Choosing a Dairy Goat Breed
2/10/2012 11:51:00 AM
The most frequently asked question that people ask me about goats is,
"What is the difference in each breed's milk taste, and how much milk do they average." And
that is always one of the hardest questions to answer, simply because
there really aren't any solid answers I can give! Each individual goat
is going to have its own amount of milk it's going to give, and it's
going to have its own taste. Think of it like a grab bag. You never know
what you're going to get.
But that sounds rather discouraging. How on earth is a body supposed
to choose a goat breed if they're hesitant about each one? Over the
years, I've had the privilege to own almost all the dairy breeds out
there, and then try the milk from countless of other goats. Through much
experience (read: trial and error as we bought goats that gave horrid
tasting milk!), I've gotten to know each breed's quirks and histories,
and I've come to realize that it actually
is possible to give people an idea of what to expect from each breed.
So I thought I would go through the breeds here and introduce them to y'all. I would like to state again though, that
each goat will vary. I
know people who swear that Saanens give the best tasting milk above all
other goats, and other people who wouldn't touch a Saanen with a 10
foot pole. So this post is going to have a lot of blanket statements, as
I try and give you an overview of the dairy breeds. Bear with me here.
First off would be the Saanen (
http://www.nationalsaanenbreeders.com/).
Saanens are one of, if not THE, top producers of the dairy breeds. 2-3
gallons per day is not uncommon, although most will average 1 1/2
gallons per day. Their downside is that their butterfat is only 2% to
3%. Now, if you are used to drinking two percent milk from the grocery
store, then you would probably do alright with these big gals. But if
you've tasted other raw milks like Jersey cow, or Nubian or Nigerian
goat milk, you might be disappointed. In plain English, it's rather
bland and watery.
Side note: as we go along, and I'm jabbering on and on about
butterfat percentages, and you have no idea how to imagine that. Compare
it with store bought milk. That 1/2 and 1/2 cream you buy from there
would be the equivalent of almost 10% butterfat. Two percent milk is, of
course, 2% butterfat. In my mind, I imagine a cream line. If you are
familiar with raw cow milk and how the cream rises then you might
understand better.
Back to the goats now.
Next up is the Alpine. (
http://www.alpinesinternationalclub.com/)
Alpines probably vary the most when it comes to milk taste. They
really do vary from breeder to breeder. The majority though, give really
nice tasting milk. Alpines are no-nonsense milkers, and are very steady
producers. Milk averages also vary, but a decent Alpine should give at
least 1 gallon per day. Really good Alpines will give 2 to 3 gallons per
day. Butterfat content is about 3.5% so sweeter than the Saanen, but
not overbearingly rich. These are good gals.
And then we have the Nubians... (
http://www.i-n-b-a.org/) Nubians
vary greatly in milk averages simply because there are so many bad
specimens of them out there, and so many people who don't breed for
better goats. A good Nubian can keep the pace with her European cousins
very well, and easily give 2 gallons a day, but that's a pretty high
amount. 1 gallon is pretty average for a fairly decent doe. I like to
see first fresheners (term for a 1 year old doe who has kidded for the
first time) giving 3/4 gallon per day. That's my standard. If you look
on Craigslist though, you'll most likely see a lot of older Nubians who
are called "excellent milkers" as they give 1/2 gallon per day. Whoop
dee doo. Their milk is sweet tasting, and averaging 4% to 5% in
butterfat. I have yet to meet a Nubian who gave funny tasting milk.
Toggenburgs are next up. (
http://www.nationaltoggclub.org/) These
ladies are impressive milkers, pumping out 2 gallons or more each day
while remaining steady in production. However, these goats originated in
the Swiss Alps and were bred specifically for strong, goaty tasting
milk. And many Toggs hold true to that! I've spoken with quite a few
Togg breeders and they will sheepishly admit that they don't drink their
milk; they keep Nubians, or some other breed to supply drinking milk.
Their Toggs are just for show. But, if you like goaty flavored milk,
maybe this is your breed! Butterfat content hovers around 3%. Same as
the Alpines.
And the Oberhaslis... (
http://oberhasli.net/) Oh
I love the way the "Obers" look. Oberhaslis are excellent producers,
just like the rest of their European cousins. Two gallons per day is
considered normal for many breeders, and three gallons isn't uncommon.
Butterfat is close to the Toggenburg and the Alpine as they stick close
to 2.5% to 3.5%. But, just like the Toggs, Oberhaslis are a Swiss breed,
and they have the trademark flavor. Strong tasting. I remember my first
Oberhasli doe I had... Her name was Alexis and I loved her to pieces.
But I honestly thought she had mastitis when I tried her milk for the
first time. I took a small jar to the breeder and asked what was wrong.
She tasted it and said nothing was wrong: that's what Ober milk tastes
like! Needless to say, Alexis went back to the breeder. I've had a
handful of other people ask this same question. Why does their
Oberhasli's milk taste like she has mastitis?? I do have a friend in
Ohio who says her Obers give normal tasting milk though, so it's
possible that some breeders have been able to eliminate that gene from
their herd. My advice is if you're looking at purchasing an Oberhasli,
try her milk. If she's a doeling, try her mother's milk.
La Manchas: I have to say, I really like La Manchas. (
http://www.lamanchas.com/) An
Oregonian breed, La Manchas give large quantities of sweet tasting
milk. Most does average 1-2 gallons per day, and butterfat percentage is
usually 4% to 4.5%. Calm, steady does, if you don't mind the ears (or
lack of them), La Manchas are a really good choice. And if you don't
like their ears, buy one anyway. You'll be hooked soon after.
Nigerians are a fun breed. (
http://www.andda.org/) Does
can give from 2 cups, to 3/4 a gallon per day. I have a friend who has
two does that each give 1/2 gallon per day, and it amazes me every time I
see those does. They're only eighteen inches tall! Butterfat ranges
from 6% to 10%. So there's your cream for the morning coffee! does will
start at 6% in the beginning of their lactation, and by the time they
hit their peak (8 weeks) the butterfat will have risen to 8% to 10%.
This stuff is sooooo good. ;) But then, I'm a cream lover. No two
percent for me! I would say a good average is three cups of milk per day
from each doe. That's what I hear from most breeders.
Lastly, but not leastly, is the Guernsey. (
http://guernseygoats.org/) Guernseys
are still considered a rare breed here in the USA, and breeders are
still trying to get good foundation lines down. But I'm hearing an
average of 1 gallon per day from many does, and butterfat percentages
are usually 6% to 8%. So their milk is sweeter than Nubians, but not so
sweet as Nigerians. Guernseys are one of the best breeds for grass based
dairies, as they are able to efficiently convert grass to milk, whereas
the high producing breeds like the Alpine, Saanen, Toggenburg, and
Oberhasli need grain in order to keep production up.
So there you have it! An idea of what to expect from each breed!
What are your favorite goat breeds, and why?
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