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Dos Lomas
Dos Lomas Goat Company was formed by Sunny and Kelly Hill. Goats are such fun, entertaining, and productive creatures each with their own (sometimes strong) personality. We raise several different breeds here at the Rainbow Ranch; each breed has its own set of characteristics and traits, and we often combine two breeds to produce a unique set of traits. Many of the goats we raise are registered, and would do well in the show ring. We hope to make time to go to some goat shows this year.
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Dairy Goats
We raise several different breeds of dairy goats. "Rosta" is one of the Oberhasli.
- Oberhasli: They can produce quite a lot of milk. Ours have very sweet and quiet personalities, they also seem very docile compared to some of the others. Be sure to meet Rosta, Ruth (black), Contrite, Mr. P, and their kids if you come for a visit.
- Nigerian Dwarf Goats: This is a miniature dairy breed from Africa. There is no standard color, and occasionally you will see blue eyes. They tend to produce more butterfat per pound of milk than some of the other breeds. Their milk makes wonderful icecream.
- Nubians: Another dairy breed from Africa. Sometimes called the Jersey's of the diary goats. They can produce large quantities of high butterfat milk.
- Saanens: These are sometimes refered to as the Holstiens of the dairy goats, producing as much as 2.5 gallons of milk per day.
- Mini Oberhasli: This is a cross between a Nigerian Dwarf and an Oberhasli. The cross produces a size in between the standard and the miniature, and generally their milk capacity is greater than that of the miniature.
- Mini Nubians: Just like above, the cross is with a Nigerian Dwarf, and similar size and milk capacity changes occur.
- Mini Saanens: Again, this is a somewhat smaller goat than a standard Saanen. With this cross a greater yeild of higher butterfat milk is what we are after.
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Meat Goats
Unlike the dairy goats, we just raise one type of "meat" goat breed, and they are the Boers. We are working on a Boer and Dairy goat cross that will give us does that milk well and wethers and bucks that grow bigger and faster than their dairy counterparts. This is something that makes sense for us since we must sell most of our kids, and the market favors meat breeds.
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Guardian Dogs
A livestock guardian dog (LGD) is a must for our area. We have several large predators in our region - bear, mountain lion, and coyote - all of which can and do prey on stock animals when they get the chance. After repeated bear attacks in 2008 we purchased our first LGD, an Anatolian/Pyrenees puppy we named "Conan." He is old enough now to be earning his keep, and we are still looking for the right dog to help him.
 
Conan at 12 weeks - August '08 Conan at 5 months - October '08
Conan at 17 months - November '09
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Goatherd
We are so excited about having a Goatherd this year. Justin Cook will be here for some of the summer months to help us use the goats in rotation this year behind the cattle. He and Conan will have their work cut out for them.
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