

Frequently Asked Questions - Breeding & Milking
This page is still under construction! We have posted a lot of content to our Instagram story highlights that cover the questions on this page.
Welcome to our comprehensive guide to all things goats! Whether you're seeking a beginner's guide to dairy goat keeping, eager to dive deeper into the essentials of getting started with a dairy goat herd, or expanding your goat-keeping knowledge, you've come to the right place. Our 15 years of experience holistically raising Nigerian Dwarf goats for our hobby dairy farm has given us a great deal of information and insights and we are happy to share with you to make your experience with Nigerian Dwarf goats as enjoyable and rewarding as possible. Explore our FAQs to gain valuable knowledge that will empower you on your goat-keeping adventure. We also share our daily experiences on Instagram so be sure to give us a follow if you you're looking for micro-learning opportunities... and also cute baby goats!experiences
If you don't see your question listed here, please contact us and we would be happy to answer it.
Do I need to own a buck to breed my does?
Does Red Rooster Ranch offer stud service?
How do I decide which buck to use with each doe?
How do I use adga.org to create a breeding plan?
How many times a year is it safe to breed a goat?
What are your goat birth kit essentials?
What vitamins or supplements do breeding goats require?
Do I have to breed my does in order for them to produce milk?
How can I know and predict the color genetics of my goats?
How do goat genetics work?/Eye color, colors, and polled genetic breakdown.
How many babies can one doe have at once?
How long is goat gestation?
How does goat milk taste?
Are ND goats good for milking?
When can you start milking a goat /ND?
How often do goats breed?
Can I breed related goats?
When can I breed my young goat?
What size is safe to breed my yearling goat?
How do I train my goat to be milked?
How do I safely dry up a goat in milk?
How do I bottle-train baby goats?
Can I milk my goat while she is nursing her babies?
How much milk do goats produce?
Is raw goat milk safe to drink?
What can I use raw goat milk for?
Can I feed raw goat milk to my dogs/puppies?
What is DHIR?
What is milk testing?
What is linear appraisal?
Should I sign up for LA?
Should I host LA or find a local herd?
Do I have to LA all of my herd?
What are these numbers and symbols on my goat’s papers?
What is the value of registering my goat herd?
How do I keep good records for my herd?
How do I track breeding and due dates for my dairy goat herd?
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Breeding & Milking Goats
Do I need to own a buck to breed my does?
You do not need to own a buck to breed your does but you will need to find a breeder who either offers stud service, stud leasing, or semen sales. If you opt for the latter, you will also want to find a reproductive vet w/ AI (artificial insemination) experience.
Many breeders, us included, do not loan out or lease their bucks because the risk of bringing in disease far outweighs the income generated by these agreements. If you are fortunate enough to find someone willing to share with you, be sure to see a bio security blood test with all negative results for CAE, CL, Johnne’s and Brucellosis. The owner of the buck will likely ask for these results from you as well. Be sure results are recent, within 6 months.