| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| AmyEllen |
Posted - May 18 2008 : 6:03:04 PM
Hello Ladies
I have a quick question. When I had goats a long time ago, I had Nubians. Now while they are still my favorite, I am looking at some Toggenburg Goats. Has anyone here had any of them? I know they do not have as high of fat content as Nubians. They are 2 year old does and one 4 month old doe kid. Both does are milking right now. Now I do have a question. After looking at them today, their teats are not huge, they seem a bit smaller then the Nubians I have dealt with. Do you think I would have any major issues as far as milking goes?? Do you all like Toggenburgs?? I think they are lovely looking goats, they are healthy and clean. Any suggestions?? They are purebred Toggenburgs and he is offering me the two does for 75 a piece and the doe kid for 25 a piece. He is a friend of a friend. And said he would give me a deal. OKay so what do you all think. Besides the basics, I am starting over new, as it has been 19 years since I had goats. Help, LOL
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| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - May 27 2008 : 10:32:10 AM
I will keep that in mind Alee. Thanks!
I took my youngest son to a nearby fair this weekend and met a breeder who raises Toggenburg, Nubian, La Mancha and Saanan goats. (She likes her Saanan's the LEAST. Said they also have naturally LOW FAT milk, so it's pointless to try and make dairy products from their milk. Though soap is ok) She said the Nubians and the La Mancha's have similar personalities, but the La Mancha's are the less clingy, needy and Whiney of the two breeds. I also get a kick out of those "Ears" on the La Manchas!! They are such a crack up!
I got her info and will probably go and check out her goats. They are VERY nice, and she says she has one La Mancha doe that will be for sale that is a star milker, but is not from the Breeding lines they've chosen for their herd. I might get a GREAT goat at a GREAT deal!! (she says the doe is her favorite all around-- freindly, willing to milk, a great mom etc... in fact, the more she talked about her, the LESS she wanted to sell her!)
I must be CRAZY for thinking about getting more! At least 2 of my does are due in the next week or so, so I might just wait until all my kids are born before adding any more goats. I already have 15 Nigies (including 3 bucks) and with 7 pregnant does (Nigies are notorious twinners-- at the LEAST! It's not unheard of for them to have quads and sextuplets!) I am going to have my hands FULL!! Anyway, I will keep you all updated, if anyone cares to know how it goes. I'll post on a new topic instead of hogging this forum! Thanks for all your advice ladies. It's much appreciated! Hugs~~~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| Alee |
Posted - May 26 2008 : 06:59:39 AM
Tracey- I have never had milk from a Nubian, but I have drank Oberhasli goat milk a lot. It doesn't taste goaty at all unless you don't keep the udders trimmed.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - May 25 2008 : 10:18:19 PM
Ahh... Good to know Linda. I hate that "GOAT-Y" taste! I have a hard time eating some kinds of commercial goat cheese because of that. I have 3 bucks, and that cheese tastes like they SMELL! (YUCK!!!)
I have admired the nubians as well. Somebody, not far from us, has some for sale at a reasonable price (actually they have BOTH breeds) and I am tempted to go take a look. How well do they ride in a car? (HA! HA! HA!) ~~~Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - May 25 2008 : 4:07:56 PM
Hi Amy,
I have had Nubian goats for the past 16 years. I love their milk. My first goats were Toggs. They were pretty goats and I think for the most part one of the healthiest goats I have ever raised. But the Tobbs I had had terrible tasting milk. Didn't matter how it was handled it tasted very goaty. Some people like that taste allot. I am not fond of it. They produced alot of milk and I know it was very good nutritious milk I just couldn't get past the taste.
I would ask to try the milk. They may not all be like that. I have had a few friends who had them also and said the same thing about their milk.Some stronger in taste than others. They still kept a few and showed them and used the extra milk for bottle babies because they are really good milkers.
But trying is the best way to know. Their milk may taste super and it was just my dumb luck.
take care
Linda
Each day is precious...take a few of those minutes for yourself. |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - May 21 2008 : 4:47:06 PM
Well, I know that the Nigerian dwarf's have the highest butter fat content of ALL the diary goats--- If you can believe that! I have small hands (I'm 5' 2"), so milking those small goats is not such a task. I hear the milk is great for making ice cream and soap, and that is what I really got them for. Trouble was, I was working up until last October when I quite my job as a Medical Assistant, so I didn't have too much time to devote to "farm life." I had enough time to make sure everyone was fed and watered and no one was sick or in trouble, but that was about it. Now I have time to sit and "visit" with them.
In January I bred 7 of my 12 does to two of my bucks. I hadn't bred any goats in over 2 years (I got most of them 5yrs ago) and I'm looking forward to having kids again. They are so much FUN!! It's going to be a battle teaching some of those girls to milk though. The only one who seems willing (and my FAVORITE) doesn't seem pregnant. It's kind of hard to tell, but I see all the other girls developing their udders and this one is either holding out, or she did not take. She had a set of twins several years ago, but they were a month or more too early and, of course, didn't make it. I've got my fingers crossed!
Anyway, the Toggs are gorgeous goats and seem to be super friendly. I think you should go for it Amy! Let us know how it works out.
And Aunt Jenny--- I'm old enough to try lots of things too. And finally BRAVE enough (and probably stubborn enough as well) We'll have to swap "adventure" stories! ~~~ Tracy |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 20 2008 : 9:44:30 PM
Oh Tracey..there are SOOOOO many things I can't do...I am just old enough to try alot of things I have wanted to try.
I agree...I tried milking a nigerian dwarf goat all of one time...and then an icelandic sheep all of one time..not for me....boy...you can milk them..with one finger and your thumb..but that sure isn't a fun experience!!! haha.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - May 20 2008 : 6:28:47 PM
Aunt Jenny, is there anything you CAN'T do? What an AMAZING woman you are!!!
Amy-- I LOVE TOGGS, never had them, but I'm SOOOOO leaning tword buying some myself, though I doubt I'll find any for SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS!!!! and definitely not $25 for any KIDS!! (what a STEAL!!) How lucky you are!
Ok, my reason for chiming in here is this-- I raise Nigerian Dwarf goats. The only thing that has teats SMALLER than the Dwarf's are the Pygmy's-- which I've never had, but they are MEAT goats, not DAIRY goats, so it doesn't surprise me that their teats are small.
Honestly, I have only milked does when I was bottle feeding their kids, so it was not a "regular" thing, but, my point is this, if a person can milk a goat that's only 19-21" tall, you shouldn't have much trouble milking a much bigger goat! Even if it IS smaller than a Nubian (which is that largest of ALL the dairy goat breeds) Anyway, Aunt Jenny's got some good advice. Run with it! and I hope they work out for you too. ~~Tracy
PS-- The HARDEST thing to milk by hand is a SHEEP!! BLAHHHH!
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 18 2008 : 7:03:21 PM
I havn't had Toggenburgs myself but have had friends who loved them. They sure are pretty..and that IS a good price. Make sure you get a chance to try some of their milk before you buy...any goat can have "off" tasting milk..it is good to try it first. They are a little smaller goats than nubians or Saanens (which I had) so their teats would be a little smaller..but they shouldn't be too hard to milk unless they are just extra small in that dept. I had an Oberhasli once with very very small teats and she was a pain to milk. I would ask to milk them first too. Good luck. I hope they work out for you!!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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