When you first saw a goat in person, where was it? At a petting zoo? At your great aunt’s county fair? When you took your first riding lesson? Goat yoga? The possibilities are endless. I personally can’t rightly remember my first goat encounter, whether I absolutely hated or adored the graceful, elegant creatures. All I know is that the first impression is long gone.

Several years ago, my family did the research on what the perfect goat would be. Toggenbergs? Boars? Alpines? Nigerian Dwarves? They settled on miniature LaManchas, a cross of LaManchas, a multicolored docile breed, with the tiny Nigerian. The result of this crossbreed was small enough to manage and control, yet large enough to milk and enjoy. Our herd has since then expanded from two does to over 50 adorable bundles of joy that continue to bounce, bleet, cuddle, and munch, listening and playing all the way.

LaManchas are considered different due to their incredibly short ears. Many people ask me, “Why are their ears so small?” Or, “Where are their ears?” To these remarks there is a simple answer. The LaMancha breed originates from a place with cold climates. So over time, a breed was created with ears that couldn’t get frostbitten, or at least that is the intention. After being bred with the Nigerians, with long ears, the ear length can vary, depending on genetics. Making a true LaMancha ear or a slightly longer one.  Even though most breeding communities prefer shorter ears, longer eared goats are still beautiful and capable of all the normal goat things, like kidding, being friendly, and producing milk.

If you are interested in goats, I recommend looking into what it takes, because there are many different types of goats, and owning goats takes time and dedication. I also recommend looking into which type of goat would be best to fit your situation. Another thing to consider when deciding is that goats are happier with another goat, so make room for two! I hope you have found what you are looking for in this article. If not, please reach out, and if you want to make one (or two) of them part of your life, please reach out as well. Thank you.