I want to start breeding goats?

Question

I want to start breeding Kinder goats with blue eyes. I'm thinking of two ways to go about this:

1.) Either buy or breed a Nigerian Dwarf w/ blue eyes to a Pygmy goat than breeding that buck to a Nubian doe.

OR

2.) Breeding a Pygmy buck to a Nubian doe and taking a resulting Kinder doe and breeding her to a blue-eyed Nigerian Dwarf.

-- The first way might by easier if I just buy a Nigerian Dwarf/Pygmy cross but that would mean the kids of that cross and the Nubian wouldn't be pure Kinder whereas the second option I could have pure Kinder and then some Kinder with blue eyes because it is also part Nigerian Dwarf. What do you think is the best option?--

Answer 1

From what I understand, true kindergoats are a crossbreed of Nubian dairy goats with pygmy goats.  True kinders can only be from purebred parents, and because of the size difference in the animals, a pygmy buck and a Nubian doe would have to be used.  You cannot safely breed a large buck to a small doe and expect the doe to be able to kid safely.

I guess the question I have is why would you want to?  I breed both pygmies and Nubians, and I have spent years working on my bloodlines.  I am very proud of where my herds are, but I would never cross my pygmies with my Nubians!

For starters, the breeds themselves are very different animals.  Pygmies are bred for short stature and stocky builds.  Nubians are bred to be graceful and dairy.  They do not complement the other breed well at all.  I really feel like crossing them to get a kindergoat does nothing to complement or improve either breed.

Genetically, these two goats are pretty incompatible as well.  Nubians need copper in their diets, while pygmies can tolerate only very small amounts.  Pygmies are also prone to other genetic problems, and crossbreeding them may limit those, but it also may introduce problems into the Nubian bloodline.  

I just can't agree with breeding for this, and these animals aren't recognized as either NPGA or ADGA.  I don't know of any recognized shows and don't know of anyone (other than a kindergoat association?) that recognizes them as a breed.

Basically, I think breeding for kindergoats can lead to some potential problems.  I know it's a trend lately, but that's also how alot of dog BYBs got started with labradoodles and maltipoos and c**p like that.  

I'm not trying to beat you up, because there are breeders out there, but why not just get started with some Nigerian Dwarfs?  You get blue eyed genetics with them, and they look alot like pygmies, and they are a recognized breed, albiet limitedly.  

I guess the advice I'd give you is pick a recognized breed and work to get some good animals from your bloodline.  If a new genetic mutation or a newly recognized breed comes about, it takes years of breeding (and alot of culling) before that animal can be presented as a new variety... if you feel that this is something you want to do someday, get a solid foundation in breeding recognized stock first.  

Answer 2

Me too!

Oh wait, you mean goat to goat?

Answer 3

I would throw in a couple of those goats that fall down a lot, just to make it interesting...

Serious...Sorry, this IS YAHOO!

Answer 4

I am not a genetics expert, but I do suggest you contact your local 4-H and also your university cooperative extension department for the best information on care and breeding.