The Modern Dairy Goat

Image Gallery Milking a goat is far easier than milking a cow. Notice 4-quart milk pail partially covered to help keep milk clean.

Of all our farm animals the least appreciated, by city friends who visit us are our goats. "Goats! You don't actually keep goats, My goodness, why?"

"Have you ever tasted goat milk?" we ask.

"No - and I don't want to!" is the answer more often than not. But, possibly at lunch time, we serve them two half-filled glasses of milk. "One is goat milk - one is cow milk . . . Just for fun, tell us which is which," we say.

Almost invariably our city guests can't tell them apart. Sometimes, if they've read that goat milk is whiter they can guess. But they always are amazed that our goat milk has no "strong" taste.

In the face of the public's misunderstanding of the dairy goat it takes courage to decide to keep them. Here's how we happened to do so.

One day when we sat down and figured what our milk, butter and cheese cost we found we were spending about 25% of our food budget in the dairy department. This was in line with what nutritional experts recommended. It was obvious then that production of our own milk ranked with raising our own fruits and vegetables from an economic as well as a nutritional standpoint. We figured on a garden and fruit trees plus a cow or goat to supply milk, cream, butter and cheese and we'd have one-half of all our family's food requirements.

Of course, either a cow or a goat can be stall fed and be given only a small exercise yard. But, ideally, a cow requires 1 to 2 acres of good pasture, an hour a day of care, and supples 10 to 20 quarts of milk a day. Ideally two goats require less than an acre of pasture (brush, fern and shrubbery are their favorites), 30 minutes a day, and provide 3 to 7 quarts of milk daily, the year round. A goat eats only 1-/16 of what a cow needs. Goats are freer from disease so that both animal and milk are safer.

For the small place everything is in favor of the goat except a goat's reputation. Believe it or not, the modern dairy goat is almost the exact opposite of what the American public believes she is. As we have already said, the prejudice against goat milk is unfounded as far as our experience is concerned

What the Goat Gives You

Let's make a list of all the products the dairy goat can furnish you:

1. Milk, not just ordinary stuff, but a a rich, full-bodied milk. Goat's milk is naturally homogenized, small fat globules make it easier to digest. Frequently, it's used for invalids and children alergic to cow's milk. It's fine in coffee and makes a delicious, smooth ice cream. Also, goats are easier to milk.

2. Cream. Goat's milk has lots of cream, but it rises very slowly. Consequently, it is best to have a small cream separator. The cream may be whipped or used in any of your customary ways.