The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Marsbar on June 14, 2012, 06:23:48 am
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Hi all,
I'm trying to get the wife on board with getting some goats, i want to get a Boer to (maybe) breed for meat and get
a different breed to keep her company and as a 'pet' for the kids.
Would this be a good idea , or would it be a problem mixing breeds ?
Cheers
Richard
(sheffield)
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We have a mix of B. Saanen, B. Togg. and Togg. they all get on quite happily , the one thing you need to be aware of is the goat greeting headbut, this can turn into a heirachy selection thing that can look a bit violent, so if you mix small breeds with big meaty ones you might find it getting out of hand and end up with injured animals, but on the whole our big ones do it so gently to the youngsters that it can be quite sweet to watch.
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Same as Doug - we have a saanen mixed with toggenburgs. I've also committed the goat-keeping sin of having horned with non horned! This was only because they came as a group already, not somethign I'd have neccessarily chosen to do :)
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Super, any recommendation's on breed ?
I was thinking of a Saanan maybe.
Cheers
Richard
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You will find that the heavier breeds are less inclined to escape once they get past the naughty teenager stage. Togs are the escape experts and can jump 5 ft fences without a runup , and open gates for a hoby. Saanen every time.
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You will find that the heavier breeds are less inclined to escape once they get past the naughty teenager stage. Togs are the escape experts and can jump 5 ft fences without a runup , and open gates for a hoby. Saanen every time.
I actually watched our Togg Puffin lift the latch on her gate yesterday - brazen, right in front of me! We also have a sheep that opens bolts with his teeth - another story.
Our saanenX has calmed down a lot lately - she used to escape and ignore the electric pinging at her back but soon as they reached about 2 and a half, her and her friend Reggie (ToggX) calmed right down and all is peaceful.
If its a pet companion you are seeking to keep the meat boer company, then any breed could fit the bill.
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Just don't mix horned and polled breeds.
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Sanaan every time.
Me biased? Never. :-J :innocent:
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my goats and I break all the rules, so I'd better not get involved!
Just bear in mind that goats are very sensitive herd animals, and if one of their gang passes away they deal with it better if they can see the body before it is taken away.
If you are breeding for meat, and the main herd is staying that's fine ... just avoid an ever-changing herd.
:goat: