basis. You see, I am a rather energetic person, so I am constantly cleaning or fiddling with things at milking time, trimming hooves, or treating some ailment or another. A simple relocation of the broom will result in an entire group of Nubians refusing to enter the milk parlor, which means I must drag them in one at a time, increasing my already long chore schedule.

  The Alpine — I’m not quite sure why I have Alpines. I guess I just like them! I do love the look of the Swiss breeds, and this one allows pretty much any color or color combination, which certainly is eye appealing when scanning the pasture. My Alpines are high-producing does with a generic-tasting milk. Not sharp and goaty, but not the truly sweet milk that my Nigerian Dwarves produce. I’ve found, because I sell milk to white-tailed deer farmers, that a combination of the high butterfat/protein milk of the Nigerian cut with Alpine milk seems to be perfect for good growth patterns in deer fawns, and you cannot reproduce this combination using a strictly Nubian herd. The Alpine typically has a fun personality. One minute she’s pawing and snorting at an enemy; the next, she’s climbing the walls to get away! She has a fight or flight instinct that in my herd is confused at best!

  The Nigerian Dwarf — aside from their easy-to-manage smaller size (there isn’t a Nigerian on the place that I cannot pick up and move to where I want when necessary), they have a personality that is bigger than life. They rule on this farm. Even the staunchest, most heroic of Alpines will turn tail and run when met with a chorus of angry Nigerian Dwarves with hackles raised. They have incredibly sweet-tasting milk, rich in butterfat and protein. I liken it to drinking half and half. It’s not unusual for me to cut it with a bit of water if I just want to enjoy a glass with a few cookies. Mine produce more milk per capita on less feed than either of my standard breeds, so it is an economical breed as well. If forced to choose one breed to raise, the Nigerian Dwarf would win hands down, no hesitation. I love the breed with all of its personality traits, both good and bad, its ability to reproduce with few problems, and the fact that it’s an easy and economical breed to raise.

  — ELLEN F. DORSEY, Dill’s-A Little Goat Farm,

  Chelsea, Oklahoma

  Keep in mind that every goat owner has their own reasons for preferring a particular breed. What appeals to one breeder might not appeal to you. “What I do like about Nubians is what most people would put on their ‘don’t like’ list,” says Vicki McGaugh of Cleveland, Texas. “They are bossy, they are loud, they have distinct personalities, and living just ten acres away from thousands of acres of national forest, they are fearless.” While some people may be drawn to less common breeds, Vicki likes the Nubian’s popularity. “The bloodlines are so diverse, the herd book so large, that you can really breed this breed into whatever you like it to be.”

  Oberhasli

  The Oberhasli was originally called the Swiss Alpine in the United States, and the breed was registered in a sub-herd book of the Alpine breed until the late 1970s. They produce an average of 2,200 pounds of milk a year with butterfat around 3.8 percent.

  “One of the traits that originally attracted me to the breed in 1991 was that they are a more moderate s
ize than most of the other Swiss or erect-eared breeds,” says Tom Rucker of Buttin’Heads Dairy Goats in Marengo, Ohio. Although there is no upper limit on size, the minimum size is two inches shorter than the Alpine. The Oberhasli buck must be chamoisee, which is red with black markings, although does can be chamoisee or black.

  Credit: Tom Rucker

  SGCH Buttin’Heads Sofia *M.

  “While the attractive coloring and appearance are what originally caught my eye, it’s the temperament that has kept me breeding these beautiful creatures for more than 20 years. I often joke that if an Oberhasli makes noise, it’s time to call the vet. As a rule, they are a very quiet breed. Even at feeding time when many other breeds become quite vocal, the Oberhasli stand quietly waiting for their rations. They are just too dignified to make a ruckus,” Tom explains:

  Rarely have I had an aggressive Oberhasli. Even mature bucks during breeding season are easily handled and are able to be penned with other bucks of varying sizes without harm to anyone. They will do the typical head butting of any goat, but it is usually more posturing than contact and is over very quickly and the combatants are often found minutes later nestled together taking a nap. While genetics and environment are both components of temperament, most Oberhasli love people attention but are not pushy about getting it and have no problem sharing the pats and scratches with their herdmates.

  While the popularity of the breed is growing, they are still far less numerous than some of the other breeds. Finding a quality Oberhasli to add to (or start) your herd may require a bit more effort but is well worth it.

  Saanen

  A solid white or cream-colored large goat, the Saanen originally came from Switzerland. Sometimes called the Holsteins of the dairy goat world, Saanens tend to be excellent milk producers, although the milk is fairly low in butterfat. This makes them a popular choice for goat dairies with a focus on fluid milk rather than cheese. The Saanen has been the top-producing breed in milk production for many years, usually averaging more than 2,500 pounds in a standard lactation. Butterfat averages only 3.3 percent, but with such high production, they can be a good choice for someone who wants lots of milk and cheese. Although they are the largest breed, they are known for their calm personality, which makes them easy to handle.

  Heather Houlahan of Harmony, Pennsylvania, originally bought two Saanens because they were available in her area, and it turned out to be a good decision for her. “They are tremendous milk producers,” she says. “I can accumulate enough milk for a little cheese making even if only one of them is milking.”

  Kelli is a Saanen owned by Dawn Penn at Triple Creek Dairy.

  Sable

  Historically, if a Saanen goat in the United States was born any color other than white or cream, it could not be registered as a Saanen, and hence the Sable Saanen breed was born. The name has now been shortened to Sable, and they can be any color other than solid white or cream. If you ask Sable breeders why they chose the breed, most will say they wanted all of the positive attributes of the Saanen, such as calm disposition and high production, but wanted some color in their pasture, too. While some people say they love the look of a herd of white goats on the pasture, others are annoyed that all of the goats look the same at a distance. Other Sable breeders used to breed Saanens exclusively until a colored kid was born, and then they were hooked.

  “I love color so Sables are for me. I’m not interested in Saanens,” says Wendy McKenzie of McKenzie Acres in Fairbury, Nebraska. “I want to know across the barnyard who is doing what. Love the size and personality. I like things less common, and Sables are rare if you look at the numbers of each of the registered breeds.” Milk production and butterfat are similar to the Saanen, which is important to Wendy, whose goats provide milk for her business, Udderly Naked Goat Milk Soap Products.

  Toggenburg

  The Toggenburg, which was the first dairy goat to be registered, also originated in Switzerland and is the smallest of the standard breeds, with a minimum height of 26 inches for does and 28 inches for bucks. Toggs are only brown, but the shade can vary from light fawn to dark chocolate, with specific white markings, such as two white stripes down the face and down the lower part of the legs. They average around 2,200 pounds of milk with 3.1 percent butterfat.

  Although Toggs have a reputation for being cool weather goats, they can be found all over the US. “Toggenburgs are incredibly smart and quick to learn. They’re also very dependable. Rain or shine, good day or bad, Toggenburg milkers will consistently milk the same amount each day,” says Melanie Fergason of Royal Cedars Farm in Junction City, Oregon. “They don’t like to dry up and are known for extended lactations, even for several years. Toggenburgs are wonderful mothers. They are fiercely protective of their kids and are known to steal/share another doe’s kids if she doesn’t have any of her own. They have very strong bonds with one another and make friends for life. Toggenburgs tend to be very easy to breed because their genetics are very consistent. You breed a nice Togg doe to a nice togg buck and you’re almost guaranteed a nice togg kid. The consistency is very impressive.”

  Credit: Donna Pearce

  These Toggenburg kids show the classic white markings on their faces, ears, and legs.

  Grade or Experimental Dairy Goats

  When you are raising more than one breed of dairy goats, odds are good that at some point a buck is going to jump a fence when a doe is in heat, and crossbred goat kids, often called “grade” or “experimental,” will be the result. A recorded grade is the offspring of registered parents, and they may not be less expensive than a purebred goat. Some recorded grade goats are on DHI milk test and have distinguished themselves as excellent milkers, and if so, you can expect to pay as much for their kids as you would for a kid from registered purebred parents. If the parents are registered with ADGA, the offspring may also be registered.

  It is also worth noting that some breeders will create crossbred goats on purpose, which is why the term “experimental” is sometimes used. I know someone who owns a dairy and says that her LaMancha and Nubian crosses are her favorite milkers. Another loves her Nigerian and LaMancha crosses while another prefers Kinders and miniature dairy goats.

  Dual Purpose

  Kinder breeders are the only ones who officially identify their breed as dual-purpose, meaning that it is good for both meat and milk. It was developed by crossing a Pygmy buck with a Nubian doe. Before becoming popular as pets, Pygmies were a meat breed and still retain the blocky, meaty body of a meat goat. Although Nubians are officially a dairy goat, some individual breeders consider them to be dual-purpose, as they do produce a good-sized carcass. Since they are a cross of two breeds that originated in Africa, many can be bred year-round.

  Kinders are not registered with ADGA or AGS, but they have their own breed association that registers goats, sanctions shows, and sponsors milk testing. According to the Kinder Goat Breeders Association, the average milk production is 1,557 pounds with a range of 990 to 2,290 pounds and 6.25 percent butterfat. The highest recorded producer was Zederkamm Daffodil with 2,290 pounds in 296 days in milk.

  Unlike mini-Nubians where the goal is to eventually have the same long ears as the standard-size Nubian, most Kinders have airplane ears, which stick straight out to the sides. However, they may have upright or more Nubian-like ears, according to Sue Beck, president of the KGBA.

  Credit: Sue Beck

  Kinders are the only breed in the US that is allowed to have airplane ears that stick straight out on the sides.

  “Kinder goats are a hardy, friendly breed that tend to flourish under a broad range of circumstances,” says Sue. “They tend to kid easily with multiples and are wonderful mothers. Kids grow quickly and have few health issues. Average rate of growth is around 10 pounds or more per month with kids averaging 30 to 40 pounds at weaning and close to 100 pounds by a year.

  “Kinders generally don’t have foot problems or parasite problems, but the breed is not without issues,” Sue continues.
“Kinder goats are becoming more widespread, but they are still not readily available in many areas of the country. This means that breeders are often forced to travel long distances or wait for months to get their Kinders. This also creates an issue for those who want to show their goats, because breed-specific Kinder shows are few and far between, and getting Kinders accepted in local shows often takes a bit of work and perseverance. As the breed grows in numbers and popularity, we are seeing these issues decline.”

  Meat Breeds

  Boer, Kiko, Tennessee Fainting (or Myotonic), Savanna, and Spanish goats are meat goat breeds in North America. There are also a number of hybrids that have been developed from these breeds. Meat breeds gain weight faster and have heavier finished weights than dairy goats.

  “We currently raise crossbred commercial meat goats, mainly for slaughter goat production, with some being sold for breeding stock,” says Jennifer Miller of Rush Creek Farms in Illinois. “We use Boer and Savanna genetics in order to produce the larger-framed kid that slaughter buyers prefer. However, we need the mothering ability, increased milk production, better feet, and parasite resistance/resilience of the Kiko breed. Our ideal cross is a 50 percent or more Kiko dam and a Kiko/Boer or Kiko/Savanna sire.”