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A female dairy goat, called a “doe,” should produce a gallon to 2 gallons of milk a day. And a yearling doe should produce 2 to
3 quarts, sometimes more. But although one doe can easily make enough milk to feed a family, most people keep at least 2
does. Goats are commonly bred once a year at about 7 months after they kid, then milk for about 3 more months, and are
dried off for the last 2 months of their 5 month pregnancy. That way they can give all of their resources to their unborn kids,
who get 70% of their growth in those last few weeks. With this in mind, if a family has 2 or more does, they can stagger the
does' pregnancies to provide a year around milk supply. Also goats are very sociable and need at least one friend, preferably
another goat. If you don't get them another goat---sheep, cow, or horse---for a companion, they will likely want you to be with
them constantly, and be vocal about it!
Goats can eat brush that no other farm animals will eat, and convert it into milk. Hence their popularity in poorer countries.
However, to maintain the high production described here, they will also need supplementary hay (preferably alfalfa) and a
mixed grain ration to increase the protein and calcium necessary to make milk.
Dairy goats are easily maintained and handled. Besides their feed, they do need some kind of shelter, dry bedding of straw or
wood chips, fresh water, and mineral salt in block or loose form. They need and occasional dose of wormer, and should have
their hooves trimmed every couple of months or so. Most people easily trim goat hooves themselves with hand held shrub
pruning shears. One last requirement for goats in most situations is really good fencing, since they are escape artists.
Any dairy products that can be made from cow milk can be made from goat milk also. Except, if you want to make products
made just from the cream, like butter or ice cream, you will have to invest in an electric or hand crank cream separator,
because goat milk is naturally almost homogenized. The fat globules in goat milk are so tiny that it would take days to settle
cream out on top the way raw cow milk does. The plus side of this situation is that the tiny fat globules, along with a few
different enzymes, are what makes goat milk more easily digestible, and the perfect choice for most human and animal
babies who can't tolerate cow milk.
Excess goat milk can be used to raise other baby farm animals for meat, for instance calves, or orphan bummer lambs.
Goat milk soaps are also easily made, and said to be especially good for the complexion.
The benefits from dairy goats don't stop with milk production All goats will clear unwanted brush, even thorny blackberry
thickets, down to the ground. Goats can provide you with meat and hides. Their composted manure will turn the hardest clay
soil into deep black loam for your garden. Goat packing, which is using dairy goat wethers (castrated males) to carry supplies
on hiking trips, is becoming very popular. Wethers can even be trained to pull small carts. Also dairy goats make excellent 4H
project animals, because they are so easy for children and teens to handle.
That dairy goats are extremely productive and useful in a variety of ways cannot be denied. But most people don't realize how
very intelligent, personable, and entertaining goats can be. Their personalities are quite individual and some are real
characters. Goats who are handled with frequency and kindness from birth onward, are friendly and curious toward people in
general, and affectionate with their caretakers. You will find it hard not to attach to them as family pets. The birth of baby kids
is always an exciting event. There is nothing more adorable than newborn kids taking their first steps, like Bambi on ice. Then
they will quickly start entertaining you as they cavort around the pasture leaping, dancing, and kicking up their heels. And
finally, when people or life's problems get you down, you can always go out to the barn and hang out with your goats for a while
to de-stress. They will keep you sane in a crazy world.
Sher June has been raising and breeding goats for over 35 years. This is her first in a new series of articles about dairy goats
and their care for Cascadia Connections.
Goatkeeping 101, by Caprine Supply
Practical Guide To Small Scale Goatkeeping, by Billi Luisi
Country Women: A Handbook for the New Farmer, by Jeanne Tetrault and Sherry Thomas
Life in the Goat Lane, by Linda Fink
More Life in the Goat Lane, by Linda Fink
You can visit the Amercian Dairy Goat Association at adga.org
3 quarts, sometimes more. But although one doe can easily make enough milk to feed a family, most people keep at least 2
does. Goats are commonly bred once a year at about 7 months after they kid, then milk for about 3 more months, and are
dried off for the last 2 months of their 5 month pregnancy. That way they can give all of their resources to their unborn kids,
who get 70% of their growth in those last few weeks. With this in mind, if a family has 2 or more does, they can stagger the
does' pregnancies to provide a year around milk supply. Also goats are very sociable and need at least one friend, preferably
another goat. If you don't get them another goat---sheep, cow, or horse---for a companion, they will likely want you to be with
them constantly, and be vocal about it!
Goats can eat brush that no other farm animals will eat, and convert it into milk. Hence their popularity in poorer countries.
However, to maintain the high production described here, they will also need supplementary hay (preferably alfalfa) and a
mixed grain ration to increase the protein and calcium necessary to make milk.
Dairy goats are easily maintained and handled. Besides their feed, they do need some kind of shelter, dry bedding of straw or
wood chips, fresh water, and mineral salt in block or loose form. They need and occasional dose of wormer, and should have
their hooves trimmed every couple of months or so. Most people easily trim goat hooves themselves with hand held shrub
pruning shears. One last requirement for goats in most situations is really good fencing, since they are escape artists.
Any dairy products that can be made from cow milk can be made from goat milk also. Except, if you want to make products
made just from the cream, like butter or ice cream, you will have to invest in an electric or hand crank cream separator,
because goat milk is naturally almost homogenized. The fat globules in goat milk are so tiny that it would take days to settle
cream out on top the way raw cow milk does. The plus side of this situation is that the tiny fat globules, along with a few
different enzymes, are what makes goat milk more easily digestible, and the perfect choice for most human and animal
babies who can't tolerate cow milk.
Excess goat milk can be used to raise other baby farm animals for meat, for instance calves, or orphan bummer lambs.
Goat milk soaps are also easily made, and said to be especially good for the complexion.
The benefits from dairy goats don't stop with milk production All goats will clear unwanted brush, even thorny blackberry
thickets, down to the ground. Goats can provide you with meat and hides. Their composted manure will turn the hardest clay
soil into deep black loam for your garden. Goat packing, which is using dairy goat wethers (castrated males) to carry supplies
on hiking trips, is becoming very popular. Wethers can even be trained to pull small carts. Also dairy goats make excellent 4H
project animals, because they are so easy for children and teens to handle.
That dairy goats are extremely productive and useful in a variety of ways cannot be denied. But most people don't realize how
very intelligent, personable, and entertaining goats can be. Their personalities are quite individual and some are real
characters. Goats who are handled with frequency and kindness from birth onward, are friendly and curious toward people in
general, and affectionate with their caretakers. You will find it hard not to attach to them as family pets. The birth of baby kids
is always an exciting event. There is nothing more adorable than newborn kids taking their first steps, like Bambi on ice. Then
they will quickly start entertaining you as they cavort around the pasture leaping, dancing, and kicking up their heels. And
finally, when people or life's problems get you down, you can always go out to the barn and hang out with your goats for a while
to de-stress. They will keep you sane in a crazy world.
Sher June has been raising and breeding goats for over 35 years. This is her first in a new series of articles about dairy goats
and their care for Cascadia Connections.
Goatkeeping 101, by Caprine Supply
Practical Guide To Small Scale Goatkeeping, by Billi Luisi
Country Women: A Handbook for the New Farmer, by Jeanne Tetrault and Sherry Thomas
Life in the Goat Lane, by Linda Fink
More Life in the Goat Lane, by Linda Fink
You can visit the Amercian Dairy Goat Association at adga.org
Why Dairy Goats?
Goatkeeping Adventures Part One
By Sher June
In these difficult economic times, perhaps you
have started thinking about saving money by
producing some of your own food. Perhaps you
would also like to control the quality of the food
your family consumes, since so much
supermarket food is now processed, genetically
engineered, and laden with pesticides and
chemicals. Maybe you would like to make your
own delicious gourmet cheeses. If you are also
and animal lover, consider the dairy goat. She
will give you all those things and much more.
Goatkeeping Adventures Part One
By Sher June
In these difficult economic times, perhaps you
have started thinking about saving money by
producing some of your own food. Perhaps you
would also like to control the quality of the food
your family consumes, since so much
supermarket food is now processed, genetically
engineered, and laden with pesticides and
chemicals. Maybe you would like to make your
own delicious gourmet cheeses. If you are also
and animal lover, consider the dairy goat. She
will give you all those things and much more.
