Choosing The Best Goat Breed For You And Your Family
So, you have decided to add goats to your family homestead. Good for you! This list of goat breeds covers the pros and cons of each breed of goat and will help you choose the best fit for you and your family.
Our goal at Simple Living Country Gal is to help you make a choice that fits you and your family, matching up the perfect goat breed.
With so many resources from one animal, adding goats to your homestead or hobby farm is a great option to consider. There’s milk, cheese, soap, lotions, butter, and even meat. Raising just one of these fun animals can help you to be more self-sufficient and also generate an income.
Making the decision to add goats is the easy part; choosing the best goat breed to add to your homestead is a decision that takes much more consideration.
Goat Breeds
Before making a decision, you will first need to decide what your purpose is for adding goats to your homestead. Here are a few ideas:
- To have milk every day that you can use to drink or make things like cheeses or soaps.
- To have meat that we can eat.
- To have a companion for our larger animals.
- To have pets for us to enjoy.
- To generate an income by selling the kids to local 4H members.
Whatever the reason is, it will better guide you to the best breed of goat to fit that need. You’ll be able to read our full goat breeds list here.
Breeds of Dairy Goats
Dairy goats are very popular because they can contribute so much to a homestead or hobby farm. Their milk can create a long list of amazing things and their growing popularity is understandable in this age of self-reliance.
common dairy goat Breeds
- Nubian
- Alpine
- Oberhasli
- Lamancha
- Saanen
- Toggenburger
Depending on the breed you choose to raise, some will be heavy milkers and some will focus more on high butter fat. Some will be easy to milk compared to others that are more high-strung.
Read more about Dairy Goat Breeds Here!
Make a list of 2-3 options so you can find what is available in your area.
Breeds of Meat Goats
Where we live, goat meat is very popular. I have never tried it; I am more of a dairy goat owner, but knowing if it is in demand where you live may have you considering this type of goat.
Common Meat goat Breeds
- Boer
- Kiko
- Spanish
You can still milk meet goats, just know you will not get a large amount if you do. Raising meat goats is a great way to turn your homestead into a profitable business.
Breeds of Pet Goats
More and more people are getting goats to be companions or pets. These are great to have on your homestead if you have one horse or one cow and you don’t want them to be alone. Goats make great companions and would be a perfect option if you are looking for one.
Common Friendly Goats
- American Pigmy
- Nigerian Dwarf
- Fainting Goat
You can read our complete list and guide on Goat Breeds for Pets here.
Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats, 4th Edition: Breeds, Care, Dairying, Marketing
Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats, 5th Edition: Breed Selection, Feeding, Fencing, Health Care, Dairying, MarketingGoats Giving Birth: What to Expect during Kidding Season
What goats do best with children?
If you have young children or grandchildren, then sticking with a smaller breed of goat is a good option to consider. You can still get dairy, meat, or grazer but in a small package, making them less scary to young kids. Read our list of Miniature Goat Breeds to find the best fit for your family.
Breeds of Grazing Goats
Another popular reason to get goats is for pasture control. Goats love to graze and will eat hay, grass, weeds, even poison ivy. If you have property to clear, these goat breeds might be what you need to get the job done.
Common Grazing Goats
- Nubians
- Alpines
- Boer
You can get our complete list of grazing goats by reading our list of the Best Goats for Eating Weeds here.
As you can imagine, there are dozens of goats to choose from, and each has their own beneficial characteristics. From heavy fat for better milk to heavier-built goats for better meat.
Knowing just exactly what each breed brings to the table will help you to make the best choice for your location, family, and lifestyle.
When I was first starting out, a list of goat breeds would have been so incredibly helpful and saved me so much time. Instead, I bought, tried, and either kept or sold until I finally had the right fit for our family. I hope this list will help you start out with a better idea of what you are looking for.
More Goat Resources:
