So, the burning question: What breed of goat should you get?
Honestly, it totally depends on what you want to do with your goat! Here are some thoughts from me, but hey, always do a little extra digging because I’m not exactly a goat guru!
Just A Pet
If you're looking for a couple of goats to just chill with and do their goofy goat thing, any breed will work! From my experience, Nigerian Dwarfs (like the ones we take on walks in the neighborhood!) have tons of personality and just love attention. They’re like the compact, chill buddies of the goat world. My kids are always all over them, giving hugs and kisses! Pygmy goats are also a cute pick; they’re a bit smaller than the Dwarfs and are mainly meant to be pets. Plus, you can’t help but smile when they do their little goat jumps!
For Milking
If you’re thinking about milking, the usual suspects are Nigerian Dwarfs and Nubians. Those are the breeds we have on our farm, and they totally deliver when it comes to milk! Personally, I find Nubians way easier to milk because they’re bigger. But, just a heads up, you might hear different opinions from other farmers. The Dwarfs have smaller teats, making the whole milking process a bit of a struggle. Plus, they’re shorter, so trying to fit the milker under them is like playing Tetris! While the Nubians can be a bit less cuddly, they sure know how to produce milk like champs. This year, we’re crossing Nubians with Dwarfs to create Mini Nubians. Can’t wait to share their pros and cons once they start milking!
Meat
Honestly, I could pull info from Google, but I’m a bit clueless when it comes to meat goats. Best bet? Dive into some research yourself! There are tons of goat Facebook groups where you can get the lowdown directly from real-life farmers. Ask away!