I wanted information from those that are breeding miniature dairy goats on how the goats are doing in terms of health, behavior,size and milk, 1st, 2nd or 3rd generations etc...

For example,

standard size nubians are vocal....did the mini-nubians pick up this trait?

standard size lamanchas are quiet....did the mini-lamanchas remain the same?

I guess that, what I'm looking for is changes in behavior, milk production, character traits for better or worse...etc...

-- David Kennedy (dkennedy@midtel.net), August 07, 2001

Answers

I think it is based more on what the parents have of these qualities versus if they kept it or lost it based on size. We have purebred nubians and ours are not noisy. The breeder of our foundation stock culled for this and as a result she has quiet ones now. I think milk production is similar. You can have a show animal that can't milk, simply because looking good was more important than the amount of milk given. So, I would look at the dam and sire you are putting together, if both are quiet I would expect the offspring to be. If both come from good milking lines, there would be more of a chance the offspring would.

-- Skip in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), August 08, 2001.

David, I like Skip know that alot of the vocal Nubian information is inherited. Though on a whole Nubians make more noise than any other breed we have ever had, there are also Nubian bloodlines who are much louder than normal. Whether you are breeding full size stock or mini's, it is all in the genetics of the parents if you can keep the milk ability and conformation. With such a prevelance in our area to breed for spotted Nubian mini's the quality is very poor in other areas. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 08, 2001.

I'm researching the process/cost of providing artificial insemination to goat breeders. Also researching the paperwork for getting FDA approval of genetic manipulation for artificial insemination.

We're concentrating on the miniature goat breed because of the demand for miniature dairy goats that consume less, small housing and eventually with our technology the ability to compete with the standard goat on milk production. With further research, our technology may give us the answer to year round milk production without the need for breeding.

This is a business market that I think can be successfull in the goat world. Eliminating the need for the buck and breeding for specific traits; color, behavior, does only, milk production, etc...

-- David Kennedy (dkennedy@midtel.net), August 09, 2001.

A mini dairy goat would obviously be from Nigerian Dwarf parentage and a full size dairy goat. No mini goat is ever going to be able to milk as much as a full size goat, unless you are comparing apples and oranges. Yes a Nigerian or cross goat of excellent breeding could milk more than a dairy goat of poor breeding. Breeding for color, artifical insemination and embryo transplanting has been around in dairy goats for years. We have several breeds of dairy goats that are only bred for color, Toggenburgs, Oberhali, Saanen the new Golden Gurnsey's. Embryo and semen washing for choosing the sex of the dairy goats offspring has been talked about. AI is easy to do, but even the best AI'ers have less than 100% results breeding outside does. A big ole stinky buck is still the best way to get a doe bred, and also insures a uterus full of babies, AI if you are lucky gets you twins, it is where we have had the most single births. Using lights will work for out of season breedings, to keep a dairy or family in winter milk, so can staggering the breeding season. You might want to start your studies on LaMancha influenced mini's, they would be a huge start on the behavior aspect of what you are looking for. Lots of excellent sites with very knowlegeable folks on them, saanendoah.com Nubian Talk at groups.yahoo.com you may find that alot of the leg work you are going to have to do has already been done, not only in full size dairy goats but with the Nigerian Dwarves looking for ADGA recognition, there is already alot of milk numbers out also. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 09, 2001.

Um . . . my loudest goat is a La Mancha. My second loudest is a Togg/Nubian cross. My 2 Nubians are no more vocal than the rest of them. LOL

Just FYI.

Far as the mini-dairy goats go - I'm just now getting into that, too. Perhaps we can learn together. Right now, I'm searching for the best milker Nigerian Dwarf senior does I can afford. I already have access to a super Nigerian Dwarf buck. (Sire is a Master Champion) Please email me privately & tell me where you are on the Mini-Dairy Goat road.

Regards, Sarah/MI

-- Sarah Sanders/MI (chilechile@hotmail.com), August 12, 2001.