Performance Proven. Homestead Focused.
Documented Genetics. Measured Performance. Practical Results.
At Saco River Farms we don’t just raise Nubian goats. We steward a breeding program built to help families build resilient homesteads— using the same breeding philosophy, documented genetics, measured performance, and practical experience that sustain our own artisan micro dairy.
The goats we sell come from the same breeding program that supplies milk for our family, our farm market, and our wholesale customers across Maine. Every generation is evaluated using documented records, measurable performance, and years of practical experience.
Our goal has never been to raise the most goats.
Our goal has been to raise goats that help families build successful homesteads.
More Than a Goat Breeder
Many goat breeders specialize in registered genetics. Others specialize in show animals. At Saco River Farms, we focus on something different. We breed goats that must perform every day in a real working dairy.
If our breeding decisions don’t produce healthy, productive, long-lived animals, our dairy business suffers. The milk, cheese, yogurt, kefir, and other products we sell every week depend on those same genetics.
That means every breeding decision carries real-world consequences—not just ribbons or paperwork. We don’t breed goats for a weekend in the show ring. We breed goats that earn their place every day in a working dairy and a real homestead.
From Homestead to Micro Dairy
Twenty years ago, we weren’t planning to become a dairy. We simply wanted to become more self-sufficient. Like many families, we started with a vision of producing more of our own food, caring for our land responsibly, and building a healthier lifestyle one step at a time.
Nubian goats became one of the most valuable decisions we ever made.
They provided milk for our family, improved our pastures, produced healthy kids, enriched our gardens, and eventually became the foundation of something much larger than we ever imagined.
Today, that same journey has grown into a licensed artisan micro dairy supplying our own farm market and wholesale customers throughout Maine.
But we haven’t forgotten where we started.
Every goat we sell is selected with the homesteader in mind because that’s exactly where our own story began.
Read Our StoryMeet Promise
Every farm has a story. Ours begins with one remarkable Nubian doe named Promise. Promise wasn’t purchased from a nationally known breeder or a famous herd. She came from a small homestead farm called Yeshua’s Glory Nubians.
Promise became much more than one of our goats. She became the inspiration behind our logo, the face of our dairy products, and a daily reminder of the values we hope define this farm. Today her portrait still hangs in our market, and her influence continues through the generations that followed.
Some legacies are measured in pedigrees. Others are measured in the lives they help shape.
Meet Hope
Hope is one of the foundation does that helped build our breeding program. Now 14 years old, she has spent more than a decade proving herself where it matters most—not in the show ring, but in the pasture, the kidding barn, and our working artisan micro dairy. Many of the goats we sell today trace directly back to her.
Our breeding philosophy didn’t begin with software or spreadsheets. It began with a promise to build a herd that would serve our family, strengthen our homestead, and bless the families who would one day purchase from us.
One of the first questions people always ask us is: “How many goats do you have?” The truth is, most of the time we don’t know the exact count. That may seem odd to the average homesteader, until they realize that our herd averages around 80 goats and is constantly fluctuating as new kids are born and sold or harvested.
By the Numbers
2010 – We purchased our first three Nubian goats for our small homestead in Maine.
16 + years of raising Nubian dairy goats
11+ Years experience as a licensed dairy.
14+ Years experience raising goats for meat.
60-100 Goats average on our on our farm
18-30 Nubian Goats in our milking herd on average.
400+ Nubian Goat Kids born at Saco River Farms
59 Goat kids born Born in 2026, with more on the way
30+ Kids Raised annually. With many being raised to maturity for milk or meat.
Thousands of milkings informing our breeding decisions
Responsible Breeding
We believe responsible breeding is about much more than producing kids. It means continually improving the next generation. Every breeding on our farm is carefully documented using professional herd management software. We maintain detailed records including:
- Parentage and pedigrees
- Breeding history
- Kidding records
- Monthly milk production
- Growth rates
- Health records
- Body condition
- Performance observations
Those records help us make better breeding decisions and provide our customers with greater confidence in the animals they purchase.
Beyond Registration
Registration has value, and we respect the role it plays within many breeding programs. The majority of the foundation animals that built our herd came from registered, performance-oriented bloodlines.
We continue to document pedigrees and breeding records for every animal. Our focus, however, extends beyond registration alone. We also evaluate the traits that matter most in everyday farm life:
- Milk production
- Growth rate
- Maternal ability
- Longevity
- Structural soundness
- FAMACHA
- Temperament
- Practical performance
A pedigree tells you where a goat came from.
Performance records tell you how those genetics have actually performed.
We believe both matter.
Built on Data
Good decisions require good information. Rather than relying on memory or handwritten notes, our herd is managed using Farmbrite livestock management software.
Every breeding, kidding, weight, health event, and production record becomes part of a growing body of information that helps guide future breeding decisions. We don’t simply hope our breeding program is improving. We measure it.
Proven in the Dairy
The goats we sell come from the same herd that supplies milk for our artisan dairy. That means our breeding decisions are influenced by real production—not theory.
Every day our does prove themselves through:
- Milk production
- Mothering ability
- Ease of management
- Longevity
- Practical efficiency
Those are the traits we want to pass on to the next generation.
Built for the Homestead
Our goats aren’t selected for a weekend in the show ring. They’re selected for real life. We want goats that:
- Produce rich, high-butterfat milk
- Raise healthy kids
- Thrive on pasture
- Handle New England conditions
- Fit naturally into a family homestead
Whether your goal is milk, meat, land management, or eventually building a small dairy of your own, our breeding program is designed with practical success in mind.
One Animal. Many Possibilities.
When many families begin thinking about self-sufficiency, they compare different livestock options. We’ve had those same conversations ourselves. Goats became the foundation of our homestead because they offered something few other livestock options could.
A good Nubian doe can provide:
🥛 Milk
🧀 Cheese
🥣 Yogurt
🥛 Kefir
🍖 Meat
🌱 Pasture Improvement
🌿 Garden Manure
🐐 Future Breeding Stock
💰 Potential Farm Income
👨👩👧👦 Farm Experiences & Agritourism
A Nubian doe isn’t just livestock—she’s a cornerstone of a resilient homestead.
For us, goats weren’t simply another livestock species. They became the foundation that helped transform a homestead into a sustainable farm business.
We Depend on These Genetics Too
We don’t breed goats for someone else’s dairy. We breed goats for our own first.
Every gallon of milk we bottle.
Every wheel of cheese we age.
Every container of yogurt we sell.
It all begins with the same breeding decisions that produce the kids we offer for sale. That keeps us honest.
See the products made from these same genetics →
Honest Pricing
Not every goat is the same. Some are exceptional herd builders. Some are wonderful family milk goats. Others are better suited for meat production or different purposes.
We believe in matching the right goat to the right customer rather than trying to convince every customer that every goat is “top tier.”
Our pricing reflects that philosophy.
Nubian Goats for SaleSupport After the Sale
Buying goats is only the beginning. Whether you’re purchasing your first pair of doelings or expanding an existing herd, we’re happy to share what we’ve learned over sixteen years of raising Nubian dairy goats.
If we can help you avoid mistakes we made ourselves, that’s a success for both of us.
Our Philosophy
We don’t just raise goats. We help families build resilient homesteads. Everything we do is guided by one simple question:
Would we recommend these goats to someone trying to build the homestead we once dreamed of ourselves?
If the answer isn’t yes… They don’t remain part of our breeding program.
Our first doe “Promise” was not registered, nor was she the best milker… she was simply what we could afford at the time. She later became the heart of our very successful micro dairy. Her image, and what it represents, remains our logo to this day.
Every Great Homestead Starts Somewhere
Every thriving dairy began with one good doe. Every successful breeding program began with one thoughtful decision. Whether your dream is fresh milk for your family, raising your own replacement stock, improving your land, or one day building an artisan micro dairy of your own, we’d be honored to help you take that first step.
Performance isn’t built in a single generation. It is earned over years of thoughtful breeding, careful stewardship, measured results, and a commitment to helping the next generation of homesteaders succeed.
Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose Nubian goats?
Nubian goats are one of the most versatile dairy breeds available. They are known for producing rich, high-butterfat milk that is excellent for drinking, cheesemaking, yogurt, and other dairy products. In addition to dairy production, Nubians are large-framed goats that can also serve as an excellent dual-purpose breed for families interested in both milk and meat production. Their friendly personalities and adaptability make them one of the most popular choices for homesteads across the country.
What makes Saco River Farms’ breeding program different?
Our breeding program is built around one simple philosophy: Performance Proven. Homestead Focused.
Rather than selecting goats primarily for the show ring, we select for the traits that matter on a real homestead and in a working artisan micro dairy—milk production, growth, maternal ability, longevity, temperament, structural soundness, and practical performance.
Every breeding decision is supported by documented records, measured performance, and years of real-world experience.
Do your goats come from registered bloodlines?
Many of the foundation animals that built our herd originated from registered, performance-oriented bloodlines. We maintain complete breeding records and documented pedigrees for every animal in our herd.
Our emphasis, however, extends beyond registration alone. We also evaluate the measurable performance of each family line, including milk production, growth rates, maternal ability, and long-term productivity.
Do you sell registered goats?
Our primary focus is producing practical, high-performing goats for homesteads and working dairies rather than maintaining a registered breeding program.
We believe registration is one valuable tool, but it is only one part of evaluating quality. We encourage buyers to consider the complete picture, including documented genetics, production history, temperament, growth, and long-term performance.
How do you track your breeding program?
Every breeding on our farm is managed using professional Farmbrite herd management software.
Our records include:
- Pedigrees and parentage
- Breeding history
- Kidding records
- Growth rates
- Health records
- Monthly milk production
- Performance observations
These records help us continually improve our herd while providing buyers with greater confidence in the animals they purchase.
Can I start a homestead dairy with Nubian goats?
Absolutely.
In fact, that’s exactly how Saco River Farms began.
We started as a small homestead with the goal of producing more of our own food. Over time, our herd grew into a licensed artisan micro dairy supplying our farm market and wholesale customers throughout Maine.
Whether your goal is fresh milk for your family or eventually producing cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products, Nubian goats provide an excellent foundation for a resilient homestead.
Are Nubian goats good for both milk and meat?
Yes.
Nubians are considered one of the best dual-purpose goat breeds available.
Their rich milk is ideal for home dairies, while their larger frame and excellent growth make them well suited for families interested in home-raised meat as well.
Many of our breeding decisions are made with this versatility in mind because we believe a productive homestead benefits from livestock that can serve multiple purposes.
Do you sell goats for meat?
Yes.
While many of our customers purchase goats for dairy or breeding, we also sell goats suitable for home meat production.
If your goal is raising your own healthy, locally produced meat, we’d be happy to help you select animals that fit your needs and experience level.
Can you recommend a custom butcher?
Yes.
For customers interested in home-raised goat meat, we recommend Brookside Custom Cutting in Buxton, Maine.
They offer custom livestock slaughter and cutting services for goats, and in some cases may be able to arrange pickup and transportation of live animals. Processing arrangements and fees are handled directly between the customer and the butcher.
How many goats should I start with?
For most first-time owners, we recommend starting with at least two goats.
Goats are naturally social animals and generally thrive when they have another goat as a companion. Starting with a compatible pair often results in healthier, happier animals and a much better experience for new owners.
Ask us about our Homestead Starter recommendations if you’re building your first herd.
Why should I buy my goats from Saco River Farms?
Because we don’t simply sell goats—we raise them under the same conditions and according to the same breeding philosophy that support our own artisan micro dairy.
Every generation is selected using documented genetics, measured performance, and practical experience gained over more than sixteen years of raising Nubian goats. Our goal isn’t simply to produce exceptional animals—it’s to help families build successful, resilient homesteads of their own.