LaMancha Dairy Goat
We started with dairy goats (Alpine-type) in 1985, and in 1989, we started a commercial dairy. At that time, we added a group of LaMancha dairy goats to fill out numbers, and we lost our hearts to them. The LaMancha is a hardy breed with longevity and long, even milk production.
They easily handle summer heat and winter cold, but it’s their personalities that make them our choice. They are charming, witty, and always in your face, and they love attention and are an easy choice for children to raise.
Deb Macke
Raintree-Calico Dairy Goats Hawkins, Wisconsin
Babydoll Southdown Sheep
Ilove my purebred Babydoll Southdown sheep because it’s a smaller breed that makes it easier for me to handle, house and provide several pastures for rotating. They’re usually very docile and make great lawnmowers. These sheep are a nice allaround breed for beginners, but as with any animal, I strongly suggest a mentor if you are considering breeding.
They grow a dense wool that requires yearly shearing, and the fleece can be used for a variety of things once you learn how to process it for your projects. The cute “smiles” aren’t so bad either!
Susan Hurrell
Daybreak Farmstead
Upstate New York
We were looking for small sheep suitable for grazing in our orchard. As it turned out, Babydolls are the perfect orchard sheep — as long as you protect the trunks of your young trees! They are short and squat with a low center of gravity, so they don t like to stand on their hind legs much. So any branches above about 40 inches are quite safe from their browsing. But even beyond being great in orchards and vineyards, we love them for so many other reasons! They are probably the most adorable sheep out there (especially the lambs), and they are such easy-keepers without a lot of the issues of larger and newer sheep breeds — the perfect beginner sheep breed!
Adam Dusen
Hundred Fruit Farm
Buckingham, Pennsylvania
Babydolls do it all for a hobby farmer. Their milk is rich; it’s over half cream. It has the mildest flavor, and though only about two cups per milking is produced, it’s superior to others I’ve tasted. Their wool, though short stapled, is so soft and fine. The meat of a Babydoll wether is unbeatable in the sheep breeds and better than even other sources of meat. The meat is literally unbeatable when you talk flavor, tenderness and leanness. hf
Marylou Anderson
LT Livestock Hobby Farm
DeSoto, Missouri