What Breed of Goat is Best?

[Chickadee]

We're thinking about getting a couple of goats to add to our farm this Spring. I'd like a goat who is smaller in size. Since we have kids, I'd also really like to find a breed of goat who is friendly and gentle with people. I searched around a little and saw that there are several types of goats. Which type do you think might be a good fit for us?

 

[Paul]

I like Swiss Alpine goats. They are really good for urban farmers because they are small in size. They also have gentle temperaments, so they would probably do well around children. The milk they produce is sweet.

 

[Petal to the Metal]

@Chickadee it really depends on what you want them for - fiber, meat, or milk. Or are these goats just meant to be pets? There are several small breeds to choose from with the temperament you're after, so it really boils down to use.

 

[Garandpa]

Dwarf Nigerians are pretty popular as pets. I would definitely recommend at least 2 since goats are herd animals and need a buddy. Also, if you are not interested in breeding, a couple of wethered (neutered) bucks will be the cheapest route and they tend to be pretty mellow.

 

[FarmHand]

We had a few alpine goats for a while. They behaved like you'd expect goats to behave. They ate everything, chewed on random things for no reason but were pretty friendly too. We just had them for fun really so we wound up selling them. But I named them goat, moat, and boat. Never knew which was which.