Why did you choose your sheep, goats, cows, etc.

[Beekissed]

This is a two part question:

A) Why did you choose to raise sheep, goats, cows, etc.

1. Meat, milk, profit

2. Hobby, show

3. Other


B) Why did you choose your particular breed(s)?


1. For breed characteristics

2. Liked how they looked

3. Other

 

[freemotion]

A: First two goats, as companions to my horse when I retired her and brought her to live in the 'burbs. Third goat, for milk, she was supposed to be part Boer, she is not. Fourth goat, because I like the third one so much and need/want more milk, and she IS part Boer, I saw her mommy.

B: See above, looking for dual-purpose. Third goat, went to look and ended up buying to rescue. Fourth goat, went to look at her lactating mom, and didn't like her at all, fell in love with the baby.....went shopping hungry, though, just lost the third goat's baby, our first here.

 

[Henrietta23]

Don't have any yet, but goats are my first choice because I want milk and I don't have a lot of room. Breed selection will be based on availability, size, whether it's a dairy breed or not (crossbreed of a dairy breed) and personality. There are other houses around me so I do need to have an awareness of how noise a potential breed tends to be.
My son may join 4-H at some point so showing is a possibility but not our #1 focus. Goats will be a hobby and pets!

 

[freemotion]

I am in the process of choosing a buck. It is hard when you are just starting out! I have looked at a couple of earless LaMancha's and am waiting to look at an Oberhasli.

The LaMancha's mom was a champion milk producer. The Oberhasli's are being developed to "improve the line" but I am not sure yet what the person meant by that, we didn't have time for more of a conversation but will in a couple weeks. The Oberhasli's are beautiful. I hope my head wins over my heart....

 

[lupinfarm]

Because

a) I have land my horse can't be turned out onto because of its rocky nature, but that goats would have a ball on (rocky and brushy/grassy, sigh).

b) They were really flipping cute

c) They were tame, and healthy

d) Umm, They were really flipping cute

 

[Blackbird]

This is a two part question:

A) Nubian dairy goats & several mix

1. Milk, profit

2. Hobby, show

3. Other - making dairy products. They are also 'pets'.


B) Why did you choose your particular breed(s)?


1. For breed characteristics - Higher butterfat content.

2. Liked how they looked - Those ears are adorable XD

 

[freemotion]

Because

b) They were really flipping cute

d) Umm, They were really flipping cute

Sigh, that is the problem!

 

[ksalvagno]

We chose Nigerian Dwarf goats because we wanted to be more self sufficient. We also added chickens and planted a garden this year. We specifically chose the smaller dairy goats because of feed/hay costs and amount of pasture we could give them. I knew I would want more than a couple goats and I can have more than a couple with the Nigerians. Also don't need a ton of milk.

 

[Beekissed]

I chose sheep because my land is too small for cows. I wanted a way to improve my pasture grasses for my free range chickens and I had heard that rotational grazing helps to improve one's grass quality.

I chose hair sheep as I didn't want to have to shear just a few sheep...you know, buy the equipment or hire it done. I also chose these breeds (Katahdin/St. Croix) for their parasite resistance and general hardiness. Also, the lack of lanolin makes for a mild flavor, thus bringing $.10 more on the pound at market.

I also wanted a grazing animal because gas is so high and my lawn tractor was getting older~going on 20 years now. I have only had to mow once this year and only the thistles and high spots.

I chose sheep over goats as they seem less destructive to orchards and fences. Plus, I find them more beautiful!

I am attempting to develop ready food sources to create some food independence and live more sustainably.

I would only contemplate showing to increase knowledge about the breed.

 

[Beekissed]

Anyone else choosing heritage breeds? If so, did you choose them because they are considered heritage breeds and you wanted to help conserve and promote the breed?

Or did you choose them for their breed characteristics only to find they are also considered a heritage breed and may be getting more rare down through the years?