So you think your goat is pretty fabulous and would rule the show ring. But where to start? Diving into the show world can be very intimidating if you’re just getting started and don’t have a good mentor to help prepare you. Registration and Tattoos Is your goat registered with the American Dairy Goat Association?…
Goat Keeping
Small Raw Dairy Farm: Our Story
It started with just two goats, as these things often do. A darling dam and daughter pair that seemed like a great deal and would give us a doe in milk for our family needs. Quickly we discovered that Totem (mom) didn’t want any part of being milked, and we weren’t willing to pursue it with…
Preparing Goats for Cold Weather
When Fall kicks off, it’s inevitable that people start worrying about their goats and how they’ll battle the cold. Living in Maine, we know cold winters. We know negative temperatures, and feet worth of snow dumping on us at any given time. But our goats always make it through, little worse for the wear….
ADGA DHIR Milk Testing
As we’ve gotten more serious about commitment to our goats and our breeding program, we’ve been participating in a variety of performance programs offered by the American Dairy Goat Association. As a herd who’d main focus is dairy production, one of the most useful programs we’ve participated in so far has been DHIR milk…
So You Want Dairy Goats
When livestock becomes a part of your self-sufficiency journey, having a dairy animal is usually a part of that plan. Having a reliable dairy producer on your homestead allows for a lot of food freedom. Dairy goats are great way to achieve this. As goat’s milk becomes more mainstream, more and more homesteaders and farmers are turning…
How to Make Money With Goats
Keeping goats has to be one of life’s greatest pleasures. They provide entertainment, companionship, milk and more. My life truly changed for the better when I got my first goats. But let’s face it, goats can be expensive to keep, especially if you have more than just a few. Figuring out hot to make money with…
The Benefits of Goats Milk Soap
As the general public becomes more aware of what they’re putting on and on their body, goats milk soap and other, more natural, body products have been receiving a lot of attention. The Benefits of Goats Milk for Your Skin Our Nigerian Dwarfs have a very high butterfat content to their milk. This excellent fat translates…
You Might be a Dairy Goat Snob If…..
When you spend untold amounts of money to fuel your passion for goats, it’s only natural that you become particular about things. My good friend Cheryle at Old Mountain Farm coined the phrase “goat snob” and I just thought it was fitting for when goats become your way of life. You Might Be a Dairy Goat…
After the Kidding – Doe Care
Keeping your doe healthy and strong during their gestation helps ensure an easy delivery and healthy kids on the ground. While taking care of those adorable, fragile new lives is important, don’t forget about your doe – she needs your support after kidding as well. Right After Kidding No matter how quick and easy a…
5 Simple Natural Remedies for Goats
We have worked hard to make our goats as hardy and healthy as possible without relying on chemical treatments. This is especially important because 100% of the dairy in our household comes from our goats, and our goal is to be as all natural as possible. Giving our goats natural treatment is a top priority….
After the Kidding – Baby Goat Care
You’ve bred your doe to the finest buck this side of the Mississippi. You’ve waited anxiously for 5 months, pampering your goat queen, and giving her the best care, the finest treats, and gentle scratches until your fingers threaten to fall off. You’ve trimmed hooves and clipped udders. Your doe is the kidding stall, and…
Performing Blood Draws on Dairy Goats
One of things that I overlooked when getting goats, is that a big part of their health care involves needles. I am not a fan of needles and never have been. Administering injections intimidates me, and my stomach drops at the thought of it. Goat blood drawing completely unnerved me. Even more daunting than…