So, you want to own a goat…
So, you want to own a goat…And you want to own one now. Nothing can stop you! It’s goats you want and it’s goats you must have! No worries, I got your back. I just happen to know a thing or two about goats.
Oh, and that voice inside of you telling you to not get goats? You can push that way deep down. Because, obviously, it’s wrong.
What’s so great about a goat?
For some, it’s as simple as wanting a little goaty friend that pounces around the yard and nibbles on your shoelaces. For others the goal is raising goats for milk or meat. For us personally, we chose to raise goats for their milk. The “running & jumping around and general mischievous behavior” is just an added benefit.
One thing you do need to know about goats is that they really aren’t that great of lawn mowers. A little unknown fact about goats is that they aren’t grazers, they’re browsers. A browser is an animal who NEEDS variety. They don’t like to just eat grass all day. Instead, they like weeds, shrubs, leaves — really anything that gives them a new flavor. Sure, goats will eat alfalfa (a shrub) every day, but their eyes glaze over when you offer plain grass.
Choosing a Goat Breed
When it comes to choosing a breed of goat, you need to know which goats are good for which purpose.
- There are dairy breeds — Nubian, La Mancha, Alpine, Oberhasli, Toggenburg, Saanen, Sable, & Nigerian Dwarf goats.
- There are meat breeds — Spanish, Tennessee, Boer, & Kiko goats.
- There are some fancy pantsy breeds that produce fibers for fabric — Angora & Cashmere goats.
- And then there are the fun pet breeds — Pygmy & Fainting goats.
What about mixed breeds? Mixed breeds are fine, and actually, they will be cheaper in comparison to purebred registered goats. The pros are that you can buy a goat sooner (because you won’t have to wait around for a particular breed to come up for sale) and you can spend less money. The cons are that if you ever plan on showing your goat in the future at a fair or FFA event, you won’t be able to if it’s a mixed breed. The goat registries (yes, they’re a real thing) won’t register your goat unless it’s purebred, with one exception. Nubian-Nigerians are also called Mini-Nubians, and are beginning to be recognized as their own breed.
Which goat breed is my favorite?
My very first goat was a Nigerian Dwarf. Nigerians Dwarf goats are miniature goats. They are adorable and hilarious and naughty. They also have the sweetest tasting milk. My advice is that if you’re looking to get started with goat’s milk and you’re worried about the milk tasting “goaty,” go with Nigerians. They will hands down always have the best milk.
We’ve since added Nubians to the farm and I like this breed as well. They are much bigger than Nigerians but gentle, and not nearly as naughty as our Nigerians. 😉 We like Nubian milk and we think it tastes great, but it’s definitely not as sweet as Nigerian milk.
LaMancha & Alpine breeds are my 3rd and 4th favorites as milking goats. We like the milk and the personalities of the goats themselves.
There are some fierce lovers of all breeds out there, and to avoid a debate I’ll just say that there are a lot of great breeds. Before you purchase, be sure to read my simple guide to buying your first goat.
Happy Goat Getting!
Want more information on goats? Read my other articles!
- Milk Showdown: Cow vs. Sheep vs. Goat – Which is best
- Goat Pregnancy & Birthing Checklist
- Post-Partum Care for Goats
- How to Disbud & Dehorn a Baby Goat
- How to Keep Raw Goat’s Milk Fresh & Delicious
- How to Milk a Goat
- How to Milk a Goat: Taught by an adorable 8-year-old
- A Simple Guide to Buying you first Goat
- What do Goats Really Eat?
Our funny goat adventures:
Hi DaNelle!
Thank you for the amazing info. I just bought 5+ acres in Upstate New York with a barn ready for livestock. I’m a newcomer to the site so you may have covered this, but what goats are OK in cold/freezing winter temperatures and do they require a heated barn? We can get temps of as low as -10 F. Thank you, and can’t wait to keep reading info on your site!
-Kristin
Hi KB-
Most goats are hardy and can handle cold temps as long as they are healthy. They don’t need a heated barn, but they need plenty of warm bedding and a proper shelter out of wind and precipitation.
This article has some good tips for cold weather: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/preparing_goats_and_sheep_for_winter_weather
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Can you mix boar goats with Pygmy goats to pasture?
Hello-
Yes, you can mix different breeds in a pasture. Just be sure to keep does and bucks separated.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi
I have a few questions
how many goats should I get for each breed is there a different amount
what is the most family-friendly goat and nicest with kids annd other animals like as a pet
do you let your goats free in your land or have like a nice large area for them
Hi Nikki-
DaNelle has her urban farm on an 1 acre fenced lot.
Most goat breeds are gentle if handled properly when they are a kid.
How many goats and breeds depends on your space available https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-much-space-need-raise-goats/, breeding plan (don’t breed large breed males to small breed does), and use of the goat (milk, meat, brush control, pet).
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have 3 quick question! What’s your top 3 dairy goat breeds for starters?! My Family are going to be getting goats in the Fall.. And we’re not 100% sure of what breed is best for starters. We are looking for smaller breeds! Second question is, Do you sagest getting Sisters or not blood related Does? Third questions, Do you have a opinion on “Having different breeds together” for example a Nigerian Dwarf & a Pygmy.
Thank you for taking the time to read this! (If you see this..)
Hi Molly-
DaNelle has NDs and Nubians, so that is her preference in breeds. And she does keep them together.
Getting sisters is just fine, as long as you know it’s limits your genetics and breeding options.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have an interest in goats for clearing underbrush in a wooded area. I think 2 or 3 would be an ok number. The primary purpose is land clearing, so a larger goat with low maintenance would be desirable. We won’t be milking or harvesting for meat, no showing or that. We have about 20 acres so plenty of ability to rotate their paddocks. Any thoughts as to a good breed or mixed breed for this?
Hi Joe-
Boer and Alpine goats are good larger breeds for clearing brush. If you do want to go with a smaller breed, Pygmy goats do a good job too.
Best of luck!
Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi! I am interested in getting a few goats for dairy and of course pets. What breed do you recommend? Is their a breed that you can raise for profit? What can I do to make money owning a goat? I Have literally never owned a goat and am exploring all options. Thank you
Hi Andi-
If you are looking for dairy breeds, Nigerian Dwarfs are great because they produce adequate amounts of milk and are smaller and more easily managed. Nubians are great milkers too and have pretty docile personalities. They both make good pets and have great tasting milk. Just know that goats must kid first before they produce milk. So you will need to have the ability to breed and raise kids in order to get milk. And to continue their milk supply you will need to milk twice a day once the kids are weaned.
It depends on what you mean by “for profit”. If selling the milk and milk products is what you are after, then you need to find a producer that sells dairy goats that advertise heavy milk production because the more milk produced will equal more product to sell. If you want to sell goats for meat it’s best to go with the Boer breed, and find a reliable, well managed processing facility nearest to you.
If you are looking to sell the kids you raise for profit, then you will need to purchase registered goats and manage your own registered line.
Check out the rest of DaNelle’s website on goats to see what the cost of owning goats is, what supplies you will need, what to feed the goats, how to manage pasture, milk, test for disease, etc.
https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/animals/goats/
I hope that helps!
Best of luck with everything!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Will a singular goat be fine as long as it has other barnyard friends
Hi Katherine-
Some goats may be alright with other species, but most typically like being with other goats. You will know if the goat is unhappy because they will be consistently very loud and vocal.
I hope that helps.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi there,
I’m wondering about getting a couple of little goats for my Border Collie to herd. We’ve got a lot of land, I know my kids would benefit from the experience as well. But I don’t want any type of goat that needs to be milked at all. They would be a pet more less. This will probably seem like a dumb question, but do the goats only give milk of they’re bred? Can they be fixed so they won’t have any offspring? I feel stupid asking questions like this, but I honestly don’t know much about farm animals. What would be better, 2 males or 2 females? Sorry for my ignorance, but any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Julie
Hi Julie,
Yes, goats are like all other mammals — they won’t produce milk unless stimulated by pregnancy hormones. Most people don’t fix their goats, they simply keep them away from intact male goats. I would say if you are going for a pet, stick with 2 castrated males. They are called wethers and are perfect for pets. They also are a lot cheaper than females
how much does it cost to fix a male goat? is it required? can they live happily without being neutered?
No, you don’t have to neuter a male goat, just know they can be aggressive, smell terrible, and cannot be kept with does or any other goats. This article will tell you more about bucks: https://www.weedemandreap.com/buck-goat-question/
As for cost it really depends on how they castrated, if you do it yourself, or you have a vet castate them and what vet you use. If you want to know the cost of using a vet you will need to call your local vet and they can price it out for you.
This article has a link to a band castrator you can get if you would like to go that route. https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-breeding-101/
I hope that helps! Best of luck!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi DaNelle,
My name is Danyelle and I saw that you had put pygmy goats under fun pet, but pygmy goats actually produce high quality milk. They only produce about a quart but there the quality is better then a Nigerian dwarf by far. I have owned Nigerian dwarfs for three years and none of there milk has even compared to the quality of my pygmy doe. Where I live pygmy goats are known for their milk.
I have a question. The goat in the picture with the leaf hanging out of its mouth. What breed is it???
Hi Misty, that is a Nigerian Dwarf:)
Thank you for your information. I am thinking of purchasing a wee goat for a pet as I have a fabulous BnB and know my guests would love to play with one. ~ Innkeeper: Loretta
That’s awesome! You’d better get two so they can be buddies:) Where do you rent your BnB?
Good to know that something good can come from Nigeria- my country. Thanks for the write-up. Very interesting.
Is there a goat that won’t sound like someone getting murdered that we can keep at our house in Ahwatukee? My wife is now obsessed with your blog and she turned me to it since I brought up getting laying hens to produce our own eggs because the price now is outrageous. Any tips or tricks for starting my own flock of chickens (if that is what it is called) ? Coop will be done in the next couple of days, then time for the chickens. I was thinking either red star or blue orpington, those seem to be the most popular for family chickens/laying hens. Any advice on the whole lot? Sorry it is kind of a two-part question haha.
Thanks in advance.
Hahahaha! That comment made me laugh out loud, Mike. When goats are loud, it’s usually because they are 1) Hungry 2) Thirsty or 3) Lonely. Goats are herd animals so you need to definitely have at least 2 for them to be happy. Occasionally you’ll have a doe be loud for the 3 days she’s in heat, but most often, if you have needs 1-3 met, you should have fairly quiet goats.
As far as chickens go, the best egg layers are Leghorns, but I’ve had all sort of breeds and I like them all. Honestly they all lay well. Good luck!
My husband and I suspect some of my kids may be allergic to dairy. I read your article about goat milk and decided that it might be worth getting some of our own goats but I wanted to sample some milk first before taking on the time effort and money investment of owning and raising goats. I purchased a half gallon of goats milk at a local health food store and it did not taste good. My family would not drink more than one sip. I suspect that the milk that I purchased came from a variety of breeds of goats and therefore I’m curious about whether or not there is a way to taste test goat’s milk that you were talking about, the mini Nigerians. I would appreciate any advice you have. I’m tired of my kids getting sick.
Heidi
Hello Heidi! I had almost the exact same experience, the health food store milk is WAY too goaty tasting. I’d recommend going to a local farm and trying the milk from there. HUGE DIFFERENCE!
Hi DaNelle! i was just wondering if you can buy a dairy goat and still have fun with it and play with it.
Hi Ashley,
Yes! People still purchase female goats just for fun! They make great pets and won’t have to be milked unless you breed them and they have babies:)
Great article. Signing up for newsletter.
Amazing. I just wanted to sign up for the newsletter.
Thanks DaNelle! Is there a way I can make a user account here on the site?
I LOVE the “Goaty” flavor, which milk breed produces the most of this kind of flavor?
Toggenburg:)
If you want more “goaty” flavor (around here we call it “bucky”), don’t look for a specific breed.
Breed has nothing to do with the flavor of the milk; the flavor comes from mis-handling of the milk, keeping an intact buck with the does, and sometimes certain forms of pasteurization.
Most goat farmers I know abhor the “bucky flavor” because they know where it comes from!
Properly handled milk is sweet and not sour at all.
When does are kept with intact bucks, the milk absorbs the buck’s musky smell. The smell doesn’t come so much from musk glands as from the buck’s urine. Yuck!
In addition to what Liberty Homestead Farm posted – the flavor of the milk is also affected by what the goat is eating. Wild onions, different types of brush, etc… can all influence the milk flavor. This is why goat dairies feed high quality hay and grass pasture instead of the brush/browse that the goats prefer. As for bucks, to avoid the “goaty” flavor, you’ll want to keep the buck at least 500 ft away from the does.
If you’re doing a small hobby farm/homestead – you can forego owning a buck altogether and find a nearby farmer who has a buck to use as a stud during breeding season – or even go the Artificial Insemination (AI) route if you’re really looking to increase the quality of your herd.
In addition to being stinky, the bucks are also quite a bit bigger, stronger, they have an attitude, and like any male animal they can be very hard to handle, aggressive and territorial when there are girls around.
There are always exemptions, and I’ve had bucks who were perfect gentlemen, but whether they’re sweet as can be or randy little monsters, you’ll always come away smelling like buck.
Also – different breeds have different milking qualities. Some produce more milk than others, some produce milk with higher butterfat quantities (for cheese, butter icecream, etc). The smaller breeds – nigerians and pygmies – can be difficult to milk because of the size of their teats. There are also personality differences between breeds. Some are more talkative (noisy) than others, some are more laid back, others are more pushy and opinionated, etc.
There are also health differences. We had a lot of issues with hoof rot in Ohio in our Boers, but our Kikos were fine. The Boers were developed (and thrive) in a dry, rocky environment while the Kikos were developed in the more temperate climate of New Zealand and were better adapted to the moisture content/bacteria in the soil.
It’s certainly worth doing your research ahead of time to make sure you and your goats are good for each other.
Out first of three Nigerians kidded yesterday. 2 bucks and a doe. We will be reading up on the prospect of milking. Farm fresh high butter fat goats milk is far superior to anything we have ever had. We visited a vets farm who has a dairy operation for research prior to jumping in. She was more than helpful. Both my wife have some medical training. We were given lessons on CAE and drawing blood and the various labs. Being newbies we are soaking in the info.
Actually, the American Dairy Goat Association accepts mixed breeds into the registry as long as both parents are registered with the ADGA already. They will be registered as Recorded Grade and can be shown in the Recorded Grade classes at both ADGA sanctioned shows and non-sanctioned county fairs.
Good to know!