We were looking for other lustrous fibers to blend with our suri fiber and we were checking out angora goats, which produce mohair fiber, which is also known for its luster.
Then we saw the Nubians. Similar to alpacas, they come in a full range of patterns and colors. We were smitten.
Now Luna Rosa Ranch has three purebred, registered Nubian goats. They will join our field rotation after the alpacas and utilize our woodlands.
We are delighted with how friendly they are and how well they fit into our existing facility. They are very easy to manage and a fringe benefit is the half gallon of creamy milk we get each morning from Ripple.
Ripple is bred to Princeton for triplets at the end of January. Fancy will be bred for May. Separate breeding schedules for the girls prolongs the milk production.
Goats usually have multiple births after the first baby. Triplets and even Quads are common. Gestation is five months and almost to the day - baby watch seldom goes more than three or four days (we will like that part!).
Most dairy goats are seasonal breeders. They breed from early fall through December. The goat kids are born five months later, usually in spring . . . . and they often are ready to breed in the fall!
Goat kids are weaned after two months and their moms can be milked for several more months. The best milk producing does will keep the milk going right up until two months before their next kidding.
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Updated February 06, 2014