What is a Saanen Goat?

@geekish - You can actually find goat breeders online to find a goat for sale just like you can dog breeders. Just with saanen goat breeders you may have to travel as the sites I have looked at did not have a breeder in every state.

I am a newbie to the idea of buying goats so I would check into how you find a good breeder and a healthy goat as well, just as if you were looking for a puppy!

Which makes me wonder... I wonder how goats get along with other animals like dogs, I have a Labrador retriever who loves to lick just about anything that moves unless it is duck or squirrel (then she loves to annoy and chase).

I have never thought of having a goat for a pet but the description of this goat sounds like an attractive pet it is both pettable yet also produces food (the milk obviously not the meat - speaking of goat meat, what countries eat goat meat? I had heard it was the number one most eaten meat in the world but I have never heard of any country ever eating goat).

So where would one find a saanen goat for sale?

Saanen goats are a great choice if you have children as they are famous for being gentle and mild-mannered. Saanen goats are most content just relaxing in the shade and eating.

It's funny, but a lot of breeders actually refer to the Saanen goat as "living marshmallows". I suppose this is why they are such a popular choice at petting zoos and in animal shows.

I remember taking kids to a petting zoo and they absolutely loved the Saanen goats. They were soft and completely oblivious to my children petting them. Definitely a tolerant animal that would make a good pet.

My mother always told me that Saanen goat milk was the best that you could buy. She used it for cooking and drinking. While I am not sure if Saanen goat milk is really the best, I do prefer goat milk in general. Goat milk offers a huge number of health benefits that just don't come with milk produced by cows.

For those that don't know, goat milk is actually great at soothing the stomachs of those with issues. I have struggled with ulcers in the past and goat milk was much easier on my stomach than cow milk. I actually found it to be more effective than over the counter antacids. It was also cheaper to buy.

It says in the article that the horns of the Saanen are sometimes removed when they are young. Personally, I don't think that's necessary at all. They are very gentle goats, and I find them quite easy to work with. If anything, the horns give you a way to guide them around (gently!).

I have often seen children working with Saanens without any trouble at all, and they seem the most popular choice in our area when the kids have the chance to bring in a farm animal to school.

We aren't a big goat farming area, either, but quite a few families keep Saanens as pets or for the milk.

@croydon - While Saanen goats don't produce milk with the high butterfat content of some other breeds, you can still skim off the cream to make butter and things like that, which can help.

But, you're right, a Saanen goat can give you a gallon per day. If you let her nurse a kid or two, you won't be getting nearly as much though.

Unless you are trying to sell purebred kids, I would cross a Saanen with a meat goat, like a boer and in a few months you'll have goat meat for sale or for your freezer.

But I understand that people get very attached to their goats, so that option might not be for everyone.

Saanens are lovely goats and make excellent "house goats" as they aren't nearly as mischievous as some other milk goats can be.

You have to take into consideration, though, that they shouldn't be kept on their own (goats are social animals, you should keep at least two together) and that they do produce quite a bit of milk.

So, you need to have a plan in place for dealing with excess goat milk so it doesn't go to waste, if you plan on keeping a couple of Saanen goats.

But, in my experience, once people try goat milk once, they are eager to continue buying or trading for it.