If you are talking about pygmies, they are really cute if they are hand raised on a bottle. If not, be selective in buying them, as they tend to be very flighty. The dairy goat breeds I could go on and on about them, as my kids both raised them for 4H projects, daughter and son both won many ribbons and trophies with them, and daughter won Jr. Best in Show at State Fair with her breedings. They are typically much more friendly, but not always. The pygmies around here are not friendly at all, but I guess it's because they are dam raised, and the kids never mess with them, only when they bring them to the fair to show. LOL
There is also a Nigerian Dwarf, which is a mini dairy goat. Totally different body style. The pygmies have HUGE bellies, always look like they are carrying twins or triplets. The Dwarfs are just that ... small versions of the large breed. They are a dairy goat, but again they come in the very small size and the ones I've seen have been extremely friendly, like their full-sized counterparts.
I would love to have goats again. Once a friend had a mare that foaled, mare died after foal had nurses, so it got the cholosterum, but needed milk. He borrowed a huge Nubian goat, as they tend to make tons of milk. Built a "stand" for the goat to get up on as foals cannot stoop down to nurse. The goat figured out the routine, and every time that baby whinnied and was hungry, the goat would run into the barn, and the baby would follow. What a riot that was!
Our first baby goat was given to us, born on Jan. 1, Mom died giving birth to his twin. He had nursed once, so was good with antibodies, but the owner didn't want to have to bottle feed him. We thought you had to feed the baby every time it cried. WRONG! They are like cows. In nature, cows nurse their calves twice a day. Goats are different in nature, the babies nurse all the time, but they only NEED to eat twice a day, or three times when they are very young. Lesson learned!
Oh, and ladies, I had yet another tragedy at my farm on Sunday. Freak accident, one of my mares was acting giddy, one of my Boston Terriers was in pen. This happens all the time, nothing abnormal. But, the mare ran toward the dog, pawing at her, and the dog did not get out of the way soon enough. Horse didn't stomp down, but rather caught the dog on the upward thrust of her foot, and snapped dog's neck. Instant death, and I stood there and watched it happen! This is the 5th dog I have buried on my farm since I moved here 2.5 years ago. Something needs to change! Only 1 was hit by a car, as I have very little traffic, 3 died of medical reasons, and now the horse killed one. The horse is not vicious, she was just wanting to play, it was just a freak thing. Worst part is my other Boston is still totally lost without her companion. :-( But, I'm better every day. Life goes on, and that's life on the farm, still doesn't make it easier to take.
