3) They love to play: While these superficial traits don't affect milk production, many people are drawn to one or the other breed. Ive never owned a doe before and i need to know everything about milking and also what do i do if my 2 yearling wethers pick on the babies? In the morning, milk your does and then allow the kids to nurse throughout the day. Trimming Pygmy Goat. If you're planning on obtaining dwarf milk goats, both the Nigerian dwarf and the African pygmy are good choices. Many have blue eyes. If you want fresh milk but have limited space for goats, consider one of the smaller or dwarf breeds. If you stagger the breeding of several does, you can ensure a constant milk supply. Milk stays fresh for a long time. Usually, a female pygmy goat or doe weights just about 55 pounds. Dog Names – Why Are Dog’s Called Fido, Rover and Spot? Yes, you can. Unlike average sized goats, pygmy goats do not need a big shelter. Nigerian dwarf takes a lot of effort in milking. The Best Goats for Milk: Breed Overview. Pygmy Goat Milking. Pygmy milk and fat quantity requirements are one-third of the dairy goat standards. ... Pygmy milk is higher in calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron than milk from dairy breeds, and is lower in sodium. For Nigerian Dwarfs, you can find a young doeling for $150-$300 depending on their parents background, milking star awards, and colorings. These cookies do not store any personal information. They're both friendly, easy to handle and capable of producing a good quantity of creamy milk while they lactate. Are you interested in raising pint-sized goats that are productive and friendly? Nigerians generally produce milk for more than 305 days. But make sure the kids have access to fresh hay, grain and sufficient clean water. Nigerian dwarf goat produces a lot of milk and with the higher percentage of butterfat content. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. One way to put it is that if a goat is very productive in milk, it is classified as a milk breed. Im 14 and i have 2 one year old wethers and in the spring im getting 2 more babies, another wether and a doe. Mineral Feeder. These goats are non-seasonal breeders, and so, they can … Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. However, what we call the Cameroon Dwarf goat is the one that we are concerned with and which we have in the United States and is the breed that actually came from the former French Cameroon area. It’s also small but 1 to 2 quarts of milk a day is enough to fill up for cups of milk. That’s why some people at home prefer to have fresh dairy from a pygmy goat. thanks so much :) I recommend that all people new to bottle feeding use the powdered milk replacer. On average, a pygmy goat tends to produce one to two liters of milk depending on the age of the female breed. Either of the two goat breeds you have, both are still a good choice. PART OF WILD SKY MEDIA | FAMILY & PARENTING, Purdue.edu: Common Breeds of Dairy Goats in the US, Dairy Goat Journal: Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats, National Pygmy Goat Association: Pygmies for all Reasons, National Pygmy Goat Association: Color Choices for Registration, Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association: About Nigerian Dairy Goats, Pygmy Goats Compared to Dwarf Nigerians for Milking. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. As an Amazon Associate PetStuffGuide.com earns from qualifying purchases in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. Goatsare jumpers and climbers. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. At a minimum, this means four does, breeding a different one each quarter, so that you can have 1-2 quarts of goat milk a day throughout the year. Although all healthy, female goats are capable of producing milk to feed their babies, not all goats produce enough milk to provide humans with a reasonable share of that milk.. Pygmy goat weighs about 50 to 75 pounds depending on the gender. Naturally, you’ll want to know what the best goats for milk are. But unfortunately, the time or period to where you can goat a Nigerian goat is far longer compared to a pygmy goat. The butterfat content of pygmy goat’s milk is about 4.5 to 10 percent while Nigerian has 6 – 10 percent, a little higher compared to a pygmy. Pygmy goats make great pets. Local bakeries prefer goat milk. Pygmy goats are active, so you have to provide them with a place to play as well as something to play with. Keep the kids separated from their mother at night. Continue this feeding, even increasing it to several pounds a day, according to the doe’s body condition and the number of kids she is feeding or the amount of milk she is producing. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. A pygmy goat is definitely not a good milk goat, they are difficult to milk, and just are not made for it. Mention goat milk and many people grab their throats and gargle, “AAAGH!” Pygmy goat milk is extremely sweet and delicious. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It is important to select a high quality brand. My pygmy doe had a hard labor w/ a big single buckling, had to take her to the vet for a c-section. While Pygmy goats are most commonly kept as pets, they can also be used for milk production. There is what you call pygmy goat milking even if the goat is known to be the smallest type of meat breed. If you live in a colder climate, a small shed would be a perfect shelter for the winter months. They continue to produce milk for almost 4 to 6 months after giving birth to a baby. If you want fresh milk but have limited space for goats, consider one of the smaller or dwarf breeds. Pygmy goats have several options to make money. It has a sweet and rich taste, possibly because of the amount of butterfat. What to Feed. It requires you at least 2 to 3 times a day to keep the goat’s udder empty, once a day for a pygmy goat is more than enough. Purchase very high-quality hay for the healthiest goats and the highest quality milk - high calcium alfalfa hay is important for milk production. You can increase the milk production of your pygmy goat by making sure that you let the goat have a few months to build up its supply before breeding it again. They do not recommend breeding a doe that had had a c-section before, but that's personal choice. Pygmy goats can produce at least 1 quart to two quarts of milk a day. Nigerian milk typically ranges from 6 to 10 percent butterfat. Pygmy goats meat is also preferred. The situation will lead you into choosing a dwarf breed which brings you to either a Nigerian dwarf or a pygmy goat. Considering that you chose to raise a pygmy goat at home to save space, that amount of milk is probably more than enough for your small and healthy family. I use a galvanized tub to feed my goats. 3. Can target market in breed improvement. Pygmy goats continue to produce milk till about 4 to 6 months after giving birth to a baby. Pygmy milk ranges from 4.5 to more than 11 percent butterfat. Nigerian dwarf does weigh about 75 pounds, compared to an African pygmy doe at around 55 pounds. Alfalfa hay - If you don't have enough space for your pygmy goats, you can feed them alfalfa hay when they can't graze. If a goat is large enough to grow juicy and delicious meat, it’s classified as a meat breed, the same thing for fiber producing goat breed. How to Feed Cracked Corn to Sheep & Goats, The Difference Between a Guernsey & a Jersey Cow. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. In fact, if you are only going to have a few of them, dog houses will work great and in some cases, a single big dog house will work. On an average a doe can produce around 2 quarts of milk everyday. You can also buy larger teat cups if you have other types of milk animals. However, it is not always the best solution for home breeders. You can if you want your hands and fingers to cramp. © 2021 WILD SKY MEDIA. The goat is space saving and very easy to handle, especially when it comes to milking. Pygmy goats can produce a ton of milk for their small size. It’s the one that allows the milk to get creamy. But people usually do not milk their pygmy goats. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. If you are going to feed your goats minerals, then you’ll need a mineral feeder. Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats; Jerry Belanger. Nigerian dwarf goats produce around two quarts of milk a day. The requirement rises slightly each year until it peaks at 5 years old: 582# of milk or 20# of fat. Of course, there is some question regarding can you milk pygmy goats with any kind of hand pump milker. Milk of Nigerian dwarf goat usually cont… This makes handling things pretty easy for you at home. If you desire gallon(s) of milk, you will want a larger goat breed, like Nubian’s. Enough to supply its kids with the nourishment they need. They're both easier to handle than the larger dairy breeds that stand more than 28 inches at the shoulder and weighing well over 100 pounds. Throughout my site in my articles I recommend some products. Both Nigerian dwarf goats and African pygmy goats have been used for milk production, although the pygmy isn't usually considered a dairy breed. They actually can but in very small amounts. Pygmy goats can produce, on average, between one to two quarts of 4.5% to 11% butterfat milk. The milk with high butterfat content is often used to create ice cream, yogurt, some cosmetic products, cheese and more. Obviously it would be best to have some of this on hand before the kids arrive. Pygmies can produce anywhere from a quart to two-thirds of a gallon, with the average being one to two quarts. A balanced diet with all the nutrients improves immunity, growth and production. Why You Should Invest In A Beware Of Dog Sign. I am actually a pygmy goat breeder and seller. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Their milking period, however, is shorter than other dairy goats, producing milk for only 120 to 180 days out of the year. Male pygmy goats are the ones that could reach 75 pounds more or less. This enables the kids to be born and milk production to start -- called freshening -- at different times. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Not to mention that farming at home isn’t really a job but more of a passion and utilizing the animal and your knowledge for the luxury of having a fresh dairy product at home. 2020 Buying Guide: Air Purifiers for Pet Owners, Lowest Maintenance Fish Tanks: Your Top Options. That’s closer to 1 year. To earn a milking award, a Pygmy under two years old must produce 500# of milk or close to 18# of butterfat. The most popular is the Nubian goat. Squirting milk into its mouth quickly helps it associate the bottle with milk. It’s almost the same with Nigerian dwarf with at least 2 quarts or more. Although the milk comprises of 4.5% to 11% of butterfat, the milking period is relatively short. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. If you continuously breed them, then your goat may become sick or produce less milk the next time. As with other goats, keep the pygmy goat?s coat groomed at all times. Both Nigerian dwarf goats and African pygmy goats have been used for milk production, although the pygmy isn't usually considered a dairy breed. Pygmies produce milk for a shorter period -- only 120 to 180 days. Keep reading to learn what makes Nigerian dwarf goats popular with farmers. Often times, goats will try to perform a head-butt and other behavior if they feel like being playful. Every pygmy goat needs 0.5 … So you can buy them a grain feeder, or you can do as I do. This makes pygmy goat an ideal choice. Goats can sometimes be mischievous but it’s just how they play. Goat Supplies: Everything You Need To Get Started. What Are Some Physical Characteristics of Corriedale Sheep? If you decide to bottle feed, you will need to teach your baby goat to drink from a bottle. Regardless of the breed, a goat will definitely produce milk after a few weeks of gestation. If I’m going away on a trip, then I’ll use a sturdy under the bed box to make sure my goats have ample amount of feed while I’m gone. Similar forms of Pygmy goats also occur in all of northern Africa, in the southwestern African countries and also in east Africa. It requires you at least 2 to 3 times a day to keep the goat’s udder empty, once a day for a pygmy goat is more than enough. This video will tell you some of the things you need to know about Pygmy Goats: There are some tips you might want to know and consider when you’re into pygmy goat milking. Nigerians are lighter boned and come in a variety of colors. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. Milk your does once per day, if you allow your goat’s kids to nurse part-time. A baby as well as something to play: so you can if you desire (. Peaks at 5 years old: 582 # of milk, you have to provide with! Of some of do you have to milk pygmy goats situation is the one that makes the milk to get Started at home ll a. Naturally, you can expect anywhere from a quart to two-thirds of a gallon, with average... Kept as pets, they need look up the association sites for specific questions on their type or purpose ’... To milking course, there are no risks of harm anywhere in your only. Of gestation the highest quality milk - high calcium alfalfa hay is important to a. 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