Thinking about dairy goats

[Truscifi]

How many goats would we need to have enough milk for our little family (me, hubby, son, and a new baby on the way) and some leftover for our 3 pigs? I would prefer to have dwarf goats, just because I think they are cute, but I'm open to the bigger goats too.

What do they eat? We feed our pigs on the cheap because dh is a restaurant manager, so he brings home all the salad prep waste and then we supplement it with a bit of feed, bread, and extra eggs from the chickens. I would like to be able to feed the goats cheaply as well, but I don't know if that is possible. We do have about 1/4 acre forested land we could put them on, so they would have a decent amount of forage.

What supplies would I need to get started? Do I need a milking stand? Is that something hubby could build for me? He is fairly handy. I know they would need a structure for housing, and hubby said he could build that.

Any other advice for a beginner? We have chickens, rabbits, and pigs already, so we are not new to animals in general, but we have never had a dairy animal.

 

[3kidsmom]

It really depends upon the breed that you get. They are very social creatures though, so if you just get one doe for milking, I would get a wether too. But if you are going to feed them, it is best to get something from them. I used to have alpines when I was younger. I will be getting goats again very soon, and I will be getting 2 does for milking. We are a family of 5. The milking stand is pretty simple. Just make sure that it is wide enough for you to sit on as well unless you are going to use a stool. As far as feed goes, they love to forage. I would also feed some hay and maybe a little grain while they are milking. I am sure that other people will give you some opinions as well. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[EggsForIHOP]

If you go small, get 2 dwarf goats from REALLY good lines - the extra cost of the does is WORTH it in milk produced most times!

we have friends a few hours away, a small family, of 3, mom, dad and daughter, that raise the Nigerian dwarf goats...

They have 3 does and one buck, and rotate the does so that every 4 months someone is kidding and freshening again and basically always seem to have 2 does in milk and one doe dry...they have PLENTY of milk for drinking, making cheese, yogurt, and ice cream and extra for the poultry and dogs and cats too! They NEVER have to go anywhere to get the does bred, which adds a level of easy that is nice, and just have a small little set up that works out pretty well.

You could go big goats...but if you wanted to stick with the smaller goats Nigerian dwarfs out of nice backgrounds genetically would work for a small family easily

 

[Heavenly Springs Farm]

I raise Mini Nubians. I am milking two does right now. I am getting about a gallon a day without giving them a lot of grain. They have been in milk for two weeks. I know if I poured them more grain I would get a lot more milk but I don't like doing that.

 

[mydakota]

We are a family of 4 with 2 teenage boys. (we use LOTS of milk) I milk 2 Saanens and a Boer/Nubi cross and they give more than we can use even though we make our own cheese and ice cream along with drinking milk. 2 of my girls were first fresheners who milked through last year (when I got them) . They are about to freshen again and I expect to be SWIMMING in milk this year. Going to have to find an outlet for some of it in all probability. Saanens might be big, but they are quiet, calm and docile. I wouldn't count them out as a perfect family milker.

 

[EggsForIHOP]

We are a family of 4 with 2 teenage boys. (we use LOTS of milk) I milk 2 Saanens and a Boer/Nubi cross and they give more than we can use even though we make our own cheese and ice cream along with drinking milk. 2 of my girls were first fresheners who milked through last year (when I got them) . They are about to freshen again and I expect to be SWIMMING in milk this year. Going to have to find an outlet for some of it in all probability. Saanens might be big, but they are quiet, calm and docile. I wouldn't count them out as a perfect family milker.

DITTO! Our Saanens are my LOVES! If you do go big, TOTALLY look into the saanens! Lu is an ANGEL ALL of the time! And pomegranate is the MOST GENTLE goat I have ever met...both are quiet, and sweet and even though they have a little thinner milk (they aren't known for real high butterfat content like the nubes and nigis) well...they do produce a TON of milk! Lucy grooms my arms by licking me when she is done being milked...every other goat has always hauled tail back to the pen...she NEEDS to give me lovin's!

For sure if you think big think saanen or maybe mini-saanen if you can find it...their personality CANNOT be beat!

 

[duffontap]

We have had pet goats for a few years but just finished our first year as a backyard dairy family. We milked one FF Oberhasli doe and were swimming in milk up until the last two months of her cycle or so, then we added #2 and had too much again. We're milking two for a while this year, but only because I'm prone to excess. I would recommend Oberhaslis to anyone who is worried about the risk of goat noise pollution. We have close neighbors and our Obers are silent (unless their in labor, so we have found).

Whatever people may tell you, having a backyard dairy is a huge, huge commitment. It has been very rewarding for us, but it's part of a lifestyle--not just a way to get healthy milk for free.