The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Hevxxx99 on May 17, 2016, 08:20:12 am
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Asking on behalf of a friend who wants to get a couple.
Presumably you can milk them, but is it worth it? What sort of yeild would you expect?
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If you fancy milking a cupful while flat on the ground... or indeed have a high milking stand... unlikely to be worth it.
If you want household quantities of milk (as in a couple of litres per day) Guernseys would be the best.
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I think technicaly British saanans are milkier.
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:roflanim: It sounds as though a cat may be milkier than a pygmy goat.
Personally, I'd get Anglo-Nubians given a choice, but it's not for me. This friend wants goats and has set her heart on Pygmies, presumably because they are little and cute. I didn't think they'd be very practical to milk, but I'm not a goat person (yet: watch this space - I've just discovered homemade goat's cheese :yum:) so thought I'd better check. She's vegetarian, so the meat angle isn't relevant to her.
A cup of milk may be enough I guess and she's quite small so wouldn't have to bend too far. ;)
I'll pass it on. Thanks :thumbsup:
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A cup of milk may be enough I guess and she's quite small so wouldn't have to bend too far. ;)
;D
I've been hearing of pygmy crosses that look cute and give a bit of milk?
For pets i go for Toggs, love being brushed and look good :)
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...and give a reasonable amount of milk, I believe!
I'll suggest it, but I think her heart is set on wee cute ones.
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A lot of American literature talks about Nigerian dwarf goats. They are small like pygmies but are milky (not like Saanens or ANs but very rich milk). There are a couple of British breeders if you look, I don't know how reputable they are and if they are actually any different from pygmies!
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I knew someone who kept a boer nanny and her bag was massive, she reared her twins till they where huge, would that also be another option? Just a thought.
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I think she wants little and cute. Boers are fairly big aren't they?
The little Nigerian ones might interest her: I'll pass that on. :thumbsup:
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No expert but didn't think Pygmies would have milk unless they'd just given birth? Whereas other breeds wiil keep milking a lot longer.
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How about dairy x angora,
small, usable fleeces and some milk.
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I think I'd be slightly concerned about someone who is basing their livestock choice on 'little and cute'.......
I presume they know enough about the care and welfare of livestock, not to mention legal requirements etc?
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No worries. :thumbsup:
They live on a farm with 600 hill ewes and followers, so obviously have a CPH number and know the regs. And she is also a relief milker for a commercial dairy herd elsewhere. The goats are just as pets as she's always had a soft spot for them.
For my own information: you presumably need a different flock number for goats if you keep sheep?
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For my own information: you presumably need a different flock number for goats if you keep sheep?
I have just one for both, but I think it may depend on your local office. I have heard of people having a different number each for sheep and goats.
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No worries. :thumbsup:
They live on a farm with 600 hill ewes and followers, so obviously have a CPH number and know the regs. And she is also a relief milker for a commercial dairy herd elsewhere. The goats are just as pets as she's always had a soft spot for them.
For my own information: you presumably need a different flock number for goats if you keep sheep?
All good then :thumbsup:
We have one flock number for both
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For my own information: you presumably need a different flock number for goats if you keep sheep?
I have just one for both, but I think it may depend on your local office. I have heard of people having a different number each for sheep and goats.
I could do with a different flock number, idiots at Dalton filled something in wrong and can't alter it, apparently I have bred over 12900 goats !!!
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I milk my bagots sometimes and although I don't get more than half a pint, it is the most delicious milk ever.
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In the states they milk Nigerian dwarf goats! Some are very milky! I believe there are also some breeders in the netherlands... Look on goaty friends fb group and here http://www.andda.org/ (http://www.andda.org/)
I would love some!
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I always thought I would like some as I mainly make cheese with the milk and it has a very high butterfat content. Sticking with my ANs though and they have fantastic milk.