We’ve compiled this list of resources & hope it will be of help to you!
Also see frequently asked questions on our contact page.
Considerations for Buying Goats
A simple guide to Raising and Milking Goats by Weed ‘Em and Reap
What to Feed Your Goats by the Giving Goat Blog
Raising Bottle Kids Aspen Leaf Dairy Goats
Hybrid Method bottle and dam raising Weed ‘Em and Reap
Raising Newborn Goats on a Bottle
Kidding Aspen Leaf Dairy Goats
How to milk a goat Blue Cactus Dairy Goats video
We also like these posts from Quaking Canopy website; Bottle Baby Take Home Notes , BASIC GOAT CARE , Hoof Care
If you wonder about different dairy goat breeds Dairy Goat Breeds for Dummies
Banding Goats-Everything You Need To Know by Little Avalon Farm
Table of contents
- Community
- Books & Learning
- Goat Health
- Business
- Goat Registry
- Supplies
- DHIA milk testing
- Linear Appraisal
- Artificial Insemination
- Showing and 4-H
Community
Goat MT “EDUCATING MONTANA PRODUCERS ABOUT GOAT PRODUCTION AND MARKETING” GOATMT.org
Looking for raw goat’s milk? Please contact Raw Milk Montana to find someone near you to buy from. *We do not sell raw milk for human consumption; only for pet use. We are happy to send some fresh milk home with a bottle baby goat if we have extra available, please ask!
American Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Association offers a monthly newsletter with helpful information, especially for performance dairy herds. Visit ANDDA.org and join to become apart of their online forum and discussions; (Please note: they don’t always post the current newsletter to the site on time)
BDGA’s mission is to promote dairy goats in Montana by educating people about the various uses and benefits of dairy goats through sanctioned shows and other events. They sometimes offer DHIA milk testing classes & host LA sessions.
TREASURE STATE DAIRY GOAT ASSOCIATION hosts an annual ADGA sanctioned show in Big Timber, MT.
Cameron Jodlowski (ADGA JUDGE)talk about current ADGA news and offer valuable insight into the world of raising performance dairy goats as well as hosting notable guest speakers on this weekly podcast, an invaluable resource to the dairy goat community!
Two other podcasts that will keep you updated on what’s happening in the goat world;
Ringside ~ an American Dairy Goat Podcast
For the Love of Goats
Books and Education
Weed Em and Reap YouTube channel has been a wonderful resource to us as we have followed along their goat raising journey and learned with them. They have a lot of experience and helpful tips and have evolved into a performance and showing herd in the recent years, even getting into AI. They have so much knowledge to offer, I recommend their channel and blog.
Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats, 5th edition by Jerry Belanger and Sara Thomson Bredesen This book is very thorough and helpful regarding the care and management of dairy goats, but does not offer specific information about dwarfs which makes much of their weights and feeding amounts irrelevant to Nigerian Dwarf raisers; great basic knowledge about dairy goats in general.
Here’s an excellent article explaining goat prices, how to find a quality goat and why they cost more. “Why Expensive Goats?”
Goat Health
BLUE CACTUS DAIRY GOATS youtube channel has helpful videos, including how to clip your dairy goat for show, hoof trimming, and just about everything.
Certain diseases found in goats can be spread between other ruminant species like sheep & cattle. Practicing whole-farm biosecurity when raising multi species is important. Keeping your animals healthy and well-tended, feeding quality hay and minerals, providing access to fresh water, & providing shelters are important to reduce stress and maintain strong immune systems. Start with quality animals from a reliable source. Do not purchase market sale barn animals that are often culls, sometimes because of disease or genetic faults.
Goat Diseases and Problems to be aware of.
https://www.fiascofarm.com/This lady (Molly) has a wealth of information on her site, a seasoned goat raiser, utilizing unconventional methods of herd health management. She also sells Herbal Wormers if that interests you.
WADDL(Washing Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory)CAE testing CLtesting Q Fever You can send your goat’s blood samples here to test for common goat diseases. Another lab option is UBRL.
Johne’s Disease fairly uncommon, but still a concern for sure
Coccidiosis common in goat kids from birth to under 6 months
FAMACHA System Certification in this course, you will watch a series of video lectures (taking notes is a good idea) then take a simple, basic exam online to verify understanding of parasites, etc. Next you will make a video showing yourself demonstrating the proper technique for FAMACHA scoring on two different goats or sheep. If you have a willingness to learn, you will benefit from this course. After certification, you can then purchase the official FAMACHA card for a small fee.
FAMACHA VIDEOS by University of Rhode Island
Body Condition Scoring Goats Video
American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control
2023 Management for Lambing & Kidding YouTube-very helpful video by Sara Dzimianski
Raising Bottle Kids Aspen Leaf Dairy Goats
Kidding Aspen Leaf Dairy Goats
Don’t Bug Me Soap -Homemaidens.com We found this pet soap at the farmers market and snatched some up to manage fleas on goats. It lathers up really nice, makes them shine and smells great too because of the bug repelling essential oils. A great natural alternative to harsh chemical shampoos.
We buy our goat mineral from the SPURLINE in Livingston. We like the Payback brand in 50 lbs sacks. Contact them to order some in for you if interested, they don’t always keep it in stock. We have had good success in preventing deficiencies using this mineral paired with our other routine and occasional health supplements which includes copper bolus sometimes twice or more annually, selenium and Vitamin E oral gel several times a year or as often as monthly, B Complex oral gel as needed(especially after heavy herbal dewormer dosing). Sometimes we offer them fresh tree branches(especially willow and short needle pine), fresh alfalfa, fresh raspberry leaves, fresh herbs; all these things help add variety and natural minerals into their diet as well. We find that especially in springtime after kidding and when they are shedding their winter undercoat, they really slick up the minerals. Summer to early winter, not so much, but we still offer them free choice year round. Here’s some info about mineral deficiencies and their symptoms from Weed em and Reap . More about minerals > Mineral 101. A simple way to provide minerals so that they won’t waste it and poop in it, is to hang a gallon jug with a small hole cut out on the side just big enough to get their noses into, and hang it on the fence at the goat’s eye level. If they rub it with their heads, it won’t spill, just tips up. Add fresh mineral weekly or daily as they consume it.
Business
PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR GOATS Helpful tips for taking quality photos of your herd.
Raw milk MT Guidelines for safety and legal selling requirements FAQ
Montana milk laws mt.gov
Goat Registry
Breed Standard for Nigerian Dwarfs – (any goat that does not meet the breed standards as mentioned below should not be registered)
Nigerian Dwarf does are at least 17 inches tall and may be no taller than 22.5 inches. Bucks are also at least 17 inches tall and no taller than 23.5 inches. While there is no weight requirement, 75 pounds is an average weight.
Many color combinations are common, the ears are of medium length and erect, and the bridge of the nose is either straight or dished. The hair is short and fine.
The Nigerian Dwarf was also developed in the United States and is the only miniature dairy goat breed registered by the American Dairy Goat Association.
Although a small goat, the Nigerian Dwarf doe produces a proportionate quantity of milk with high butterfat.
ADGA Forms (American Dairy Goat Association) AGS (American Goat Society)
The ADGA Knowledgebase has lots of helpful information.
ADGA Genetics offers helpful tools for planning breedings, viewing progeny and Linear history of potential sires and dams, etc. You can create an account and save your goats pedigrees for easy reference and future planning. If you want to gain more knowledge about all the numbers and evaluations, I recommend watching the 2 part videos by Gene Dershewitz found on youtube ADGA genetics Part 1 – ADGA genetics Part 2.
Supplies
The bucket we prefer for milking our small goats is the 2 quart stainless steel pail from Chewy.com. (non affiliate link)
Goat hay feeder ideas! We made the one pictured below, it’s so easy. Here’s the link to the video we learned how to make it from YouTube! One problem is that if you feed leafy hay, the leaves fall to the ground but it’s excellent for grass hay. Placing a lightweight board or cut plywood in the bottom of the basket helps with this. Some goats are rough on the baskets and will eventually smash the wire up by putting their feet in the bottom or rubbing their heads on the feeder and smashing the basket shape. But a great feeder option that’s lasts a good while.
(DHIA)Dairy Herd Improvement Association
We have participated in DHIR milk testing with ADGA in previous years. However, we no longer consider it a necessary part of raising good dairy goats since we aren’t trying to earn any stars and official awards for pedigrees. We milk our goats and know how well they produce, and that’s good enough for us. We still weigh their daily milk amounts at times to keep a record and track production and would gladly share this information with potential buyers.
DHIR Star Milker (*M) requirements Nigerian dwarf doe 2 or younger must produce 600# milk, 31# butterfat, 18# Protein (AGS– 500# milk 25#butterfat) 3 year old ADGA doe 630# milk 32.05 # butterfat 18.90# Protein (AGS– 524# Milk 26.20# Butterfat)
(LA)Linear Appraisal
A Guide to Goat Body Conformation by Weed ’em and Reap
Introduction booklet by ADGA
This is a very educational podcast episode featuring Mark Baden as guest, talking a lot about Linear Appraisal. RINGSIDE on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or their website, look for episode157 called 5,4,3,2,1 with Mark Baden
AI (Artificial Insemination)
Artificial insemination in goats – view all our favorite AI resources
SHOWING
Park County Ag Fair Book FFA & 4-H Learn more about the local Fair in Park County and how to participate with your goats! Find out how to join a 4-H club in park county.
Some of our favorite inspirational quotes
“Growth only happens outside of your comfort zone.” 🍀
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re absolutely right.”
“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” — Winston Churchill.
“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.”
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Walt Disney
Aspen Leaf Dairy Goats 