I like all the the above listed books, and would add goatkeeping 101 from caprine supply, and raising dairy goats the modern way. I didnt realize this until my nigerian dwarf goats already had some bad habits like rushing out the gate when i opened it. Pygmy goats are very popular as pets mainly for their small size and very friendly nature. In terms of how to raise pygmy goats, thefirst thing you should consider is their place of abode. Caring for this goat is no different from caring for other pets. Breaking down the complicated process of choosing and purchasing the right goat breed to meet your needs and getting facilities for your goat set up. Source nigerian dwarf goats are compact, docile, and productive little animalsbecause they are smaller than standard goats, and have a friendly disposition, they are easier to manage and live with, making them popular as pets.
Pygmy goats do well in almost all climates, and while their living requirements are modest, a baby pygmy goat does need certain things to ensure its health. Pygmy goats as pets and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Raising pygmy goats doesnt differ much from fullsize goats, except their basic needs are on a smaller scale. There are a few things that are necessary for keeping goats healthy and happy. A breed society the pygmy goat club was formed, and a herd book started. The book nutrition and physical degeneration by dr. How to raise pygmy goats is easy as long as you treat them as you would with normal dairy goats through love and affection. Raising goats how to take care of a newborn goat how to milk a goat how to breed a goat pygmy goats how to feed milk to baby pygmy goats nubian goats goat diseases additional tips on how to take care of goats essentials to. There are advantages and disadvantages to all the breeds, but there are nine reasons why you need nigerian dwarf goats. A pygmy goat is a smaller breed of the dairy or meat goat. When getting goats, make sure you have enough room for them to romp. Lessons we learned raising goats and basic caring for your animals. Companion goats pygmy small breed short legs, large torso, broad head can be used for meat main color is grizzled, all colors.
If youre raising pygmy goats from kids, have the babies disbudded horns removed when theyre very young. First off, did you know that you can train goats to respond to a whistle or other noise. Dec 02, 2012 and more people are in the business of raising them for their milk. For the rest of the owners, this breed of goats is kept as family pets due totheir cuddly and playful bearing. Feel free to add any comments related to raising goats or urban goats.
Put them in a side yard thats grown weeds six feet tall and watch these little guys go to town. Basic goat care for new goat keepers farming my backyard. Complete guide to raising pygmy goats for profit learn. How to raise nigerian dwarf goats with pictures wikihow. Mar 20, 2020 if you are breeding goats for meat, you can also settle for pygmy. If theres anything more fun than a box of puppies, its a pen full of pygmies. So, youll see two types of people purchase pygmy goats. Before you start shooting the messenger and accuse me of wrecking your homesteading dream or saying im a goathater, let me explain myself. Management and veterinary care by boldrick dvm, lorrie, hale, lydia isbn. Raising, breeding, keeping, milking, food, care, health and where by elliott lang 20, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Guide for raising pygmy goats modern farming methods. As pygmy is a small goat breed doesnt require much of maintenance.
Inaddition, even their meat is being sold for extra income. Pygmy goats have thick muscles, and that produces great meat production. I originally decided on nigerian dwarf goats because we have an urban homestead. Raising goats by andrew ebooks nook book ebook barnes. African breeders developed these goats to be compact and resourceful, and able to survive on limited highquality forage in a variety of climate conditions. Some breeds of goat are raised for fiber, that is spun into yarn. It was later found to be suitable for smallscale dairy production, and some breeding was directed towards dairy qualities.
Raising pygmy goats as pets are a good choice because they look cute and adorable they are friendly in behavior. Between daily milking, special nutrition management, and the mandatory breeding necessary to maintain milk production, keeping a dairy herd is a big commitment. Goats such as the pygmy smallest meat breed, nigerian dwarf smallest dairy breed, and the pygora smallest fiber breed are going to be your best bets. That includes researching and sourcing the best books and products to help individuals master the skills they need in times like these and beyond. Price states that animals who ate barley or rye grass in the 1930s had the highest amounts of fat soluble vitamins in their milk. Whenever folks ask me about our goats, i usually rave about the pygmy. This book is a must have guide for anybody passionate about pygmy goats, mini goats or dwarf goats. Top 9 reasons why you dont want nigerian dwarf goats my. I found this book very helpful when making my decision as to weather or not pygmy goat raising is for me. Raising, breeding, keeping, milking, food, care, health. If you plan to raise goats for milk, then you may think you need to own a billy goat also.
Homestead goats can also provide meat, fiber, carry a pack, clear brush, or serve as a livestock companion. Goats are smart and curious, and they will head out into the neighborhood if given the chance. Best book on goats welcome to the homesteading today. Raising pygmy goats as pets complete guide farmingx. I am incorporating something new into my goats diet. We noticed there is a lack of material on miniature goats, we thought we could provide a comprehensive guide on raising nigerian dwarf and pygmy goats. But they are also lowmaintenance dairy goats, giving a surprising amount of highquality, highfat milk despite their small size. I really like the harvey considine book, dairy goats for pleasure and profit. Find out how in the free email crash course on raising goats in the city. A space required for a pair of pygmy goats is 10ft by 10ft. I started raising pygmy goats for the first time last december. Raising goats can be quite rewarding and pretty entertaining.
The goats, which are often featured in petting zoos, make ideal pets for kids. We primarily raise our goats for milk and we make glorious cheese, yogurt and soap from it. That is solely because different people look for different things in their pets. Jan 08, 2000 storeys guide to raising dairy goats book. Whether you want petsfriends or youre looking to get into breeding goats, id recommend this as a great reference book. These little goats make good, if mischievous, pets. Raising, breeding, keeping, milking, food, care, health and where on. Everything you need to know about pygmy goats as pets. Raising pygmy goats as pets is very popular in some countries.
After raising goats, breeding, and caring for goats for fifteen years, i have compiled a list of 9 truths about raising goats. Pygmy goats care, housing, interacting, feeding and health. Here are some tips you can follow to take good care of a pygmy goat you are planning to bring home. There are different opinions about raising a pygmy goat, which depends on the purpose for which you are going to raise it. You need to decide how many goats you want to care for. Keeping goats with chickens is possible and can benefit both species. They can escape easily through the fence, if you make the fence by keeping in mind the larger goats.
Although you will get different views from different people about raising pygmy goats as pets. Bringing home goats requires some forethought on your part so that you can keep your goats safe and healthy and protect them from predators. Pygmy goats, mini goats or dwarf goats facts and information. Whether your intentions are to raise goats for dairy, meat, fiber, or to raise goats as pets, this post will help you get started.
Raising, breeding, keeping, milking, food, care, health and where as want to read. This book covers all the subjects including how choosing your goats, how to take care of the goat, how to feed them and even how to. Keep in mind that some nigerian dwarf breeders raise pets. Raising pygmy goats 4 basic guidelines to help you take. The following are main advantages of nigerian dwarf goat raising.
Jan 22, 2020 keeping goats with chickens is possible and can benefit both species. An informative book, such as storeys guide to raising dairy goats by jerry belanger, is a good place to. Availability of freshwater and sufficient nutritious goat feed. And as more and more people look for ways to live sustainably and grow their own food, goats are a wonderful option for raising meat and milk, and you can harvest their fleece, as well. The modern pygmy goat is often called the african pygmy goat, owing to their origins in central and west africa. Raising, breeding, keeping, milking, food, care, health and where to buy all included. Nigerian dwarf goats are the perfect sized goat to keep for milking and meat for urban farming or urban homesteading. To be successful in raising nigerian dwarf goats on a small farm, one must have a good understanding of their nutritional needs. If they do allow goats, more than likely they will have a size andor weight limit.
All goats butt, but theres a big difference if youre butted by a playful goat without horns compared to one with a full set. In our experience, keeping a pygmy goat pet is a great option for a small farm or homestead. Raising pygmy goats as pets modern farming methods. I have this book, and out of the 15 years ive been raising goats and buying books, this is by. But in africa, they are raised for meat production.
There are certain things that these animals are particular about and once you read this guide you will see what you need to do to keep them happy. Smith has raised a small herd of dairy goats under the herd name mystic acres since 1998. Nigerian dwarf goats for urban farming and homesteading. Part of deciding to keep goats is figuring out which breed is best for you. Pygmy goats have mediumlong soft coats that can be in many colors.
People love them due to their small size and unique body structure. The truth about keeping backyard goats living homegrown. The pygmy goat has better adaptability to any type of environmental condition. For this reason, more and more people are in the business of raising them for their milk. Rather than raising them for their milk or meat, owners usually adopt them for show and companionship. The usual breed as a pet choice is usually miniature goat breeds such as nigerian dwarf goat, pygmy. Besides their attractive appearance, they are friendly too.
Like all goats, they need proper shelter, a balanced diet and some social time raising pygmy goats is an enjoyable experience, and also profitable. Now maybe youre thinking about getting dairy goats to round out your backyard homestead and start raising goats for milk. Raising goats for milk production is generally considered the most laborintensive reason for keeping them. Raising, breeding, keeping, milking, food, care, health and where.
Both are registered breeds with beautiful, soft fiber, their needs differ in some areas from other goat breeds such as the pygmy and the nigerian dwarf, or nubian, but all require certain regular health and wellness care. Pygmy goats are not a dairy breed and most owners do not milk their female. S o youve had chickens for a while and are enjoying those awesomely flavorful homegrown eggs. Because goats are herd animals, you should always keep at least two pygmies. Homestead goats what you need to know to get started. How to raise pygmy goats easy and simple steps to follow. Litter size is affected by breed, age, season, and nutrition. Nigerian dwarf goat book for daily care, pros and cons, raising, training, feeding, housing and health. Top 9 reasons why you dont want nigerian dwarf goats. A guide to raising goats sustainable farming mother earth. Raising nigerian dwarf goats our daily goat routine.
The nigerian dwarf goats were originally bred in west africa, where they were valuable for being easy to care for in. Horns can also get stuck in fencing or anywhere a curious goat tries to go. This is why the smallest goat breeds are the most popular in urban and suburban areas. Little goats are perfect petting zoo critters, especially if they are handraise bottle fed by humans, 2 excellent weed and brush eaters. The nigerian dwarf goats are very easy to blend with other livestock and usually share pastures peacefully with other animals such as sheep, cattle, horses, and other goats. Goats are not only a fabulous source of high quality milk, but are an incredibly versatile animal on a homestead. The book is written in an easy to read and understandable style. In addition, even their meat is being sold for extra income. How to raise pygmy goats simple steps for beginners. Theresa becchetti livestock and natural resource advisor stanislaus and san joaquin counties university of california cooperative extension. Dec 09, 2016 raising your own homestead goats as dairy animals is a great way to get connected to your food source. Beginners guide to raising goats for milk production. The nigerian dwarf and mini dairy goat magazine and goat health care.
They are mostly easy to keep, friendly and comical additions to the family farm. Masons world encyclopedia of livestock breeds and breeding sixth edition. Goat care and maintenance of healthy goats timber creek farm. An adult pygmy goat weights about 75 pounds and stand about 16 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder. Pygmy goats may just be my most favorite breed of goats. Native to west africa, they are most ideal for petting but also for meat given their fleshy bodies. If these backyard goats are on your wish list, i highly suggest checking out her site she has a great goat section and buying the book. Raising pygmy goats as pets and for farming purposes is quite popular these days. These miniature goats are adorable and friendly in nature. Nigerian dwarf goat raising for beginners goat farming. Raising pygmy goats 4 basic guidelines to help you take care of pygmy goats often, people assume that raising pygmy goats would be an arduous task.
A great pet for kids pygmy goats are great pets to own, provided you have lots of yard space or live in a rural locale. But you can use a goats horrid distaste of getting wet to do some training. You can make good fencing for pygmies by woven wire with 4 feet high. They consider this breed rather dainty and frail, but that is actually the farthest thing from the truth. Pygmy is the miniature goat and it is best suited for those who looking goats as a pet.
Pygmy goat size chart indicates that their sizes range from 6080 pounds for bucks and 5075 pounds for does. Goats need some kind of shelter from the elements and a safe place to bunk down. Raising goats for dummies provides you with an introduction to all aspects of owning, caring for, and the daytoday benefits of raising goats. It doesnt take long to have a really big herd once your mamas start having babies. I have tried goat meat, but we primarily raise chickens and lambs for meat, so we dont have a need for meat goats.
We have found that the fainting goats are easier to house and raise then a pygmy. Nigerian dwarf goats make a fun addition to your home or small farm, but they are livestock that come with their own special needs. I like to keep a couple males from the spring for breeding back to the girls in the fall. An interesting facet of caring for pygmy goats is that based on their size and weight, they can produce a good deal of milk. This quickstart guide will give you basic information about goats and goat raising. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Difference between nigerian dwarf goats and nigerian pygmy goats. Goat raising is not easy but if you also willing to learn more about them, you can confidently raise goats either as pets or as livestock. Pygmy goats do require dry and warm a simple goat shed. Pygmy goats are friendly mellow animals, you can handle them on a leash. Selling babies, especially the boys is a good idea. I own nigerian dwarf goats, and i will probably own them the rest of my life. The pygmy goat is a popular breed of miniature domestic goat. But, there are several issues to consider if you decide to keep a billy in your herd.
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