The Nigerians first caught my interest because they are supposed to be able to breed year round, making it sound like 2 or 3 does staggered would supply milk year round. But in another post Stacy and kelebek mentioned Kinders, and eliya mentioned MiniNubian. Now, if I have this straight, MiniNubians are a cross between Nubian and and Nigerian, while a Kinder is a cross between a Pygmy and Nubian.
I know this is a loaded question, like asking what's the best car to get, but was wondering if you folks had opinions on relative merits.
eliya said "Most of them are also A LOT easier to milk than the most Nigerians. Their udders are a little higher off the ground and their teats tend to be larger. Also the MiniNubians weren't as bad of escape artists as the Nigerians." Those are definite plusses - feed consumption is about the same as a Nigerian?
I went back and reread the article on Kinders http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/sanderson95.html and they had similar points. Though I am assuming the meat comes at a price - if the Kinders have a higher dressing percentage, that must come from feed.
The more I read, the more it sounds like the smaller teats of the Nigerian would make milking more of a chore.
Ah! And I guess, like asking what's the best car, the first question is what do you need that car to do? So far as goats:
1) Smaller more manageable size than standard goats - lowers space requirements for housing, etc.
2) Lowest feed consumption possible, compared to standards.
3) Easily contained - relative to other breeds.
4) Milk supply adequate for two adults without excessive surplus - one milk drinker, occasional company, other dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, cream, butter, etc. Steady supply would mean staggered year-round breeding.
5) Adequate meat - same as milk.
6) Ease of milking.
I understand that if there were a "perfect goat" everybody would have that. I also understand that there are trade-offs.
I appreciate any opinions or corrections of bad information and missconceptions on my part.
Regards,
Pat
I know this is a loaded question, like asking what's the best car to get, but was wondering if you folks had opinions on relative merits.
eliya said "Most of them are also A LOT easier to milk than the most Nigerians. Their udders are a little higher off the ground and their teats tend to be larger. Also the MiniNubians weren't as bad of escape artists as the Nigerians." Those are definite plusses - feed consumption is about the same as a Nigerian?
I went back and reread the article on Kinders http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/sanderson95.html and they had similar points. Though I am assuming the meat comes at a price - if the Kinders have a higher dressing percentage, that must come from feed.
The more I read, the more it sounds like the smaller teats of the Nigerian would make milking more of a chore.
Ah! And I guess, like asking what's the best car, the first question is what do you need that car to do? So far as goats:
1) Smaller more manageable size than standard goats - lowers space requirements for housing, etc.
2) Lowest feed consumption possible, compared to standards.
3) Easily contained - relative to other breeds.
4) Milk supply adequate for two adults without excessive surplus - one milk drinker, occasional company, other dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, cream, butter, etc. Steady supply would mean staggered year-round breeding.
5) Adequate meat - same as milk.
6) Ease of milking.
I understand that if there were a "perfect goat" everybody would have that. I also understand that there are trade-offs.
I appreciate any opinions or corrections of bad information and missconceptions on my part.
Regards,
Pat