Minis

[Wehner Homestead]

As some of you know, we have Nigees and love them! We got dairy goats to provide milk for our medically fragile daughter. Our goal is to replace all of her dairy intake with caprine.

BYH has introduced me to Minis as I had never heard of them prior. We are strongly considering either getting a Standard doe or two and raising our own or buying 2 minis. We have more than one Nigee buck so side options isn't a problem.

We love the size and nature of our Nigees. I'm hoping to get input on the Stanard breeds from those that have experience with them. I also would love any information that those with experience with Minis can offer. Does anyone recommend a specific way of approaching this expansion?

 

[Southern by choice]

There are many options.
It really depends on how you want to develop your breeding program.

MANY focus on ears first when working with mini lamanchas, ears & nose for mini nubian
It seems far too many focus on the "breed character" first rather than what makes it a dairy goat.

Ears IMO are the last thing I consider. I want a good udder with productivity first.
Ears can be worked on later, they don't make milk.

There are alot of people breeding mini's. They are very quickly increasing in popularity. They are the best homestead goat out there imo... if it is a good goat.

Notice my add on..."if"
Many people end up with minis not even knowing they are there own breed, have two registries etc. They have show, virtual shows, DHI (milktest with awards), and an appraisal process is being developed.
They have a standard and don't have a standard buck but they need the doe bred so they breed to the Nigie they have on hand.
That in itself isn't a bad thing at all. BUT there are people that will breed any ole buck to anything and that is where it gets sloppy.

I sold two F-2 does this year - both had erect ears.... I bred thee does to my buck...
the probability for ears given their ear genetics will be- 50% erect 50%elf, no possibility of gopher.
I am awaiting the kids as I plan to buy a doe from that breeding.
(my thread on breeding minis- https://www.backyardherds.com/threads/mini-manchas-breeding.36927/ )
breeding for-
First gen is easy.
2nd gen is harder
3rd gen is critical, and you really want to select the right bucks and cross the right genetics.

For me I don't mind the slow process or the work. Many buy upper gens that already meet breed standard and are American or Purebred status... there are few that have excellent quality but the biggest issue I see is that usually those incredible goats go to a herd where the person wanted to buy the "breed" but didn't work to get there... those end up destroying those great genetics within 2 generations.

If you want to start with first gens using standards then you need to look at the doe and you want that doe correct, not someone's cull.
second- your buck, best if you know what that buck does, doesn't do.

 

[babsbag]

I have all of the above, but my only nigis are bucks and their job is to make me some minis. I currently have 5 mini Alpine does and 1 mini Alpine buck. I also have about 40 standard sized goats, both Alpines and LaManchas. The minis are definitely easier to handle since they are smaller. I can't really give you a fair account of their milking as I only milk one this year and it is her first year, I will be milking all of them next year.

As far as how to get some minis, really any way will work, buy or breed, but the quickest would be to buy them.

 

[Wehner Homestead]

I want to be sure that I get them from someone that at least knew something of what they were doing when they did their breeding. As in, a well-bred producing standard to a Nigee from a milking line that should pass on good udder/production traits.

I may get more into the Minis in the future but right now, my plan would be to breed them back to one of my bucks and continue to keep doelings. I may potentially purchase a Mini buck if I can find one that meets my criteria but it almost seems counter-productive to buy one buck for two does when I have two bucks already for four Does here plus reservations on five doelings and planning on keeping any born. I'm also keeping a buckling (if she has one) out of one of my does that I bought bred. I think I may have a buck problem..

I'm more overwhelmed about trying to pick a Standard breed that I want Minis from. I'm not thrilled about how full size goats around here again. The Nigees have spoiled me compared to my Boers!

One of my concerns is that I've learned what to look for to some degree in Nigees and then having to consider Standards and Minis while trying to pick up on genetics and herd names, etc is very overwhelming.

I don't know about this ear stuff with LM but I wish I could just get some from SBC because I know she does her homework and is about 6 hrs from me. (I'll specify that I don't know how I feel about owning goats with "no" or only partial ears...)

I also had a bad experience when I bought my first Nigees. I don't want to do that again. I brought home five goats that day in June and may retain one, two at the very most! That's quite the loss, emotionally and financially. We spent a ton of money getting those goats healthy to end up with a csection, dead kid, spayed doe, a wether that was very wormy and had an early demise, and a stunted doe that I don't think will breed.

Can anyone tell that I'm really nervous about this?!

 

[Wehner Homestead]

I have all of the above, but my only nigis are bucks and their job is to make me some minis. I currently have 5 mini Alpine does and 1 mini Alpine buck. I also have about 40 standard sized goats, both Alpines and LaManchas. The minis are definitely easier to handle since they are smaller. I can't really give you a fair account of their milking as I only milk one this year and it is her first year, I will be milking all of them next year.

As far as how to get some minis, really any way will work, buy or breed, but the quickest would be to buy them.

What can you tell me about the Alpines? I'm looking for info as far as personality and other characteristics. How do they compare to your Nigees?

I have a possible lead on Mini Saanens but I'm awaiting more info before I commit...

 

[babsbag]

I love my Alpines, most of my goats are Alpines. They are hearty and produce very well but some can be bossy, but then again so can some of my LaManchas. I sold three LM this year because they had attitudes that I just couldn't deal with. They screamed and yelled for attention, would lean on my when I milked them, and beat the crap out of any kid that wasn't theirs. I also have some LM that are very mellow, and some Alpines that think that they are dogs. Every goat is different so I hate to label any breed as good or bad.

Milk wise, the Lamanchas have higher butterfat than the Alpines and that is why I added them to my herd but the Alpine milk is very good on its own. My only gripe with my LMs is the ears, some get crusty and need cleaning and some don't. I am not sure how to know which you are getting when you buy a kid. I'm just glad that they don't all have high maintenance ears, I don't have time for that. I chose mini Alpines over mini LM as I am not overly fond of elf eared goats, that was the only reason. Butterfat wise the mini LM will probably have a higher content if that is important to you.

The other thing about minis, if you care, is that I think it is easier to get to the breed standard for Alpines as color doesn't matter for the most part. All white and Togg markings are frowned on but anything else goes. So really no color to worry about and no ear shape to worry about; makes it easy to focus on the udder and everything else just falls into place. I had two mini Toggs this last year, oh were they every adorable. Yes, I have one Togg doe too, but I sold the minis, I only bred them for fun.

Unfortunately I am in CA so a little far or I could set you up with an Alpine or even a mini Alpine. I am literally one month away from having my dairy done but I will have kids galore in a few months, more than I will ever need.

 

[Wehner Homestead]

I love my Alpines, most of my goats are Alpines. They are hearty and produce very well but some can be bossy, but then again so can some of my LaManchas. I sold three LM this year because they had attitudes that I just couldn't deal with. They screamed and yelled for attention, would lean on my when I milked them, and beat the crap out of any kid that wasn't theirs. I also have some LM that are very mellow, and some Alpines that think that they are dogs. Every goat is different so I hate to label any breed as good or bad.

Milk wise, the Lamanchas have higher butterfat than the Alpines and that is why I added them to my herd but the Alpine milk is very good on its own. My only gripe with my LMs is the ears, some get crusty and need cleaning and some don't. I am not sure how to know which you are getting when you buy a kid. I'm just glad that they don't all have high maintenance ears, I don't have time for that. I chose mini Alpines over mini LM as I am not overly fond of elf eared goats, that was the only reason. Butterfat wise the mini LM will probably have a higher content if that is important to you.

The other thing about minis, if you care, is that I think it is easier to get to the breed standard for Alpines as color doesn't matter for the most part. All white and Togg markings are frowned on but anything else goes. So really no color to worry about and no ear shape to worry about; makes it easy to focus on the udder and everything else just falls into place. I had two mini Toggs this last year, oh were they every adorable. Yes, I have one Togg doe too, but I sold the minis, I only bred them for fun.

Unfortunately I am in CA so a little far or I could set you up with an Alpine or even a mini Alpine. I am literally one month away from having my dairy done but I will have kids galore in a few months, more than I will ever need.

I may just have to look into having two Mini Alpines flown in from you! I won't be ready this spring because of funds...I will definitely keep my options open and know that I can get some from you if nothing else. I just might reserve some for Spring 2020 kidding after a little more research!

 

[Wehner Homestead]

I actually googled pics of the different crosses just out of curiosity. The ears on the Nubians I found were a funny cross between erect and the droopy ears. I really liked the look of the Mini Alpines.

 

[Southern by choice]

That is only in the experimental stage.
This is my 6th gen Purebred Mini Nubian he is 1 year old here

It also depends on the strength of the genetics.

My f-1 experimental mini nubians have very good breed character... they are first generation... they have very good noses and ears for being half Nigerian

 

[Wehner Homestead]

That is only in the experimental stage.
This is my 6th gen Purebred Mini Nubian he is 1 year old here
View attachment 41282

It also depends on the strength of the genetics.

My f-1 experimental mini nubians have very good breed character... they are first generation... they have very good noses and ears for being half Nigerian
View attachment 41283

View attachment 41284

View attachment 41285

Those Mini Nubians are all adorable!! I've obviously got lots to learn! I have a friend that had Nubians growing up and I've been asking lots of questions.