Written by Heather Zubiate
There are two breeds of milking goat that I have decided to look into obtaining, and they are the Nigerian Dwarf and Mini Nubian goats. Why? Well, let me explain what I've learned on this subject, the task of properly choosing a breed.
Why Mini Nubian and Nigerian Dwarf Goats?
Regarding Mini Nubians, it's because of their cute little ears, I mean just look at them, all long and floppy, what adorableness, huh? As for the Nigerian Dwarf, it's because they usually have blue eyes. Seriously, this is how some people make their choice of which goat breed to buy. To be honest, even though all of the previous superficial reasons for my choosing these breeds are indeed true, there are actually more important reasons I have chosen these breeds. Concerning both breeds, there is the matter of their compact size. The Mini Nubian goat is not as big as a standard sized Nubian, which means it won't need as much food, or space that a full size Nubian goat requires, which is good, since I don't have a large area to keep them and their feed. This is true also for the Nigerian Dwarf goats. In other words, they are both more economical. And both breeds give a good amount of high butter fat milk for their size. That is after all why I want goats in the first place, for their rich milk. However, as good as all of that information is concerning my choices, please allow me to share what I believe is the far more important reason for my choices --my climate.
Goat Breeds And Climate
Dear reader, I think it's safe to say that most people (if given the choice) prefer warm weather to cold, right? But unlike animals, we humans have the reasoning capabilities to not only choose where we want to live, but we are also able to provide ourselves with the necessary adjustments and means to, well-- weather the weather. Sure, an Alaskan is more cold weather acclimated than a Floridian, but that process takes months, or even years to take effect, and even an Alaskan can't survive without some sort of cold weather protection when the thermometer reads 32 degrees F. In fact, a long lived resident of Alaska can still suffer hypothermia during their brief summer months, if they aren't careful. And a long time resident of Florida will still suffer heat stroke and dehydration if they over exert themselves without proper clothing and hydration.
Think Before You Buy
My point is, dear reader, before I "fell in love" with a particular goat breed, I read up (and continue to do so) on all of the different breeds and I doing something not many people do, I'm actually thinking before I buy. There is not much worse than buying a farm animal on a whim, yet it happens -- A LOT! Now yes, there are people who have also carefully considered a breed before they made their investment, only to find their choice was not what they had hoped it would be. This could very well happen to me, but at least I'm prepared for that possibility. The romanticism of owning livestock must be tempered with a good dose of reality.
And so, I first determined what climate I live in (hot and dry), and then I went from there. Why? Well, even though other considerations such as milk production and the animal's temperament are important factors, I feel that these factors will be affected greatly if a goat is suffering from the adverse effects of being in the wrong climate. After much reading, I'm beginning to see that this is a concern that is all too often overlooked, and it seems to be the easiest issue to decided when starting the journey to raising happy and healthy goats, which I assume will also go a long way in ensuring a better goat raising experience.
Climate Breeding?
Yes, believe it or not, there are in fact cold climate (Alpine) goat breeds, and hot climate (desert/tropical) goat breeds. Knowing this little (yet vital) tidbit of information helped me to narrow down my goat breed choices, in a good way. In my opinion, knowing what I've learned, it would be rather cruel of me to raise alpine goats in my area. Let's be real, Alpines, Oberhaslis, Saanens, and Toggenburg goats are naturally suited for colder and wetter climates, and as a result, they will be much harder for me to raise in my warmer and drier climate. Conversely, the warm climate breeds, like the Nigerian Dwarf, Nubian, and LaMachas would suffer needlessly in a cold and wet climate like Alaska, and not surprisingly, so will the owner and their bank account. That is because when you go against what comes naturally to the breed you chose, then you will have to provide artificial means to keep your chosen breed healthy, and that will put a strain on the resources of time, effort, space, and money. If you're still not sure which breed to choose perhaps asking yourself some of these questions might help....
And so, I first determined what climate I live in (hot and dry), and then I went from there. Why? Well, even though other considerations such as milk production and the animal's temperament are important factors, I feel that these factors will be affected greatly if a goat is suffering from the adverse effects of being in the wrong climate. After much reading, I'm beginning to see that this is a concern that is all too often overlooked, and it seems to be the easiest issue to decided when starting the journey to raising happy and healthy goats, which I assume will also go a long way in ensuring a better goat raising experience.
Climate Breeding?
Yes, believe it or not, there are in fact cold climate (Alpine) goat breeds, and hot climate (desert/tropical) goat breeds. Knowing this little (yet vital) tidbit of information helped me to narrow down my goat breed choices, in a good way. In my opinion, knowing what I've learned, it would be rather cruel of me to raise alpine goats in my area. Let's be real, Alpines, Oberhaslis, Saanens, and Toggenburg goats are naturally suited for colder and wetter climates, and as a result, they will be much harder for me to raise in my warmer and drier climate. Conversely, the warm climate breeds, like the Nigerian Dwarf, Nubian, and LaMachas would suffer needlessly in a cold and wet climate like Alaska, and not surprisingly, so will the owner and their bank account. That is because when you go against what comes naturally to the breed you chose, then you will have to provide artificial means to keep your chosen breed healthy, and that will put a strain on the resources of time, effort, space, and money. If you're still not sure which breed to choose perhaps asking yourself some of these questions might help....
- Am I prepared to see my warm climate goats shivering from the cold, while I'm all bundled up in warm clothes and still shivering?
- Will I able to handle the sight of my Alpine goats laying on the ground panting heavily from heat stoke while I'm barley able to keep cool in shorts and t-shirt?
- What am I going to do about the adverse climate situation, since my goats can't really do much about it?
- Will my solutions to this climate issue complicate it, or make it better? How much will my solutions cost?
After all my acquired and shared information, if you still insist on throwing caution and reason to the wind in order to satisfy your whimsy by raising these adorable eared (hot climate) creatures in Alpine conditions, where winter temps drop well below freezing, then you must plan accordingly for the sake of humane animal husbandry. You will have to give the hot/dry climate short-haired breeds a large, warm, clean and dry barn, not just a wind break, and provide them extra food and warm water, and maybe even look into inventing Nubian sweaters and ear socks! Yes, I have seen warm climate goats out in the snow, but I wonder if they are more susceptible to illness, and have higher feed costs.
Goats that are not well suited for the climate they are living, will assuredly get their unfair share of illnesses and parasites thanks to their owner's poor climate breed choice. And so it would be best if you have access to a local vet that knows a lot about goats. I assure you that he/she is a rare find. If a good goat vet is not in your area, then you should find someone local who is more experienced then you are, even so, there are things that only a good vet should do, like diagnose and treat serious illnesses. Of course, there is another option available, and that is to move to the appropriate climate suited for the goat you desire to raise, that is if it is financially feasible.
Goats that are not well suited for the climate they are living, will assuredly get their unfair share of illnesses and parasites thanks to their owner's poor climate breed choice. And so it would be best if you have access to a local vet that knows a lot about goats. I assure you that he/she is a rare find. If a good goat vet is not in your area, then you should find someone local who is more experienced then you are, even so, there are things that only a good vet should do, like diagnose and treat serious illnesses. Of course, there is another option available, and that is to move to the appropriate climate suited for the goat you desire to raise, that is if it is financially feasible.
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