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Mini Dairy Goats for a Sustainable Future, by Donna G.
Goats are one of the most versatile animals of all livestock. With hard times
poised on the horizon, they'll greatly improve your quality of life. They provide
us with milk, meat, leather, weed/undergrowth clearing, environmentally friendly
to the earth, non-toxic garden fertilizer, horse companionship, 4H or FFA projects and as pack animals to carry their own “Bug Out Bags”.
My husband and I have been breeding and raising goats for over fifteen years.
This article
is presented as basic information for anyone thinking about adding these wonderful
animals into their lives.
What is a Mini? There are two recognized breeds of miniature dairy goats.
One is the Nigerian Dwarf. A small (21 to 22 inches at the withers) friendly,
colorful, easy going goat who with minimal or no assistance can deliver kids
easily . The second is a hybrid goat derived from the crossing of a Nigerian
Buck and standard dairy Doe. The standard dairy breeds are: Alpine, Nubian,
LaMancha, Oberhaslis, Saanen, and Toggenburg. The product of this cross breeding
is called a Mini. To further differentiate between the breeds, they are identified
as Mini Alpine, Mini Nubian, Mini Mancha, etc. They are a medium size goat
larger than the Nigerian Dwarf and smaller than the standards. Both breeds
are easier to maintain, feed, shelter, and transport.
Why Would I Want a Mini? The miniature goats are ideal for
small homesteads/farms/retreats. A person could easily raise two Minis or
three Nigerian Dwarf to one standard.
They are adaptable in all climates and are found in all 50 States, Canada,
and Mexico. Their feed to milk production ratio is more efficient than the
standard size dairy goats. Since they are smaller, their housing needs are
simple. We have made 3-sided shelters using wooden pallets and recycled plywood
for the roof. Goats do not like rain or windy conditions and enjoy snuggling
down inside a small retreat. In general they are more resistance to parasites
if left to browse on, and in, native terrain. They will starve in a field of
green grass, but will survive readily on weedy woody plants. Countless plants
are natural herbs with properties that build immune systems, maintain or correct
mineral deficiencies, and serve as natural antibiotics when necessary. Minis
can be less aggressive than their larger cousins so children can handle them
easily. Numerous people, myself included, do not have the energy or strength
anymore to physically maintain a herd of standard size goats.
Even though these are small breeds, the extra kids born that are not used to
increase your herd milkers or sold, can be raised for butchering. Goat meat
has a wonderful flavor. The meat can be smoked, ground, and even stuffed like
a turkey. Meat and milk could also be handy items for barter.
Got Milk? One will soon tire of beans and rice. However a little cheese added
to provisions will certainly make mealtime more pleasurable. Having fresh milk
from your backyard would certainly lower the grocery bill too. Cheesemaking
is not all that difficult. You can make soft cream cheese, semi hard mozzarella,
hard cheeses such as brick, colby and cheddar to name a few. The soft and semi
hard cheese can be consumed immediately or frozen and after hard cheese has
aged for sixty to ninety days, it can be frozen and used as needed. I have
to be careful opening the door on my freezer, as multiple packages of cheese
are stacked and could be dangerous to my feet below!
Nigerian Dwarf milk has one of the highest butterfat content of all the dairy
goat breeds, 5.6% to 10%. It is that butterfat that produces a higher yield
of cheese, as well as providing the prospect of making your own fresh butter.
The breed averages between 2 to 4 lbs (4 lbs equal 1 quart) of milk from two
milkings per day. Minis will give more milk, (1⁄2 gal) less butterfat,
(3 to 5%) however the butterfat content is still higher than most standard
dairy goats because of the genetic influence from the Nigerian Dwarf.
Raw milk versus pasteurizing is a question that has no correct answer. We drink
raw milk with no adverse problems, however others may feel more comfortable
with pasteurized milk. Everyone has their own opinion on this topic and it
is best left to each individual to decide for themselves. See: PriceWeston.com
One additional point I would like to make, is that a good milk goat can be
milked for years before having to be bred again, especially if you do not have
a market for the kids or you do not want to butcher them. It is actually harder
on their bodies to deliver kids, milk for a few months, dry up and then breed
again, year after year. They will be far more productive and have less health
problems if you can milk them for 2 to 5 years before you breed them again.
Plus you will continue to have a constant milk supply during winter months.
Yes,
the milk production will go down a bit in the fall, however it will resume
again in the spring.
How Do I Acquire Some Minis? Here are some suggestions based
on my own experiences. You can Google Nigerian goats, Mini goats or use the
member directories from
reputable goat registries. See: The
American Goat Society,
the Nigerian Dairy Goat Association,
and The Miniature Goat
Registry. Read books specifically
written about
caring for and raising goats. However, remember the goats haven’t read
the books and therefore are not going to act exactly the way you think they
are!
All things being equal, purchase a registered/papered goat. The breeder is
showing responsibility by utilizing selective genetics to produce a hardy and
healthy animal. You will feed the same amount of food to a registered goat
as you would an unregistered one, so you might as well have the paperwork on
them. 4H and FFA members need registered animals for their projects and they
are a good source of potential buyers for your goats. Prices will vary depending
on supply and demand, as well as the geographic area of the country. You may
find quality animals for as little as $100 up to $300 or $400. There are some
very nice breeders who will work with you, educate, explain, and make sure
you acquire the right animals for your situation. However, you may also encounter
those who use deceptive practices to sell their animals. Use common sense and
go with your “gut feelings”.
Dos and Don'ts As with all things Do your
homework. You wouldn’t
go out and purchase a car, a gun, a home without researching, right? Do contact
breeders, as many as you can, and tell them what you are looking for. Do ask
them if they milk their goats. You would be surprised as to how many breeders
promote and sell their goats as milkers but don’t milk them! Do ask
if you can visit their farm/ranch to view available animals for sale. You will
learn much by observing their herd management. Do ask them
if they test their goats for any type of disease. If you purchase goats from
them, ask if you
can have a copy of the test report for those animals. Do ask
if they will give you a “care package” for the animals you have purchased. This simply
consists of a small amount of food the goats are use to eating so you can mix
it with your own. This small step allows the animal to make an easier transition
to their new home. Do remember when telephoning or e-mailing,
that many goat breeders have outside jobs, children, chores and other responsibilities
that
may delay replying to your emails or phone calls.
Please don't acquire goats at sale barns or auctions and
expect them to perform the way you think they should. There is a reason breeders
send their
animals to these places. They may be diseased, old, or problematic and in the
long run you may spend more money on them than they are worth. Don't purchase
just one goat. Goats are herd animals and they need a “buddy”.
A good breeder would never sell just one goat unless you were adding to an
existing herd. Don't purchase the first goat you see. Make sure you have
talked to several breeders before proceeding with your purchase.
In conclusion, I hope this information is helpful if you are interested in
goats as a survival animal for your homestead. It does not matter whether you
decide on the standard or mini dairy goats. With an uncertain future looming
ahead, the more information we pass along to each other, the better prepared
we will be--and so will the goats!
