A frugal homesteader makes a case for registered goats.

I'm writing this from the view-point of a person who has learned to be frugal. This wasn't usually by choice, but by the need to make ends meet.

I raise goats, with a preference for Nubians. Why? They are a large goat and are capable of making a gallon a day of the best-tasting, richest milk you could ask for. Due to their size, the young wethers will put more meat on the table than other breeds. They come in a variety of colors, have gorgeous long ears, and each goat seems to have its own personality. Most homesteaders are looking for a good value. If you have a couple of does that are giving a gallon a day each, you are probably happy regardless of their breed.

When looking for a sire for your spring kids, seek a registered buck who is siring daughters that are milking well. Look for a buck that is the same breed as your doe. You can contact the American Dairy Goat Association (P.O. Box 865, Spindale, NC 28160) to get forms and register your spring kids as grade Alpine or grade Nubian or grade of whatever the breed was the sire. You will be able to get more money for your kids.

Keep a doeling and breed her to another registered buck of the same breed and you have a 75 percenter. Females that are 75 percent can be registered as American of whichever breed you are working towards. By breeding up, you increase the value of your animals.

Join a local goat club and meet other breeders. One of them will often have more good does than they need and will sell a registered purebred at an affordable price. Breeders are a source of tons of information that will help you do things more economically. Goat people are usually a thrifty lot.

Another way to increase the value of your stock is by writing to ADGA and getting the "on test" form. By working with other breeders, you can authenticate the milk-producing records of your goats. Buyers will pay more for goats that come from good milkers. If you decide not to go on test, at least keep a daily record of what each doe gives so you can use that information yourself in culling poor producers or for future reference.

Some unregistered does will milk just as much or more than some of the registered animals. But the bottom line is total income minus total expense. In the long run, you will have more profit from good quality registered goats.

Ed. note: In some regions, at some times, registered and purebred animals don't command prices any higher than grades. The time and money spent on upgrading might not be "wasted" in terms of herd or breed improvement, but it doesn't always pay off at sale time. You have to know your market.