My new kid!

[Wags374]

This is "Millie" a 3 month old Nigerian Dwarf doeling. She joined our three other does today to complete our herd. Nigerian Dwarf's are a rare dairy breed that only get about 21" tall when they are full grown. You can fit three of them in the space of one regular sized dairy goat. My daughter was so excited to finally get "her" goat. Of course she thinks they all are hers! :)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1lBieWP3gu0QA2UyfU064J0h34jD1i_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1lBieWP3gu0QA2UyfU064J0h34jD1i)

Kit: “Lazy Days” by Robyn Littlejohn (recolored)
Template: Week #14 Sketch Challenge Digital Design Den

[shellb]

Ahhhh... that's so cute! They must be really tiny, the cat looks huge (relative to the goat). Cute layout. Clever quote.

[Wags374]

Thanks Shell. Millie is only about 12" tall right now.

[Rusty]

Hi Jane,

Fine looking goat :),
nice layout.

How does milk production relate to size? If she's 1/3 the size of a "regular" goat, does she produce about 1/3 as much milk?

Just curious,

Rusty

[annc]

A lovely kid, a lovely daughter and a great layout.

[Wendy]

I think that this is a great page ... and I just love the proud expression on your daughters face :)

Wendy

[nkeevers]

Cute kid! (the 4-legged one!). LO is great and your daughter looks like she's having so much fun with her new addition.

[Kathy]

Jane,

Millie is adorable.

Wonderful use of the Sketch Template. ;)

Kathy

[Wags374]

Hi Jane,

Fine looking goat :),
nice layout.

How does milk production relate to size? If she's 1/3 the size of a "regular" goat, does she produce about 1/3 as much milk?

Just curious,

Rusty

A healthy Nigerian Dwarf (http://www.ndga.org/about/aboutnd.htm) doe can produce a surprising amount of sweet milk for her small size - up to two quarts per day. In addition, Nigerian Dwarf milk is higher in butterfat (6-10% and higher in protein than milk from most dairy goat breeds. And unlike the bigger breeds, they can breed year round. So theoretically you could stagger your breedings throughout the year and always have at least one doe milking.

Ideal height is 17-19" for does, and 19"-21" for bucks. Millie just barely weighed a pound when she was born. Multiple births are very common, so it doen't take long for a herd to expand. :)

[smiles]

Oh, how precious! Love your daughter's expression!

[Jancy]

Jane Congrats on the new addition to your family! :)
She is adorable-Great Layout
Jancy

[Wags374]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments.

Rough night for Millie - the other goats are still driving her away and she is crying for her momma almost constantly. I went out to check on them several times during the night, but they always bolted out of the shelter as soon as they heard the door open, so I wasn't able to see if they actually let her in or not.

She made me realize how much my other two babies have grown as they were her size/age when we aquired them 3 months ago.

[quillabee9]

Jane, Fun presentation. Bekah looks happy/proud. What's Ari's reaction?

[Wags374]

Gail - he was pretty excited too, although he mostly just likes to chase them around the pasture. Not something this little one needed on her first day. I sent him off to love on Allie (the adult) to keep both of them busy. :)