Breeding quality Nigerian Dwarfs

LYONS, Neb. — Not long after moving to a 5-acre plot in the country, Blake and Angie Meyer found their niche raising, breeding, selling and showing Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats.

Their farm, Wildwood Acres is located near Lyons. They milk a herd of 30 Nigerian Dwarfs, with part of the milk used for Angie’s Wildwood Goat Milk Soap brand.

The Meyers farm with their children by their side.

“I think it helps our children with life lessons,” Blake said. “It’s a good way to teach them about the circle of life.”

Angie said outside chores and the goats give the children the chance to learn responsibility.

“We don’t want them to grow up behind a screen,” Angie said. “We want them to learn hard work; work ethic is huge.”

During their milking season, usually from the end of January to September, they milk at 5:30 in the morning and between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon.

Goats are rotationally grazed as long as weather and pastures permit. This helps with the workload that includes full-time jobs and child-rearing. Angie is a teacher and Blake is a sales representative for AKRS Equipment.

In her spare time, Angie also makes her goat milk soap.

To keep the workload manageable at kidding time, they breed a maximum of 20 does. They focus on quality over quantity by considering linear appraisal data, pedigree and genetics. The Meyers said they want goats that excel in milk production and have correct type conformation.

“You can have a doe that will milk a whole slug but not have the body conformation to hold up that udder over time,” Blake said. “We want something that is going to structurally last and be productive.”

To push for improvements, the couple tried laparoscopic A.I. for the first time. They brought in three does and two were successful. Blake said they were happy with the result.

Angie said some of their friends who raise goats have multiple breeds, but that is not something the couple see themselves doing. Blake said this is because of the knowledge they have of the characteristics and genetics in the Nigerian Dwarf breed. The Meyers said they want to continue to improve their herd and be able to provide quality animals, both in and out of the show ring.

“We want to do our best to make the Nigerian breed better,” Angie said.

The couple said they have struggled locally to market their animals as breeding stock because people in their area think of Nigerian Dwarfs as pets rather than dairy animals. Angie said this makes people not want to spend as much for a quality animal.

This attitude has not altered their ability to market across state lines though. One of their bucks was sold to a breeder in Florida, and does have been sold across the Midwest.

When it comes to goat health, the Meyers are attuned to their herd.

“You have to really know your goats,” Angie said. “If their ears are droopy that might be their only sign, but they could have a high fever.”

With the need for quick treatments, the size of the Nigerian Dwarf’s has been an asset. Angie said it makes it easier for her to treat on her own without waiting for Blake. As well, the goats’ size means they need less space and feed.

At milking time, the goats are trained to go to the shed and hop up on the milking stand. Sometimes they even learn to arrive in a specific order. Blake built their milking shed and milking stand with his dad. Initially the couple did milking by hand, but Angie said this became difficult once the herd increased in size.

In 2016, the herd was expanded because Angie wanted to start making goat milk soap. Her late grandmother, Margaret York, who made old-fashioned soap, was her inspiration.

Both the soap brand and farm name were inspired by York.

“Just thinking of her favorite hymn, ‘Church in the Wildwood,’ that’s where Wildwood Soap came from,” Angie said. “Then when we were trying to think of a name through (the American Dairy Goat Association) and Wildwood Acres came around.”

In the future, the Meyers plan to continue focusing on genetics, attending shows and making time for family.

“It’s a way of living; it’s not just a job,” Angie said.