We began raising Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats because we wanted to have fresh, wholesome raw milk for our family homestead and these charming little goats were the obvious choice! They are the perfect homestead goat They are friendly, easy to manage, and their milk has the highest butterfat content of all the dairy goat breeds, it is rich, sweet, and creamy. I churn ice cream from their milk without adding any extra cream. The milk is perfect as coffee creamer and it makes excellent cheese. And best of all, it is not "goaty" tasting! Even though we are interested in having "homestead" goats we decided to raise the best quality ADGA (American Dairy Goat Association) registered goats that we could. As a third generation farmer I know it costs just as much to keep unregistered and genetically unknown livestock as it does to raise registered stock. And homestead goats shouldn't be cast offs or culls. They need to be sturdy, reliable, economical, and good producers. They are working goats first and pretty faces second! With registered and tested animals it is easier to get those good qualities because other conscientious breeders have already done years of hard work! Of course, better livestock costs more upfront - but the probability of having good quality animals is much greater. Many of our goat's ancestors and close relatives are either top quality milk and butterfat producers, show champions - or both! A Raven's Wood Nigerian will be a good bet for your homestead. Our herd comes from registered animals that are on milk testing for production and health screening for contagious disease. We have continued that practice! Our herd is tested for CAE and Johnnes disease annually and the does are on milk test. Nigerian Dwarfs do not produce the quantity of milk that the bigger goats do - but the QUALITY is outstanding! A decent Nigerian doe will consistently produce about a quart of milk per day. At the peak of lactation, some of the really high producers will almost double that! So a few good does can easily provide enough milk for the average family without drowning you in milk that you can't use quickly enough. Their small size means that they don't eat as much or need as much space as the big goats do, either. However, they are very agile and can jump amazingly high for their size. Good, sturdy fences are a must! We use cattle panels, woven wire, and electric netting for pastures. And the little scamps are smart! They will learn to undo the gate latches. We secure our gates with lead clips. Thank goodness goats do not have opposable thumbs! Little goats are very vulnerable to predators like bobcats, fisher, mountain lions, coyotes and - especially - dogs. Both your own and the neighbors dogs can kill or injure your goats! So a secure barn at night along with tight fencing is very important. |