Worst Goat Breeds for Milk
If you are looking into getting goats for your homestead and have the goal of getting milk from them, you are likely considering which breeds are ideal. Of course, you may also be wondering which breeds should be avoided.
The short answer to this query is to avoid any breeds that have been developed for meat. While all goats can produce milk, the ones aimed toward meat production will have small teats, not a lot of capacity, and will not give enough milk to make it worthwhile.
In this article, I am going to go over some of the worst goat breeds for milk production. So, stay tuned and read on to learn more.
So without further ado, let’s dive right in and get started!
Which Goat Breeds Are Not Ideal for Milk Production?
In this section, I will go over some of the worst breeds for milk production. There is a lot to get through, so let’s get into the meat of this article.
1. Boer Goats
This goat breed has been developed to be a meat goat as such this is a muscular animal that will not produce a lot of milk for long periods of time. This makes this a poor choice if you need an animal that will give you milk throughout the year.
Boer goats are large animals and are one of the goat breeds that produce the most meat. If you want an animal that is hardy, strong, and will give you high-quality meat, this will be the ideal breed for you.
2. Kalahari Red
This goat is another meat goat, they are large, tough, and sturdy animals which are not geared toward good milk production. Kalahari Red goats are generally calm and gentle animals, but they can grow to over 250 pounds.
3. Kiko Goats
This is yet another muscular meat goat which has not been bred for milk production. These easygoing goats are large and strong animals with gentle personalities.
They are not dairy animals, but if you want a breed that will give you a lot of high-quality meat, this is the ideal breed for you.
4. Angora Goats
The Angora goat has been bred for fibre or wool. They have long, soft hair that is nothing short of luxurious. They are a rather large breed and are not necessarily geared toward milk production, They can produce some milk but once again they have not been developed for it. As such, you would still be better off getting a breed of goat that is known for its dairy strength.
5. Spanish Goats
These goats are highly sought-after meat goats. They not only give high-quality meat, they are also known for their cashmere, which makes this an excellent dual-purpose animal. Sadly they are not geared toward milk production and as such you would be better off getting an animal that has been developed for milk production.
Final Thoughts
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about these amazing goat breeds. It is important to remember that these goat breeds have been developed for certain things. So none of them are bad, it is just important to understand what you want out of your goats. Are they pets? Do you want milk? Is meat your main goal? Do you want a combination of the three? At the end of the day, you need to come to terms with what you need from your animals so that you can make the best decision on what breed of goat you should go for.
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Thanks for reading!
FAQ
In this section, I am going to answer some of your most frequently asked questions concerning goats and raising them.
Which Goat Breeds Give the Best Quality Milk?
The two goat breeds I would recommend for the best quality milk have to be Nubian or Nigerian Dwarf. Both have mild-tasting milk with a sweet tinge and high butterfat. Some Swiss goat breeds have equally high-quality milk, such as Toggernburgs, Saanens, and Alpines.
Why Does Your Goat Milk Taste Weird?
Most of the time, strange-tasting goat milk is a result of improper storage and handling. As you will know, milk is a beloved breeding ground for bacteria and if you are not properly chilling and handling the milk it can develop unpleasant flavours due to the bacteria breaking down the proteins.
How Do You Make Your Goats Milk Taste Better?
One trick I learned to make your goat’s milk taste better is to get it chilled within fifteen minutes and store it at the appropriate temperature. You should also filter your goats’ milk to get out any debris and unwanted chinks. Both of these steps ensure that your milk will taste better than before.
Can You Milk Meat Goats?
Yes, you can! This is not typically done as meat goats will not have good capacity or dairy udders. On top of that, breeds like the Boer goat do not have long lactation periods, which means that your milk supply could dry up quicker than you think. Not ideal if you want to have milk year-round. You would be better off purchasing your chosen breed of dairy goat.
What is the Difference Between Meat and Dairy Goats?
There are two main differences between these goats. For one, meat goats are noticeably more muscled and bulky. This is because they were developed to have high quality and more meat on them. The second difference will be dairy strength. Meat goats do not produce a lot of milk for long periods of time, and they do not have dairy features such as large teats and dairy skin.