I need goat, sheep help!

[saintmom]

Ds no.6 joined 4-h and is waiting for his goat Dh needs to build the pen and he has a project book to start working on ,but in the meantime I need help!Anybody know of how to web sites,(pictures would be helpful)for raising ,showing, goats or sheep?What are the advantages of dairy over meat goats?Which breeds can take the heat? Which sheep are good for spinning wool and can take the heat?I've had chickens for years( another 4-h project with ds no.2).We learned a lot then,I just feel a little over-whelmed with the goat thing right now :

[RidentMama]

www.sheepandgoat.com should answer your questions

[Sarah]

I've heard that Boers can be really agressive- so for a child's project- I would go with friendly dairy goats.

As for sheep- you might want to check into the 4h scene more- but in our area just about all the sheep at the show are suffolks and are bred for meat- no one shows any of the favorite rare or fiber breeds- like jacob or icelandic. I'd like my kids to show 4H sheep- but I think I'll have to put a lot of personal energy into changing the focus of our local sheep show to be able to have the animals I want.

Love Sarah

[zoooteacher]

goatweb is also a great resource! I'd go with a dairy goat too....ours have always been very friendly and sweet!

[Truvie]

We have pgymy goats and Jacob sheep. I did 4H with pgymy goats as a kid and it was great fun. They're just like dogs, personality-wise, but MUCH harder to keep fenced in. They want to come inside the house. Hog panels are great for keeping goats in. (We used woven wire until someone mentioned hog panels, and it changed our life :-)

A couple of our sheep are very friendly and have nice personalities, but they are just more mild overall. Sheep are easy to fence, easy to herd, easy to handle for hooves and medical care. but not nearly as interesting in my experience.

The Storey Guides are great resources, I'm sure there is one written for dairy goats.

[Stone Fence]

Don't know about goats...

but sheep I know. Finn crosses have nice wool for hand spinning and they are probably more heat resistant. I like Romneys for spinning too and they come in some really cool colors. Check around your area for climate acclimated breeds. Your cooperative extension may be able to help.

[lisser]

I'd go with Dairy Goats. I did them as my 4H project for 10 years. It was the best!!

To spare you heartache, and the need to decontaminate your herd and or keep your goats seperate, DO NOT get dairy goats that have CAE. I cant off the top remember what it stands for, but its easily passed through the mothers milk (unless you pasteurized). It is a type of arthritis. They can have it and it can be inactive for ages, and then flare up and be so bad you ahve to put them down b/c they cant walk.

*most* Serious breeders have CAE free herds, or keep them seperated.

Dairy goats (good ones) are not cheap. Neither are they "nannies" and "billies". They are Does and Bucks (or wethers if they are castrated).

Its cheap to become a jr. member of ADGA (american dairy goat association).

There are 6 breeds of Dairy Goats:

Nubian
French Alpine (personal fave)
Saanen
Toggenburg
Oberhasli
and Recorded-Grade (a cross between any of the above, that is registered with ADGA)

Have fun! Its a great adventure.

Lisser