For those of you with milk goats....

[sweetshoplady]

One thing I will add is to follow Miss Prissy's example and have 2 does in milk. That way, if you need to have one in a withdrawal period, say for medication you have needed to give her as I have had to (my gal had mastitis on one side and needed an antibiotic) you won't be out of milk. Why I went and found 2 more does in milk and brought them home. I was only going to get one more but the quality of the animals was so good I couldn't decide on just one.

I bring my milk in and put it in a stainless steel container in a cooler of ice water (lots of ice, I use bottles that I have filled with water and refreeze them) to bring the temperature of the milk down to 40 as quickly as possible. Then strain it into sterilized glass jars.

Definitely worth it to own the animal. And I'm sure you may have already been told this, but when you milk, keep track of how much milk you get from each doe, that way you'll know if she's off.

My goats are all disbudded.

 

[MissPrissy]

Susan, something I do to cool the milk down quick is to fill and freeze clean, sterile bottles of water. I pop one into my milking pail. When I milk the milk is cooling ASAP as I strema it from the goat and it takes even less time to chill it down once you go inside your house. Then I strain it when it is chilled and pour it into a stainless steel milk jug for my fridge. The quicker it is cooled the better it tastes and the longer it lasts on the shelf.

 

[greyfields]

I usually pasteurize 2 gallons at a time. We fill the sink with ice water and plop them in there once they are finished. Prior to that I strain into a milk can and put it in the fridge.

And I agree. You don't need a buck. You can rent a buck for probably about $25 per mating.

 

[mangled]

Good to know. I was kinda not wanting a male.

We have a good amount of cleared land, and lots of wooded land. We were planning on making the pasture about 900'x900' on each side to start. Would a triple line of electric fencing work or is the electric a bit too much? I'd rather not go with barbed wire, and we plan on adding some more livestock and pasture as our "farm" develops. The electric line seems the most economical and easily expandable way to go.

Are there any good on-line sources or books you can recommend for good information on goat keeping?

Thanks so much-
Em

 

[MissPrissy]

Goats can climb. You need really good fencing. They learn quick to respect an electric fence and to stay inside their perimeter. Also you need fencing to keep dogs out of their feild. Goats are instinctively disturbed by dogs in their space. It is not pretty to see upset goats being antagonized or chased by a dog. Something will get hurt or killed and it most likely will not be in the dog.

 

[ZykloniaDark-GothikRanchr]

I have 14 goats, I have spent 6 months getting them used to me so I can milk them, and all of them are pregnant right now, with a few weeks to a month or so to go for each (all but my 2 bucks lol) so soon I will be a VERY VERY busy girl!! I do it because I know how my goats are treated, and what they eat. My goats are like pets, they have free roam of my yard and I can identify each by just hearng their "voice" . they get kisses and hugs everyday, and I truly love them all!! I know their personalities, and what I will have to deal with when milking them, and I plan to drink the milk, and make cheese, butter, etc. I couldnt tell you how much I spend, because it isn't that big an issue with me. I know it costs less for me to raise all my goats than my neighbor to raise her dog!!! and my goats keep my lawn mowed and fertilized!! you really want to make sure you do it for the right reasons. It sounds like you are, so go for it!!

 

[nightshade]

Quote:
No I usually strain once in the evening unless I run out during the day lol I milk right into a quart glass masion jar. It goes right from the goat to the fridge and then in the evening after it is all chilled from the day I strain it all at one time. Usually into a gal glass jug, mostly cause that is the size I have. We haven't tried to make anything else yet. Frankly I can't seem to keep it around long enough to try anything else we drink it all usually.

I love having our goats we do have a male, he is not nuitered and we have desided now to leave him that way. We had him before we got the milking goat, he is a nubian cross and a sweet little guy. Ours also still have their horns I don't mind it but I think alot of it is personal prefrence. Now the milking nubian we are picking up tomorrow is dehorned. I too feed alot of fresh veggie treats to ours, I have a friend who owns a restraunt and gives me all their veggie scraps for my critters. They just love it and I slip him some fresh eggs when he needs a few

Having a goat for milk may not be cheaper but I think just about all on here can agree it is well worth it . They make great pets,and in the case of my billy Baily great comics.

 

[Their Other Mother]

I have 2 Alpines, does, about 3 years old. We have never bred them, they are pets but after reading everyone's posts and how happy you are with the milk I'm thinking I should be putting all that good feed to good use! We live in the desert of Arizona, is it too late in the year to breed in the next month or so, or should I wait until October, November?

 

[Their Other Mother]

Quote:
Can anyone help me out with this question?

 

[MissPrissy]

You can breed them any time you want but most ppl breed in fall and the does kid in spring. That way they have some good size to them and grow well in summer to make through the winter withou problems. Being in Az I don't know your climate but some people do breed in staggar dates so they don't have a block of months without a milk source. Ask around with people out there and see what they normally do.