Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Our La Mancha milk goat, Ginger, has a more streamlined appearance with an already visible udder though
she's still 4 weeks from giving birth.
Nubian.
Nubian goats are one of the most popular dairy breeds in the United States right now and
can also serve as meat goats. Full-sized goats range between 125 and 175 pounds, so they are one
of the larger milk breeds. Nubians have high butterfat and protein content in their milk, which
makes them more popular for making cheeses. A Nubian doe can produce 1,400 to 1,500 pounds
of milk per year. Nubians are more vocal, like La Manchas, so if you have neighbors close by, that
is something to keep in mind.
Breeds for Meat
Boer.
One of the primary breeds of meat goats, Boers are large-framed and much thicker than
many of the other breeds. You look at a Boer and you can tell it is primarily a meat goat. They are
bred specifically for good weight gain, high conversion of feed to muscle ratio, and of course, size
and meatiness. Our Boer doe has a big, broad, Roman nose and floppy ears. Boers are actually
decent milkers as well and have rich, high-butterfat milk that they use to feed their twins, triplets,
or even quadruplets. While many strains have been selectively bred for meat production only, it is
possible to find strains of Boers with more productive milking abilities also. One cool thing about
Boers is that they are the only goats that can have four functional teats.
Dorper Sheep.
One of the fastest-growing meat breeds of sheep, the Dorper originated in South
Africa, so it is well suited to hot, dry, and less than ideal conditions. The sheep grow quickly and
give a backyard farmer a good return on feed investments with their ability to thrive in a variety of
conditions. For someone looking for a very low-maintenance breed, the Dorper or White Dorper
sheep do not require shearing. They are sometimes used as crosses for backyard farmers wanting to
improve quick growth, good mothering, and a high rate of lambing.
