i have a saanen doe now that i am milking and have thought about getting a pygmy or nigerian dwarf buck to breed her with. i don't use that much milk and if it would be feasible would like to have smaller goats but more of them so would be able to milk yearround. also with the smaller goats would the buch be as much of a problem? my goat (ginger II) was being milked when i got her and due to back problems i am wondering if the smaller goats would be easier to train for milking than the possible wrestling matches with the larger goat. i want to thank all of you for any and all comments. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef123@hotmail.com), July 15, 2000

Answers

forgot to ask if anyone is near or knows of someone in the springfield missouri area raises either of these breeds as i am about 50 miles east of there. thanks gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef123@hotmail.com), July 15, 2000.

Gail: Both the Nigerian Dwarf and the African Pygmy breeds have web sites. Start surfing with key words, livestock breeds, goat breeds etc. I've seen both sites and they're very informative. The main differences between the two is that the N.D. is a small Dairy breed and should make a good cross with your Sannan, to produce a useful little milk goat. The A.P. is a very short meat type goat. Also, both of these breeds are apt to breed year around and that is helpful in keeping some in production at all times. You might try checking in with some other message boards as well. Dairygoats.com is a very active board with good advice available. Another site is The Goat shed at msn communities. Randy Henry (JaRaCo)

-- Randy Henry (JaRaCo) (JaRaCoRanch@aol.com), July 15, 2000.

Gail, you night also check out kinder goats. A lady who posts on this board raises them, and would be very helpful -- her name is Pat Showalter at kinderzed@aol.com They are a cross of pygmy and nubian, and are supposed to make a nice small milker, with the excess buck kids being useful for family meat supply. Good luck

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), July 15, 2000.