When I started out in my venture with goats, my intention was to have the VERY BEST and creamiest milk that I could get from a goat. After much reading and lots of investigation I came to the conclusion that this breed was the breed for me. Much to my surprise, not only is the milk the absolute finest I have ever tasted in my life, ( I swear!!!!! My milk tastes like a cross between half and half and whole milk!), but after having my girls for quite some time now, I realized that I had chosen the sweetest, smartest, most beautiful little goats! These are so friendly and easy to take care of. They don't eat as much as the larger sized goats. My full blooded Milking Nubian requires 7 c. of soaked grain 2x a day and twice the amount of hay that my Mini Nubian's require. However!!!!! After having my first birth, I also discovered that I get almost the same amount of milk to boot! My Mini Nubian provides me with 3+ quarts to the very top of creamy, and I mean CREAMY milk every day. A Nubian is much bigger and their milk fat is MUCH less in comparison! Yet, a Nubian's milk fat is second highest only to the Dwarf Nigerian. An average Dwarf Nigerian will put out about 2 cups a day on nearly the same rations that a Mini Nubian requires!!!!!! You don't need to think any more about it! Nubian + Nigerian equals a recognized breed of goat called Mini Nubian with HIGH BUTTERFAT, HIGHER QUANTITY MILK, and you still have a small goat! It's the ONLY sensible conclusion! OWN MINI NUBIAN'S!!!! You will NOT regret it! One other thing! While your scanning the internet for information regarding goat husbandry remember this: What works for one may not work for another! Each farm or Hobby Farm has different pasture for grazing with a completely different variety of plants. Some may have more protein or legumes in their pastures, less or more minerals, and to apply the same grain mix as what you read from somewhere else might cause scoots. Always bear in mind that ANY changes to your goats diets must be done very, very slowly, if something doesn't agree with them, than you will see the results almost immediately in their bowel movements. Getting the right diet for your goat takes a bit of time and is not necessarily going to be the same amount or blend as what others give their goats. I have heard through the grapevine that there is now a mold that gets into Black oil Sunflower seed. It is almost undetectable and can kill your goat. Black oil Sunflower seeds or BOSS for short is an important part of your goats diet because the oil is excellent for their coats. To combat this malady, when I soak their grains I add 4 or 5 drops of 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide into the soak water, (per 1 gallon of water). I also use a few drops in my wash bucket to use on their teats, inside of their legs and bellies, before and after milking. I have found that this is an excellent way to deter bacteria and spores. FEEDING GOATS AT OUR FARM We drink their milk, and what you feed is crucial to the taste of your milk! My basic mix for the goats here is:: 15 c. Whole Oats 3 1/2 c. Black Oil Sunflower Seeds 3/4 c. green lentils OR 1 c. Field Peas I soak this in a doubled bucket, ( 2 identical buckets, one with holes drilled in the bottom that sits inside the other bucket, allowing me to soak and be able to drain and rinse by just removing the inside bucket and setting it into a large sink), the night before with 5 drops of food grade hydrogen peroxide and than drain and rinse in the morning with filtered water. They are provided free choice good leafy alfalfa throughout the day. I have one goat that has a touchy digestive system. She gets dried barley/whole oat mix with her soaked grain and it keeps her poops perfect! To the tops of my buckets I add mineral requirements for each goat. Large Girls require 1 tsp. Dolomite daily 1 tsp. kelp daily 1 tsp. sulfer daily 1/7 tsp. per day of copper sulfate I cut the above mineral doses in half for the Mini's Bucks get all of the above except Dolomite Bucks have a tendency to get kidney stones. To combat this, I sprinkle 1/8 tbsp. of organic apple cider vinegar on their food in the mornings only. On top of everyone's grain I sprinkle dried molasses and the girls get 1 tbsp of vinegar every Friday morning. Milkers get a handful of dried beet pulp on top of their rations, as an extra boost of high protein. Everyone gets free choice mineral blend, goat specific. |
About Mini Nubians
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