Anyone have Nubian goats or info on them?

We have been looking at getting goats and for various reasons have narrowed it to the Nubian's. If you think there is another goat to meet my purposes please feel free to state why. I am curious if anyone has Nubian's, know anyone that does, and the general ease ability of milking them.

My purposes are:

1) Production of about 6 gallons daily total.
2) BF of about 4-5%
3) Ability to help clean up non mowable areas like hillsides.
4) Temperament needs to be so that a child can help care for them.
5) Easy milking.
6) Can survive -50C weather. Will have insulated shelter.
7) Amount of kids doesnt matter.

An easier way to put it, something in goat form that mimics my Jersey cows in a smaller size that can do well in rough terrain.

ABPride has milking goats, I think some Nubians, but she doesnt get on here much anymore.
I have no knowledge of goats, tried to convince hubby once that a goat would be nice to have but he still says no.

I use to have a Goat Dairy so I will try to answer the best I can My answers are in Red

pfarms wrote:

My purposes are:

1) Production of about 6 gallons daily total.
No Goat will produce that much milk per day a good Gallon to a gallon and a half is about all you can expect and they can even be hard to Find
2) BF of about 4-5%
That is a high Butter fat that you are wanting a good Nubian might have 3.5% to 4 % if you are lucky and feed for a higher butter fat which can get expensive and they must have pure Alfalfa all the time to produce that good
3) Ability to help clean up non mowable areas like hillsides.
They can do that some what you have to remember Goats are Browsers and like trees and leaves more than pasture They are really not grazers but they will help clean areas but they will not eat every thing that grows like some people think
4) Temperament needs to be so that a child can help care for them.
Nubians are a calm goat but so are Lamancha's & Sannen's are nice also
5) Easy milking.
All the breeds just like a Jersey are different some are easy some are not teat size and orifice size is always different
6) Can survive -50C weather. Will have insulated shelter.
Nubian ears can and will freeze if they get wet and are out side Lamancha ears are small aleady so they cannot get wet from drinking
7) Amount of kids doesnt matter.
All the breeds have 1 to 4 kids with ease

An easier way to put it, something in goat form that mimics my Jersey cows in a smaller size that can do well in rough terrain.

They can all do well in Rough Terrain But you have to remember if you have a pendulous Udder it can get ripped and injured so try and look for nice uddered does and if you get a buck remember they get ripe smelling during breeding time

Have a look at the French alpines. They might be better for the cold weather.

The Alpines are a great breed of goat
But they are alittle bossy and pfarms was wanting something for kids.
Alpines are great for milk and for browsing but they can be alittle pushy
I know a bunch of good alpines
There is a Herd not far from me that is selling some of their Milkers and kids

Clarification...

On amount of milk, I should have specified that I meant in a HERD of goats... I am fully aware a single goat can not produce that.

I will admit, I have not thought of the udder. I am too used to my Jersey's. The ares I am thinking would be around my creeks and in the tree breaks for the clean up and only in the summer. I will have to keep that in mind and make sure the areas are suitable for them rather then for me.

For about 6 Gallons per day I would say for you to get about 4 to 6 if you are wanting to stick with Nubian's as they are not the higher milk producing breed they do have a bit more Higher Butter fat depending on the lines.
If you are wanting bigger milk producers I would say go with the Saanen Dairy goat as they are the breed that produces more milk but they do have a lower Butterfat
The one drawback is that they come in only White, there is a Sable Saanen but I dont think there are any breeders of the Sable here in Canada
Like I had said before the ears of the Nubian are problems sometimes in the winter as they cna a will freeze at times for that Like I said Lamancha's are a good all round breed
Like Hillbilly said You could check out Alpines They are good Producers and come in different colors.
Tamric Acres in Mb has some nice Lamancha's [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and weysouthfarm here in Sk has some nice [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] They could let you know better how they take the cold winter's. As for Nubian's I really dont know any breeders off had but You might check with Alberta Goat Breeders there might be someone close to you
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Hope this helps and I can also answer as many questions as I can as I love talking Goats

Forgot to add
The areas that you are talking about sound perfect for them and they would love that in the summers
One thing is remember goats are tuff on fences as they think its always better on the other side a good 4 or even six strand electric fence will keep them in even with sheep fencing it is a good Idea to have a few strands of electric to keep them off the fence

I have no way to get electricity to those areas. I would be running the goats in those areas behind the Highlands. The Highlands would be knocking down any trees that are leaning and I figured the goats would love that. All of these areas do have double fencing. And I am constantly doing repairs from the highlands rubbing their heads on the fence and those horns... They love to rip up the fences lol. It is page wire right now. I figured I would have to do something with the fencing, but it just cant take electricity. I dont have issues with my pigs getting out. And it would be daytime only that the goats were in these areas. Basically, they would be closer to the house (predator issues here) at night, milked in the morning, put out in the creeks and tree breaks, then brought in at night to be milked, and put in a 1 acre chain link area (after weaning). I figured the chain link area would work for winter. That ok or would they destroy that too?

As for the Nubian's ears. I have been thinking on that. Are goats as smart as pigs? Could they learn to use an auto waterer that is heated but too small to get their whole head in? More like something the size of their noses to keep the ears out.

If Alpine's are stubborn then it would not work here. I have a hip issue and tugging on anything will not work. Once halter broke and lead broke, if they pull a lot then they do not stay. A bucket of grain always helps, but if it will be pulling on me or the kids cant walk them, it just wouldnt work.

Saneen I had thought of, but I would rather a higher BF and a bit less milk.

I have considered the La Mancha (sp?) but am not sure on the temperment.

That sounds like the perfect Home for them
Page wire is good and as long as you can keep them from trying to stand and step on it it will work fine
The water bowls will work fine for them they will figure it out they are smarter than a person would think
Thats the way to do it Milk in the morning let out and milked at night and then put up in a penned area with their hay.
once goats get use to a Collar they walk pretty good we always use the plastic chain with a break away link just in case they get caught on something but did not use it all the time.
also please make sure they are de horned
I know alot of people will say different but you will be happier and they can hurt a child or even a adult with them as well as other goats.
Lamancha Butter fat usually runs 3.0 % to 4.5% My old does ran about 4% which I liked as we got paid a bonus for butter ft over 3.5% LOL I miss the Dairy but age and Health got the best of me.
The Chain Link area will work fine for them. The Lamancha Temperment is great they are a smaller framed goat but they milk up a storm

appway,

Would the Lamancha have issues with ear infections and things getting into their ears? It seems there isnt anything or very little covering their ears. We also have very windy days here, would that bother the Lamancha?

pfarms wrote:appway,

Would the Lamancha have issues with ear infections and things getting into their ears? It seems there isnt anything or very little covering their ears. We also have very windy days here, would that bother the Lamancha?

No they do not have that problem The Gofer
Ear is very closed and the elf ear is not that open
Wind will not bother the ears of them
It would bother more the Nubian ear
You would love the breed they all have different personalty
I can only Think of 1 doe I had that had ear problems and that was easy cleand up with q-tips

I have pure bred Nubians and LaMancha X Nubians
We get temps to -38 at times but have never had
ears freeze. They do have a nice barn and heated
water.
One thing I was very surprised about his year is
I had milk from my pure Nubian and some from my
LaMancha X. I was using the Nubian in my coffee
untill it ran out the next day I used the LaMancha X.
Was very surprised that it took quite a bit more LaMancha
to make the coffee white and there was a taste differance.

That isnt that much of a surprise to me. We have three Jersey's and one of them I have never enjoyed the taste of. Ironically, she also has the lowest of the BF %. The goats milk is going to fed to the other animals on the farm. With three Jersey's we have enough for our family for milk, cheese, creams etc. The problem is, I LOVE the taste difference in my eggs and chicken meat being fed milk. DH got tired of me giving them the Jersey milk. So, the answer was goats. Plus the added bonus is they will help clean up the areas that we just simply dont have easy access to.

Now, one more question for everyone. I grow my own hay. I grow a clover, orchard grass, and fescue. This is what I feed to all my cattle, Jersey's included. Would this hay be ok for the goats? Also, when they are in milk, how much grain can you give? I read somewhere they shouldnt have much wheat and no corn. So, what can you give them? I grow oats, wheat, field peas, and flax. My Jersey's get a mixture of one cup flax meal to 3 pounds oats to 2 pounds wheat to 1 pound field peas. So, if I take out the wheat or lower it would a mixture like this work for them? And if I lowered it, how much would I need to lower it to? I would assume that a goat would only need a cup or two at milking times?

I know, alot of questions, I am just trying to make sure that since they will fit everything else, I can also make sure the feed we have will work for them too.

Your hay sounds fine for goats
I always fed Straight Alfalfa but I wanted higher milk production
DO you grind your grain mix or are you feeding whole Grains?

As for the amount I always fed a 2lb coffee can full at milking and if they were heavy milkers they got more

Do you hand milk or machine milk?
reason I as is the pressure is different for goats and so are the inflations

It is rolled. We roll our grains every two weeks, so there isnt any time for it to rot or anything. I found that rolled grain worked so much better for all the animals.

Yes you can feed that grain to to the goats
Dont need as much of the flax tho
sounds like you have all together now you just need the goats

Just dont over do it on the grain s they will bloat
Just grain at milking and and about a cup or 2 for the bred does and dry does
Most of all have fun and enjoy them

I feed my girls rolled oats and barley
sprinkled with alfalfa pellets about two cups.
I would not feed them any corn friends have
had very sick goats when they got corn.
Upset the rumen.
Did not know that about eggs tasting better
with milk. Guess that's were all my LaMancha X
milk will go next year.
What part of Alberta do you live in maybe I
know someone close that has Nubians.

karona wrote:I feed my girls rolled oats and barley
sprinkled with alfalfa pellets about two cups.
I would not feed them any corn friends have
had very sick goats when they got corn.
Upset the rumen.
Did not know that about eggs tasting better
with milk. Guess that's were all my LaMancha X
milk will go next year.
What part of Alberta do you live in maybe I
know someone close that has Nubians.

COrn is fine as long as it is not just corn and nothing else.
Most Goat Dairy's feed a sweet feed that contains corn
Barley is harder to digest then corn
But beings they will be rolling all of their grain it should be fine
adding the alfalfa pelets is good and also a hand full of sunflower seeds is great

Dont know where you are Located in Alberta
But here is a Nubian Breeder in Nobleford, Alberta
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They have some great Milking lines a nice big Nubians

I am in Three Creeks, it is about 40 minutes north east of Peace River. So really far up there. After all the information we have received back, I talked to DH and we both agree that the La Mancha may be a better choice. So that is the one we will try to go with. Both due to ears and temperment. Thank EVERYONE for all the info. I feel so much better about taking on a new venture. And any help finding any goats would be great.

These people are about 6 Hours from you They raise Lamancha's and they also have Jersey's so you might know them or of them
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AND here is the web site for the CLRC this is the page for the breeders of Lamancha's in Alberta
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You can also check BC or Sk
Hope this helps
You will love the Lamancha's and their milk is good and makes good cheese

My girl friend would have some lamanchas available in the spring

appway-

I have one more question for you. I read recently that goats should never be housed where there is chickens. Is that true and if so why? I have the issue that my chickens are free range and are in the same area that I had planned on the goats being in the winter. Oh, and the chickens are fed in their huts, so there is no chance of the goats getting at the feed for the chickens.

pfarms wrote:appway-

I have one more question for you. I read recently that goats should never be housed where there is chickens. Is that true and if so why? I have the issue that my chickens are free range and are in the same area that I had planned on the goats being in the winter. Oh, and the chickens are fed in their huts, so there is no chance of the goats getting at the feed for the chickens.

Goats can be very smart when it come to getting to grain or
layer. All my grain is behind double locks and the chicken
coop which is part of the same barn also has two locks.
Goats and too much grain and especially layer can be deadly.