Use: The Kinder goat’s combination of compact size, excellent feed conversion, and high production of quality milk with a high protein and butterfat content makes it a terrific addition to the small farm. They have a base production of 1,500 pounds of milk in 305 days or less. The fast-growing wethers of this dual-purpose breed are good meat animals, and these goats make friendly pets and brush-mowers, too.
History: When the Showalter family’s old Nubian buck suddenly passed away during the summer of 1985, he left them with a dilemma: how to freshen their two Nubian does to keep the milk flowing on their Snohomish, Washington farm? An initial search yielded no replacement bucks, and they didn’t like the idea of transporting the girls to another farm for breeding. Little knowing that they would be creating a brand new breed, the Showalters decided to let their willing pygmy buck give it a go. In 1986, the does gave birth to three little doe kids between them, one of which the family kept and named Liberty. Not only did she reliably give the best-tasting milk Zederkamm Farm had ever known, but she also produced anywhere from twins to sextuplets each time she kidded. More crosses followed to fine-tune the breed, and it soon attracted the attention of several other goat enthusiasts. The Kinder Goat Breeders Association launched in 1988, and according to their site, the registry now includes over 1,000 Kinder goats throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Conformation: The Kinder is classified as a medium-sized goat, with does standing 20 to 26 inches at the withers, and bucks no more than 28 inches at the withers. They have a compact but well-proportioned shape with good muscling and sturdy bone structure. The Kinder’s short coat has a fine texture and, like the Nubian, can flaunt any color or markings. Long, wide ears that rest below the horizontal frame a straight or dished face, and their large, wide-set eyes give them an alert air. According to raisers, these goats have friendly, sociable personalities that make them a joy to work with and milk.
Special Considerations/Notes: Kinder goats adapt well to both hot and cold climates, and their small size makes them easier to manage and house than the big goats (however, sturdy, escape-proof fencing and predator protection is a must for any size goat). The prolific, motherly does seldom have problems kidding.
