Everyone wants a pet, and some people want some pets that are quite different from others. Some have taken to getting pigs and even llamas as pets, and some have even taken on goats also. Thus you may be in the market for something unique, like those Nigerian Dwarf goats Santa Cruz county that you are seeing around. If you have a mind to get these goats, then do read on in this article for more information.
Apart from this goat being used as a pet nowadays, the original reason why this animal was imported into the country was due to its milk producing properties. Its milk has a higher percentage of butterfat compared to cow milk, in fact probably the highest percentage in any milk. For the layman, the most expensive component of milk is butterfat, which is a key ingredient in butter and ice cream.
If indeed you will be getting a Nigerian dwarf goat for milking and milk production purposes, then make sure that the goats you have are of breeding age. Only breeders will qualify as milk producers for they can only lactate if they are pregnant. The breeding age of this particular goat is anywhere from one year old to seven years old. Any goat beyond the seven year boundary should be stopped from breeding as they will tend to have a hard time giving birth.
Despite milk production, these goats can be kept as pets also as they have very playful personalities and friendly dispositions. They are fabulous with children and many of them are also used as therapy animals for the elderly and recuperating patients.
As regards nutrition, these animals are quite easy to feed as they will eat almost anything form bushes and small trees to grass and weeds. Some owners lately have taken to feeding their goats feed pellets but care must be taken so as not to overfeed them. Overfeeding them will of course fatten them up but it can also lead to health complications.
Despite the diminutive size, they do require quite a bit of space to be kept in and taken care of. They love to run around and jump on things and are very active, thus their pen should consist of small stumps and large rocks for them to jump and clamber on, which they enjoy doing a lot. Should you want to keep them in with other animals like cattle and horses and such, this will not pose too much of a problem.
And lastly remember that when you do plan on making this as your pet, that you cannot just get one goat at all. You must always get them in pairs or groups or they will get lonely and depressed. Remember that they are herd animals, and they are happiest of course when they are in a herd.
Thus this article has shown you some considerations when getting these animals either for companionship or production purposes. There are of course other factors that you should consider also like health and upkeep that will help you become a better owner. Always get as much information before making a final commitment as a pet owner.
Apart from this goat being used as a pet nowadays, the original reason why this animal was imported into the country was due to its milk producing properties. Its milk has a higher percentage of butterfat compared to cow milk, in fact probably the highest percentage in any milk. For the layman, the most expensive component of milk is butterfat, which is a key ingredient in butter and ice cream.
If indeed you will be getting a Nigerian dwarf goat for milking and milk production purposes, then make sure that the goats you have are of breeding age. Only breeders will qualify as milk producers for they can only lactate if they are pregnant. The breeding age of this particular goat is anywhere from one year old to seven years old. Any goat beyond the seven year boundary should be stopped from breeding as they will tend to have a hard time giving birth.
Despite milk production, these goats can be kept as pets also as they have very playful personalities and friendly dispositions. They are fabulous with children and many of them are also used as therapy animals for the elderly and recuperating patients.
As regards nutrition, these animals are quite easy to feed as they will eat almost anything form bushes and small trees to grass and weeds. Some owners lately have taken to feeding their goats feed pellets but care must be taken so as not to overfeed them. Overfeeding them will of course fatten them up but it can also lead to health complications.
Despite the diminutive size, they do require quite a bit of space to be kept in and taken care of. They love to run around and jump on things and are very active, thus their pen should consist of small stumps and large rocks for them to jump and clamber on, which they enjoy doing a lot. Should you want to keep them in with other animals like cattle and horses and such, this will not pose too much of a problem.
And lastly remember that when you do plan on making this as your pet, that you cannot just get one goat at all. You must always get them in pairs or groups or they will get lonely and depressed. Remember that they are herd animals, and they are happiest of course when they are in a herd.
Thus this article has shown you some considerations when getting these animals either for companionship or production purposes. There are of course other factors that you should consider also like health and upkeep that will help you become a better owner. Always get as much information before making a final commitment as a pet owner.
About the Author:
You can get excellent tips for selecting a breeder of Nigerian Dwarf goats Santa Cruz County area and more information about a knowledgeable breeder at http://www.quailmeadowfarm.com/animals now.
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