do you have to milk nigerian dwarf goats

This is when breeders decide and release their breeding schedule. Thanks again. Meg Fickel: So much YES!!! It was very informative in my decision as to should I bring a lil goat into my home or not. -Lynda”. She NEVER said she didn’t like them. No heat cycles, calmer, quieter, less overall worries, and as a bonus- cheaper to buy. Goats in heat are loud (see “noise” below), can be aggressive, want attention, try to escape, personality changes, and they will try to mate anything and everything. We currently are looking for a buddy for our 1 year old wether (he lost his sibiling to meningitis). Access to clean, fresh water is also essential. There’s also an issue in finding hay, lugging in the hay, wasted hay, and *oh so special* removal of soiled bedding and manure from the suburban lot. For best results, you’ll have to buy from a breeder who is focused on goats for milk production rather than appearance (e.g. I, stupidly, got a goat many years ago, while my youngest was using formula I made with goat’s milk (she’s 19 and in college now), knowing nothing NOTHING NOTHING about goats. Goats also appreciate simple toys. Oh, my goaty’ goodness are they loud. A fence that’s four feet high will keep your dwarf goats inside but you also need to consider the predators in the area. If you’re ready to get your goat on, you’re going to need some names! I really don’t think I could handle the maintenance that these guys seem to come with, but I’m excited to keep looking for a better suited breed! I've heard so many people say that it's hard to milk a Nigerian dwarf goat, so I decided to make a video showing you how to do it. She does not have lice and I have minerials and baking soda free choice. If it’s serious then you can give an injection (sub Q) ivermectin or dectomax – 1cc per 100 lbs of weight and then repeat in 7 days and again another 7 days later. Thank you for your comments, I GREATLY appreciate them, especially from someone who knows. You can, however, the procedure is a more invasive and a surgical procedure. Nigerians are very loving, sweet, docile. Milk is a perishable product. Her article is an excellent one for people that don’t know anything about goats. Thank you! !❤❤❤, To Christine Barrett, What is your experience with having bucks when they are in rut, I am an older person and I am trying to decide on purchasing a buck for my 2 Saanens that I want to bred this fall, I have read such scary things about bucks that I don’t know what to do, I live in a rural area and stud service is not readily available in my area, I would prefer that, but I think because it is going to be so difficult in getting a large breed goat to stud service, that I need a buck. For instance, a lactating doe must consume 5% of her body weight in dry feed to produce 1 gallon of milk. Excellent article. Pygmy goats have been primarily raised as meat goats. Proper nutrition is really all about ratios when it comes to Nigerian dwarfs. I have 4 horses and two donkeys so I know the care animlas need (especially if done well). These dwarf goats will have coats that are fine and short. Anyone getting any kind of animal needs to read about them 1st. To love an animal is to know the pros and cons and how to deal with it before you ha ve that animal. I absolutely ADORE them, but they do take work and dedication and they will eat your flowers, bean stalks, etc….. we have had to raise our fencing twice because the smallest could leap 6 ft from the flat ground. But sometimes for the person trying to become self-sufficient, not so much. Yes, Nigerian dwarf goats are friendly, and you can keep them as pets. HA HA on me! Any time you want outside he came running wanting scratched. Try to ignore. This ultimately means that they are much less expensive to keep than alternative livestock options. Thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment and encouraging words. They are loud. Owning two means you should have a minimum of 20 – 25 square feet. We just this week experienced the aggressive behavior of Hobart the Nigerian Dwarf Goat. Are you saying that there are mini nigerian dwarf goats that are smaller than 22 inches? Always make sure your animal is parasite free, has free choice minerals, and I have saved other goats that were losing their hair, flaky, dry skin. I always li…See More, Lesley Antonelli: I’ve never cared about goats. Among the dairy breeds, Nigerian Dwarf goat milk has the highest levels of butterfat, making it so creamy that it’s often preferred over cow’s milk. Alternative medicine is the future for all of us. Now that we have 46+ acres vs our humble urban homestead, most of the issues we have before are a moot point. I wont be doing for a while but am the type of person who likes to do my research thoroughly beforehand which includes the good and the bad. They seem like less maintenance and less stinky. Yes, I had a doe with skin problems & I finally put her down as my vet didn’t know anything about Essential oils. If you don’t want milk, just pets, keep wethers. Smaller Packaging. I’ve thought about getting some because they produce more milk than the NGD’s but aren’t as big. You’ll notice that Nigerian dwarfs stand much taller on their slender, longer legs than pygmy goats. A doe that is in milk needs more and the recommended percentage is 16-18%. According to the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA), the average milk yield per year for a female Nigerian dwarf is 813 pounds. Unfortunately for me, it never took. Their small size means that you can keep them on smaller plots of land. Here’s a quick rundown of the basics of how to feed a Nigerian dwarf goat. I don’t even breed goats. We have 9 loving goats. We have 2 wooded acres in the suburbs, on the only hill in a velley. I average about 1/2 – 1 cup pf grains per day per goat. You can place two does together, a doe and a wether (a neutered male), two bucks together, a buck and a wether, or two wethers. But, they are a huge responsibility and one that deserves a great deal of consideration before jumping right in. Here’s a rundown of what goes into caring for a Nigerian dwarf once you welcome it into your family: Nigerian dwarf goats need a clean pen, barn, or shed for shelter from predators and weather. Because we live in a development with relatively close neighbors, we needed to stay outside with them during every heat cycle from sun up to sun down to keep the noise at bay and the cops from visiting us. They are very smart and know when I have treats in my hand or when the vet is here. I am a novice and want to be self sufficient, making my own soaps, salves, creams, and of course the yummy goat milk. Yes, even if you love it, hug it and call it George. Nigerian Dwarf goat milk is high in butterfat content and averages about 6.5%. I make sure they go to good goat educated homes. Mine are 4H projects for kids. Sorry to say but it’s incredibly hard to get rid of, if not impossible. Its expensive and their is alot of hard work involved. You mentioned the “weathered” (neutered) goat. It was later also bred for dairy use. ), there is no guarantee your goat will accept other species as part of its herd, so it’s important to have two goats. This means you can have peace of mind about interactions with families and children. You are so kind and thoughtful for sharing your comment. They actually have four separate chambers for processing food instead of one stomach. Having read the article it felt like I would be delighted to own Nigerian Dwarfs just as she does. Nigerian dwarfs don’t actually require the acreage that’s needed for larger varieties of livestock. In addition to being friendly, adorable companions, Nigerian dwarf milk goats actually serve a big purpose on your land. Please feel free to contact me should you ever have any questions. One of the better articles so much appreciated. Most dairy goat breeds can only be bred seasonally in the fall; which leads to a glut of milk in the spring after kidding has occurred, but milk shortages in later seasons after the does dry up. Nigerian Dwarves can be bred in any season; however, so kidding can be staggered to assure a constant supply of milk. I have 2 acres and no close neighbor’s. They become half goat, half jumping bean. He’s such a sweet and super laid back fella and I too wanted to do my due diligence and make an informed decision on what type of goat buddy we should get him. Many prefer to start with Nigerian dwarf goat kids (babies). These are comments from our readers when I asked their opinion about this article- they are goat owners. All I got from what you said was that you don’t like goats. We hope this helped with what you want to know about Nigerian Dwarf goats. In fact, she loves them! With that said, with any animal I think that its awful when someone gets an animal without knowing the “cons.” While you may choose Nigerian dwarf goats because of their friendly nature and small stature, you will likely love everything about them. Our goats are Nigerian Dwarf goats (see Why You Should Choose Nigerian Dwarf Goats for Milk), which produce the highest butterfat milk of all dairy breed goats (around 6 – 10%), so their milk is incredibly good and makes awesome butter, ice cream, cheese, and yogurt. Goats with blue eyes usually cost more. Each production cycle lasts for roughly 10 months. Our animals and our family thrived on what little we had and from our experience, we are able to share that with others who are striving to do the same. I was not expecting either to kid as the Pygmy constantly looks pregnant. I realize I have much to learn, but I am an animal lover with currently 7 cats, a dog, and a turtle. I grew up riding horses and my husband and I plan on buying acreage in the next few years with plans of buying a couple of horses, and (maybe) goats! I was just discussing the post I want to make on my own page since it’s kidding season and we’re on #kidwatch2018. Ours come into heat in the fall when the weather gets cool, just as our sheep do. The Best Baby Goat Names For 2019 - My Homestead Life, Goats For SALE! The height needs to be tall enough for you to be able to clean it out, as these goats rarely get above 2 feet (0.61 m). If you want a steady supply of delicious, high-quality goat milk, you only need a couple does, and to stagger their breeding. I once had a neighbor across the street call and ask if one of our daughters were injured. Therefore, you will need to milk them to eliminate pain and reduce infection risk. You may have already fallen in love with the lovable, adorable Nigerian dwarf goat after catching just once glance. I dont think it is fair that you single out the Nigerian for your 9 reasons not to have them. In fact, they tend to do exceptionally well with children. By the way, I currently have three adorable bottle-baby NGD’s and love them to pieces. A healthy Nigerian Dwarf female (doe) goat can yield up to 2 quarts of milk/day. Nigerian Dwarf goats produce milk for about 300 days per freshening, and breed throughout the year, rather than seasonally. I live in a neighborhood but have a large fenced in portion on my property that has shelter etc. I dealt with this for years until I finally realized it is NOT contagious but inherited. My friends with them have not, either. I would really appreciate Any feedback from you, the author of this article, or anyone who has raised these sweet babies! Nigerian dwarfs really give you a lot for a little. While they are friendly by nature, in this way, you can also ensure they are socialized with your family. Nigerian dwarf goats, with their friendly temperaments, are ideal for families and hobby farmers. I think you sharing the negatives and hard parts of rearing animals is definitely needed and often neglected until it is too late.
do you have to milk nigerian dwarf goats 2021