What to breed them to...

[crazyland]

I am thinking for the future at this late hour...
Valentines baby is 6 months old now so I have begun to ponder her next suitor and in turn when Shooting Star is old enough somebody for her.
Being as we don't know their exact breeds a lot of things are in the air. I want milkers so that narrows it down.
Anyone want to throw out some ideas of breeds that would compliment my girls?

This is Shooting Star.

And this is her mom Valentine. The first picture is when I first brought them home. I don't have any updated profile pics of her.

 

[savingdogs]

Nigerian dwarf?

 

[helmstead]

Are they standard size or miniature? I want to say Nubian if they're taller. It would improve teat size on the offspring, helping with milking.

Whatever you pick, pick a buck who's got a VERY strong, level back and is uphill. Your adult doe is quite weak through the chine and butt-high, which you'll want to improve on.

They're pretty girls

 

[RabbleRoost Farm]

Pretty goats!

And really, whatever breed you think looks the coolest and would fit your situation the best, as long as he comes from a strong milking background and can improve upon your does' faults. If you could find an awesome buck and just rent him out that'd be way more practical than spending the money on a stinky goat, and then keeping a stinky goat off by himself so he doesn't get his stinky smell into your milk and on your does while he's eating up hay and resources that you could be putting towards your does.

Unfortunately I don't listen to my own advice, so I'm getting a buck and keeping my first born kid as a wether with him for company. Yay, two hay burners.

 

[crazyland]

They are taller.
I don't understand the part about her being weak in the chin, can you explain that?

Thanks. I just love their coloring.

 

[helmstead]

I don't understand the part about her being weak in the chin, can you explain that?

See how she's swaybacked? Goats are intended to have a perfectly level back - no downward sway, no upward hunch. She is markedly swaybacked (in that photo at least) - that is referred to as being weak in the chine. It doesn't help that her rump (hips) are higher than her withers (top of shoulders) - this makes the sway worse.

A meat goat producer may correct me if I'm wrong, but the weakness through the chine is common in big meat breeds, like Boers - I've seen a lot of them with significant dips behind the wither.

 

[crazyland]

Ok I understand that. Thanks.

I really don't want a buck either, that is why my first goat is a wether! As handsome as he is, I like him better without a stench. lol

 

[helmstead]

I think a Nubian buck would be a great choice...bring down those ears and the color possibilities are delicious!