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Why goats? Goats are rapidly becoming recognized as a truly versatile animal and rightfully so, with folks becoming more aware of the need for self sustainability, the goat makes the perfect choice for the hobby farmer or farmstead owner.
We own Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats which are small, affordable to feed and adorable! They produce about a 2 quarts of milk a day per goat and have a high butterfat content (usually 6 to 8% but can be as high as 10%). Other goats and cows yield 4% or less making Nigerians milk ideal for creating products such as cheese or ice cream.
Goat Milk:
Why goat milk? Goats provide more milk per pound of food consumed and do well where there is not enough vegetation to support cattle. The goat is a perfect milk producer for a family on as little as a 1/2 acre! Goat's milk (especially Nigerian milk) is creamy and perfect for cheese making, yogurt, ice cream, butter, buttermilk and SOAP! With cow's milk protein sensitivity on the rise, especially in infants, it is found that the biochemical make up of goats milk is different thus made more tolerable to those who cannot drink cow's milk. Goat's milk has more essential fatty acids of the medium and short chain varieties than cow's milk, and is lower in cholesterol and higher in calcium, iron, phosphorus and vitamins A and B. In addition, goat milk fatty acids have a unique metabolic ability to limit cholesterol deposits in body tissues. Some people say goat's milk has a funny taste but the key is to rapidly cool the milk as soon as the goat is milked by submerging your container in ice water. There will be no goatie taste, I promise! My kids were raised on cow's milk purchased from the supermarket and I thought there would be no way they would ever go for goat's milk but they couldn't taste the difference! I love the fact that we know our milk is safe to drink because we know what we feed our animals, which doesn't include hormones or chemicals you find in typical store bought milk, making me feel a better about the safety of my family.
Meat:
Goats are an excellent source of meat (chevon). The protein is higher than most other types of meat and the fat content lower than beef or pork. Obviously, Nigerians are a dwarf breed but I know many people who consider them to be a dual purpose animal, meaning for both dairy and meat. The Borer and Kiko are large and considered to be primarily meat goats, growing fast with a lot of mass.
Brush Abatement:
Goats can be used in most any terrain and are both an effective and environmentally friendly method of clearing land. They quickly work through vegetation, clearing large areas of brush and saplings in a short amount of time leaving behind nutrients for a healthier soil. Are they cost effective? Yes, they nearly work for free! Note: goats do need a balanced diet to thrive which includes a good quality hay and mineral to stay healthy. I have a friend who used his goats to clear his property then brought his geese through to clean up any additional weeds left behind. I was amazed by his results as it looked like a well groomed field! Sorry, goats will not eat trash! A common misconception, dairy goats have very discriminating eating habits and are quite particular about the cleanliness of their food. They are very curious creatures and will investigate and nibble new things, but they will turn their nose up at anything that is dirty. Even hay and grain will be refused if it falls on the ground.
Other:
There are many other uses for other breeds of goats including: packing, pulling carts, fiber or just a great pet depending on your interest and use. Regardless, one thing is for sure, goats are a diverse and productive animal worthy of anyone interested in independence.
* Do goats thrive in Alaska? The answer to this is YES! Goats thrive in most climates and with a few things put into place you can have happy dairy goats in your back yard!
* What kind of housing do goats need? Goats don't need anything fancy but they do need to be protected from the elements, i.e. snow, wind and rain. It will need to be kept clean, dry and well ventilated to keep respiratory issues at bay. We use shavings to line our floors and change it regularly to avoid ammonia build up which irritates their upper respiratory system and can make them extremely ill. When thinking of purchasing a goat know that you will need at least 2 goats as they are social herd animals and cannot live alone. So if you have no other goats always think in terms of at least 2 when doing any planning. Note: if you do not have another goat at home please speak with us so we can assist you in finding a companion as you will not be able to take him/her home without one.
* How do I keep my goats contained? There are several methods of containment or fencing, listed here are a few popular ones used. Note: do not tie your goat up and leave it unattended for any reason; they may spook and hurt their neck, strangle themselves or be attacked by a predator. Fencing keeps your goats in and predators out. Electric fencing, if done correctly, works especially well at keeping predators out when combined with other methods such as horse fencing or livestock panels. Livestock panels are a popular option and are easy to move from place to place to allow for controlled browsing. We use 5 ft high fencing to ensure nothing can jump in or out easily.
* What do I feed my dairy goats? Dairy goats need a balanced diet that consists of clean water, good quality hay, browse or pasture, a good quality mineral (free choice), and possible grain ration. If you have a milking doe(s) than you will want to feed an alfalfa/hay mixture for maximum milk production. There are several ways/mixes to feed grain ration, depending on you, but know you need to feed measured amounts only, as too much can cause bloat and kill your animal.
* Regular maintenance. There are a few things you will need to do for your goat on a regular basis. One of those things being hoof trimming. This needs to be done every 5 or 6 weeks to keep your animal healthy and happy and I use it as individual bonding time with each of my goats. Another being selenium supplement (Bo-Se bolus). The United States has selenium deficient ground so goats don't have the option of absorbing selenium through their food supply. It is a simple process and your goats will thank you! Another may be a regular worming program (depending on several variables) and vaccinations. We at Edgefield believe in biosecurity and the safety of our goats from diseases. We test annually for CL, CAE and Johnes and believe each herd should do the same to help eradicate these debilitating diseases.
* Last but not least. . . Feeling overwhelmed? Don't worry, were here to help and can easily help discuss choices that will be best for you and your goat(s). We at Edgefield believe all goats need owners who are willing to spend time with them and believe in a good management program to keep their goats healthy and happy. If this is you we would love to talk with you about our goats.
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