Choosing goats

[godusjourney]

So, I am considering getting goats for milking. In the beginning of my research, I set my heart on Nigerian Dwarves. But then, realism set in and I understood how little milk they produce and how much work it would be to milk 4 or more goats every day. I still love the way they look and seem personality-wise. But I'm just not sure they are practical (even though I've seen lots of mention online about how good they are for milking).

We live at about 6000 ft. elevation, in the high desert, and we have a 4 season climate. It never gets truly freezing in the winter (I highly doubt it ever gets below 0 degrees F even at night), but it is definitely cold with plenty of snow!

I have never milked anything in my life, but we drive many hours to get raw milk every day, and I think I'm pretty committed to having fresh milk produced on our own land. I'm a little nervous, because I really, really don't like goaty-tasting milk, so I'd like a breed that produces a pleasant tasting milk (similar to cow flavor).

I've read a lot about goats, but I'd love to hear any advice goat mamas around here have!

Thanks!!

[5gifts]

We recently got nubians - my teen son did - and they are easy to milk - good tasting milk - and are really fun. We have a momma, her 3 mth old girl and an almost 2 mth old little buck. They have lots of personality! Especially the little boy - He is SOOO cute & funny!

[Chicky2]

Yeah, Nubians would be great. They are (or ours, anyway) very sweet and gentle. Kinda like a good dog, lol. They follow us everywhere and want loving. The milk is awesome (ours will be in milk for the first time soon, but my neighbor has Nubians and that's where we get our milk), and sounds like they would be good for your climate. They are sometimes more susceptible to Pneumonia, so it would be good where you are. We just put old vests on ours when it's cold (backwards so they zip up the back).

[missythemom3]

Alpines and Nubians are all I have milked and I like them both. When a goat is milked in the right setting where it is clean and there are no bucks with them and their food is right (no onions or strong tasting plants) you should get good tasting milk. Milking is something had never done before last year when we got our first milker (the Alpine) and it didn't take long to figure out how to do it. I had a little trouble at first until I started thinking of the teat as a frosting bag where you use your thumb and forefinger to close it off after it is full and then squeeze not pull.It seemed to help me anyway. Plus she was a kicky milker so I really needed to figure it out pretty quick,lol. You can also practice on a rubber glove that it blown up or filled with water or something,that can help you get the hang of it too. Most goat breeds are pretty friendly if they have been raised by people and are used to them. My goats follow me everywhere and are let out to be with us whenever we are outside so we are their herd.they are very affectionate animals and i love them so much so i wish you lots of luck as you venture into this it is alot of fun.

[mamadelbosque]

We have kikos (meat goats) but my best friend around here has La Mancha's - and her and her family have been raising la manchas for years and love them... after hearing her talk about different milk goats, I think if I ever got a milk goat, I'd get a la mancha. Probably from her

[Sparkle*Mama]

Like you I am in love with Nigerians Dwarfs! They are the absolute cutest! I would love a couple.
But I think I agree with the others, Nubians are great!

Another option would be sheep. Sheep milk is very nutrious and the best yogurt I have ever had was from sheep milk!

[1jooj]

Another vote for Nubians. I have a Nubian-Alpine cross doeling I plan to keep and milk, too. My Nubians make a lovely, sweet milk. They love to socialize with people and are very easy to handle. We are a family of 4 milk drinkers and my two are nursing kids and the family with enough to spare for weekly yogurt.