Contrary to what you may have heard, goats make for great pets. Almost any kind of goats are a great company and their personality shows up at a very early stage in their lives. The same applies to LaMancha goats which have distinguishing features that match their personality.
Whether it’s an adult or a kid, a LaMancha goat is one of the best pets out there. They are clean, well behaved, playful, friendly, and won’t hurt a fly. Their small ears give them a cute image and their affectionate character endears them to humans of all ages and walks of life.
If you know next to nothing about LaMancha goats, then you’re in luck. This article covers all the information you need to know to get started with your dream pet. It answers the most pertinent questions about these unique breeds of goats and tells you how to care for and build a strong relationship with them.
Costs of Owning a LaMancha Goat
As with all animals bred as pets, there are two types of LaMancha goats. You have pure breeds and crossbreeds. Of course, the pure breeds are the best since they retain all the great qualities that this specific breed is famous for.
So for pure breeds you can expect to pay up to $600 or more. Expensive right? Well, that’s because you’re not just buying any goat. It’s LaMancha goat, straight from LaMancha, Spain. If you’re on a budget or don’t care much for breeds, then a crossbreed would set you back less than $400. Your choice. And that’s just the upfront cost. You still have to factor in the cost of food, shelter, visits to the vet and toys and accessories.
LaMancha Goats Behavior and Temperament
As stated above, LaMancha goats are friendly and calm by nature. It’s hard to rile them up and even a mean cat in the house wouldn’t succeed in getting it upset. As young kids, they are curious by nature and love to explore. They like to jump up and down furniture and love to climb heights.
It will help if you have a backyard for the goat to enjoy a bit of sun and fresh air. Make sure you have a high fence to keep the goat in since its sense of curiosity will lead it away from the house.
LaMancha Goat Size
The main purpose of breeding LaMancha goats is because of their dairy prowess. These goats give more milk than any other breed of goats. This is why these cute animals made it all the way from Spain to California. More on that later.
As dairy goats, the average adult goat weighs about 160 pounds. Its height when fully grown is about 30 inches. Females weigh less and stand about 140 pounds and no more than 28 inches high no matter how high they try to appear.
How Long Do LaMancha Goats Live for?
On average LaMancha goats live between 7 and 10 years. Provided they have proper medical care, get plenty of fresh food and exercise a lot. As we’ll see later, these animals are proactive and lead a busy life. They don’t just eat and sleep like cats.
Medical attention is also mandatory. Make sure to take your goat to the vet for regular checks. They also seek the company of humans and other animals. So don’t keep it alone all day at home since that might impact its mental health.
How Much Space Does a LaMancha Goat Need?
That depends on two factors. The first is the age of the goat and the second is how many goats you keep. For a single adult goat you’ll need a backyard of at least 250 square feet for the goat to have enough exercise and jump and frolic to its heart’s content.
A small goat will need less space but since this breed grows fast, you will find yourself looking for a bigger place to contain its enthusiasm and playfulness. If you have more than one goat then each extra goat will need 20 square feet of space to make them feel comfortable together. These after all are farm animals and don’t like to be locked up inside homes.
LaMancha Goats Colors
Now when it comes to colors, LaMancha goats come in all the colors of the rainbow. Any color combination fits. Brown with white batches, black with yellow splotches, all shades of red and gray. These are goats that enjoy to meet the world with bright colors that matches their sunny dispositions.
The color patterns are usually controlled by the parents. Pure breeds are limited to dark colors as well as grays. Crossbreeds, however, break the mold with the patterns and designs they greet your eyes with. The color fades slightly as the goat ages but it still retains its patterns and vibrance.
LaMancha Goats Diet
As dairy goats, LaMancha goats need to drink a lot of water. It helps it produce so much milk. So your goat should have access to fresh water all day. It can drink up to 10 liters of water a day.
Grass and hay are the natural foods for this goat. It will happily forage and help you trim the hedges of your lawn for you. It munches on anything and likes to sample your books, newspaper, and notebooks as well as anything you leave unattended that takes its fancy. Don’t forget to supplement its diet with mineral ingredients to keep her healthy.
What is the LaMancha Goat Used for?
LaMancha goats are pure dairy animals. They produce a lot of milk. Their hair is too short to be used in textiles and they’re not as fleshy as other goats and sheep. So milk is its forte so to speak.
Goat farms that specialize in goat milk are chockfull of LaMancha goats especially pure breeds. Other than that, they’re kept as pets because of their distinct looks and affable nature. They get along well with everybody and don’t make trouble. They also don’t have many health problems which makes them ideal as pets.
Are LaMancha Goats Good Pets?
Indeed they are. Think the most lovable dogs with the cuteness of the cutest cats, add in a dash of playfulness and the spirit of a nymph. That’s LaMancha goats in a nutshell. They add life to any household and make everyone around them happy.
Children love these goats since they are easy to train and any time they’re up for a game of running, jumping and chasing anything in sight. Beautiful animals all around. They’re easy to maintain, no shedding problems, don’t transmit diseases and are not prone to special diseases themselves. They don’t make a mess and you won’t have trouble cleaning after them.
Are LaMancha Goats Born Without Ears?
LaMancha goats are well known for their weird looking ears. These ears come in two shapes. Either they have elf ears which are pointy and short like an elf’s or their ears are more like gopher ears.
Gopher ears are small and have no cartilage. This explains why people mistake LaMancha goats for being born without ears. They do have ears but they are too small and give them a pronounced head. Don’t try to pull them by the ears since that hurts and you might antagonize the goat and get something you don’t like from her.
Are Lamancha Goats Loud?
All goats bleat and make a fuss. This is especially true when they’re hungry or thirsty or just need to get your attention. But overall, LaMancha goats are quieter than their other cousins in the goat and sheep family.
If something spooks them they might scream for help. But provided they have enough food, water, and plenty of space to play, they’re happy as a pie and wouldn’t raise their voice or disturb you.
LaMancha Goat Origin
These goats originally come for LaMancha, Spain. If you have read the Don Quixote by the Spanish writer Cervantes, you’ll be familiar with LaMancha. That’s the town where Don Quixote started his adventures and eventually fought the windmills in its vicinity.
The first mention of them was in 1904 when they appeared in the Paris International Fair. Spanish missionaries took LaMancha goats with them to the New World. The first farm in the US to specialize in LaMancha goats was in California and started its dairy business in 1937. From there these goats made their way to the rest of the country and the world after that.
What Age are LaMancha Goats Full Grown?
The first year of their lives is spent happily jumping around and doing all the things kids do without a care in the world. But after they turn 2, they become ready for their duties in life. The females become fertile and ready to bear children and give milk.
Males also grow up around the same age and become bucks ready to mate and pass on their genes. Their fertile years last until old age. Although they tend to slow down as they get older and become wiser and quieter.
How Long is a LaMancha Goat Pregnant?
Breeding LaMancha goats is an interesting business. Usually these animals are ready to mate by the time they reach their second year. The female gets in the mood for a day or two every 3 weeks. That’s quite active compared to other animals.
After mating, the female will carry the babies for around 155 days. During this time, she wouldn’t come near a male and would fight off suitors with tooth and nail. She’s expecting now and wouldn’t be bothered by any advances from any buck no matter how strong and handsome he is.
How Many Babies Can a LaMancha Goat Have?
If you have seen a pregnant LaMancha goat you’d be surprised at how big her belly is. You might expect she’d be carrying a septuplet at least. But no, she only has two or three baby goats inside of her belly at any time.
Once they’re born, the kids are ready to run and jump within the first hour of their lives. But that’s not their first concern though. As soon as they open their eyes and smell their mom near them they immediately rush to her teats to suckle and get their first meal in this world.
