No really, I LOVE them. "I love goats" is not something I ever imagined I would say, but it's true. I have always been a horse fanatic. Seriously, there was a time when I lived, breathed, dreamed, and smelled horses 24/7. I still do to a point, but my real, adult life forces me to do responsible things that take up more time - like work - to make money - to buy farm stuff with. So I don't get to ride or play with my horses nearly as much as I used to, but I still love them.
Goats on the other hand were always an animal that I liked - I thought they were cute, like pretty much all animals - but I couldn't say I LOVED them. Now, however, I'm afraid I am becoming (or maybe I already am) a crazy goat lady. The current herd is small: two does, the buck I share with my friend Charaty, and whatever kids happen to be temporarily spending the summer with us (before leaving for freezer camp in the fall). I am currently on the hunt for a third doe and that will probably complete my herd until I have a bigger pasture. Despite what my mother says about them (she swears they terrorize her), my goats are friendly, relatively well behaved (as well behaved as a goat can be anyway), and they fulfill their purpose. When you are limited by funds, space, time, etc. you must learn to farm with a purpose, and doing so means that everything on the farm must serve a purpose in order to stay (we don't have to talk about the dogs or cats right now...). Molly makes milk and babies, Lilly makes babies and a little milk and serves as an excellent babysitter, and Blue makes Molly and Lilly have babies. We use the milk for all sorts of things (drinking, cooking, soap, kefir, and even butter!), and the babies grow up to be nutritious, milk and grass fed, meat.
Why am blubbering about my goats you ask? Well see, I was sitting here enjoying a nice cold glass of raw goat milk. The milk is awesome. If you have never tasted fresh goat milk, you have been deprived my friend. It has a rich, creamy, sweet flavor that is satisfying and filling. I have been known to drink a glass or two of milk, instead of food, as a snack, because it satisfies hunger and is a quick energy boost when I'm feeling sluggish. It's fabulous stuff I tell ya! State law currently dictates that raw milk can only be consumed if you own all or part of the animal from which the milk came. This means that your options are limited to purchasing part ownership of a goat and paying a boarding fee (called a goat-share), or owning (and milking) your own goats. I have the space, and I find it to be more cost effective to do the latter, and wouldn't dream of turning back. I don't like pasteurized milk anymore. Before I knew what raw milk tasted like, I loved store-bought milk. Now, I can't drink the stuff - it tastes awful to me. With only one dairy doe currently, there is a period of time each year (usually just two months) during which I have no fresh milk and am forced to buy just enough at the store to use in our coffee. I hate it. It's gross. (But I like black coffee even less) Which is why I plan to add a second doe to our herd, so that I can rotate pregnancies and have awesome milk year round.
So yes, I admit to being a crazy goat lady. But it's worth it!
Goats on the other hand were always an animal that I liked - I thought they were cute, like pretty much all animals - but I couldn't say I LOVED them. Now, however, I'm afraid I am becoming (or maybe I already am) a crazy goat lady. The current herd is small: two does, the buck I share with my friend Charaty, and whatever kids happen to be temporarily spending the summer with us (before leaving for freezer camp in the fall). I am currently on the hunt for a third doe and that will probably complete my herd until I have a bigger pasture. Despite what my mother says about them (she swears they terrorize her), my goats are friendly, relatively well behaved (as well behaved as a goat can be anyway), and they fulfill their purpose. When you are limited by funds, space, time, etc. you must learn to farm with a purpose, and doing so means that everything on the farm must serve a purpose in order to stay (we don't have to talk about the dogs or cats right now...). Molly makes milk and babies, Lilly makes babies and a little milk and serves as an excellent babysitter, and Blue makes Molly and Lilly have babies. We use the milk for all sorts of things (drinking, cooking, soap, kefir, and even butter!), and the babies grow up to be nutritious, milk and grass fed, meat.
Why am blubbering about my goats you ask? Well see, I was sitting here enjoying a nice cold glass of raw goat milk. The milk is awesome. If you have never tasted fresh goat milk, you have been deprived my friend. It has a rich, creamy, sweet flavor that is satisfying and filling. I have been known to drink a glass or two of milk, instead of food, as a snack, because it satisfies hunger and is a quick energy boost when I'm feeling sluggish. It's fabulous stuff I tell ya! State law currently dictates that raw milk can only be consumed if you own all or part of the animal from which the milk came. This means that your options are limited to purchasing part ownership of a goat and paying a boarding fee (called a goat-share), or owning (and milking) your own goats. I have the space, and I find it to be more cost effective to do the latter, and wouldn't dream of turning back. I don't like pasteurized milk anymore. Before I knew what raw milk tasted like, I loved store-bought milk. Now, I can't drink the stuff - it tastes awful to me. With only one dairy doe currently, there is a period of time each year (usually just two months) during which I have no fresh milk and am forced to buy just enough at the store to use in our coffee. I hate it. It's gross. (But I like black coffee even less) Which is why I plan to add a second doe to our herd, so that I can rotate pregnancies and have awesome milk year round.
So yes, I admit to being a crazy goat lady. But it's worth it!
Disclaimer:
None of the information contained on this site is intended to diagnose, treat, or otherwise substitute for the care and advice from a qualified human or animal medical professional. Please consult the trusted medical professional of your choice before using any of the information contained on this site.
None of the information contained on this site is intended to diagnose, treat, or otherwise substitute for the care and advice from a qualified human or animal medical professional. Please consult the trusted medical professional of your choice before using any of the information contained on this site.