| Interest in goats as a form of alternative | | | | LaMancha goat you will never forget those |
| livestock continues to increase throughout the U.S. | | | | "bizarre" ears. One might even question the |
| While the primary interest lies in meat goat | | | | authenticity of them as a goat. |
| production, there are also those who hold an | | | | Then there is the butterfat content and varying |
| interest in dairy goat production on a small scale | | | | milk flavor of the different breeds. Just like a |
| basis. Many of these people will tell you their | | | | grocery store carries whole, 2% and skim milk |
| reason for interest is they tend to have more | | | | based on butterfat content, the same applies to |
| congenial personalities, are easier to handle and | | | | the different breeds of goats and their milk. |
| are very versatile - relevant for dairy and meat | | | | Nubians and Toggenburgs tend to give milk high in |
| production. This tends to be true of dairy goats | | | | butterfat (think of whole milk), Alpines give milk |
| versus meat goats. A good dairy goat will easily | | | | having a medium butterfat content (imagine 2% |
| produce one to two gallons of milk per day; milk | | | | milk) and Saanens give milk low in butterfat |
| production is dependent upon adequate nutrition | | | | (consider skim milk). Hay and feed types as well |
| and milking twice a day. | | | | as nutrient intake may affect the butterfat |
| Dairy goats have been domesticated for | | | | content of goat milk. Overall, goat milk is about |
| thousands of years. History books often tell about | | | | 4% butterfat. |
| nomads in Middle East and Africa known for | | | | So, what can one do with goat milk? If a dairy |
| moving about and taking their dairy goat herds | | | | operation is a licensed grade A dairy with the right |
| with them. Long ago, many European families | | | | equipment, it can bottle and sell the goat milk, use |
| tended to own a few dairy goats which they | | | | the milk to make cheese, fudge or ice cream to |
| utilized for milk and meat production. Now, people | | | | sell. All this is based on meeting legal requirements |
| with a few acres and an interest in goats intend | | | | including health department regulations. Without |
| to utilize dairy goats for milking then using the milk | | | | being a licensed dairy one is very limited in what |
| for their household. These same people tend to | | | | they can do with the milk. It can be used as an |
| hold an interest in homestead cheese making, | | | | ingredient in skin care products like goat milk soap |
| homemade fudge and ice cream, and utilizing | | | | and lotion. Some people sell the raw milk as a |
| fresh milk from their personal goats for drinking. | | | | food supplement for young puppies, cats, etc. |
| Some of them even go as far as using the milk | | | | However, it must be labeled as pet-grade milk. |
| as an ingredient in skin care products. Awareness | | | | This is rather a risky endeavor (and one I cannot |
| and ability to partake in such endeavors has | | | | recommend) as it "skirts" the issue of being legal |
| almost become a lost craft. | | | | if not used for its labeled purpose! Some dairy |
| For those not familiar with the different breeds of | | | | goat owners feed the raw milk to feeder pigs or |
| dairy goats this article should enlighten you about | | | | calves, which they claim makes for very tender, |
| the various breeds and variation among the | | | | flavorful pork or beef. |
| breeds. Dairy breeds include Alpine, La Mancha, | | | | Many meat goat producers are learning if they |
| Nubian, Oberhasli, Saanen, Sable and Toggenburg, | | | | save and freeze the milk from dairy goats, it can |
| as well as the increasingly popular Nigerian Dwarf. | | | | be utilized to feed orphan goats in place of milk |
| Saanens are always solid white in color and tend | | | | replacer. And, dairy goat colostrum (the yellow |
| to be very large framed. Oberhaslis and | | | | milk from the first few days of production) can |
| Toggenburgs tend to have similar colors and | | | | be used to feed newborn goats who may have |
| pattern markings. However, Alpines and Nubians | | | | been abandoned by their new mothers. The |
| vary in color and markings. People seem to | | | | colostrum from dairy goats offers the same |
| recognize Nubians because they tend to have | | | | antibodies for orphan meat goats. |
| polka-dot markings, come in a variety of colors, | | | | Dairy goats can be exhibited in dairy goat shows, |
| have those long, droopy "beagle like" ears, and | | | | just like other types of livestock. |
| are large framed like the Saanens. Alpines come in | | | | Now you have been fully versed on the virtues |
| a variety of colors, markings, can be one solid | | | | of dairy goats, you should have a greater |
| color, except white, and have upright ears. | | | | appreciation for dairy goats as a multipurpose |
| Most of the breeds with upright ears originated | | | | animal and a viable animal for nontraditional |
| from the Swiss Alps area, while the droopy ear | | | | livestock production with built-in value-added |
| goats (Nubians) originated in Africa, and the | | | | features. |
| LaMancha breed (known for its short stubby | | | | This article first appeared in the AL Farm News, |
| ears) was developed in the U.S. Once you see a | | | | August 2009. |