Yeah those dairy goats are a little higher maintenance than meat. Can you grow Alfalfa? Selenium and copper are issues too. Every time I go to hancockseeds.com or similar I end up shaking my head and closing the tab. Seed prices are insane.
I went with Kiko does and a 7/8 boer - 1/8 kiko buck. Kikos are about the lowest maintenance goats there are. I haven’t dewormed them and don’t plan to. It’s rocky enough here so that I don’t have to mess with hooves either. I want survivalist animals. Met a Jewish lady who was a prepper and lived in the woods. She had chickens and dairy goats and they were pretty much on their own. Seemed harsh but it made me think about what if these things aren’t available?
Someday I may get a dairy goat to breed in with these and see if I can’t get to something I can get a little milk from. I know there are dual purpose breeds but I don’t know if anyone’s used kiko to develop a dual purpose breed.
Yes, I have to supplement with selenium and copper regularly. I looked into growing alfalfa - there is a hybrid that is created to grow in my zone, but I cannot just let the goats forage it, they will bloat. So, I would have to harvest and cure it. I’m thinking I will just stock up on the alfalfa pellets.
We have NDs - I wanted something easy to handle (small) and great for milking (high butterfat). Not great for meat though, lol