| Dairy Goats by Hannah Miller There are six different breeds of dairy goats. They are the Saanen, Nubian, Toggenburg, Alpine, Oberhasli, and the La Mancha. Many people prefer goats to cattle because they are smaller in size, weighing close to 100 pounds. Because of their size they are much easier to manage. They don’t overwhelm their owners or overburden the land. Dairy goats prefer brushland and pasture plants. Half an acre of land for a milking goat is adequate. They need salt, fresh clean water and a year-round supply of hay if they don’t have plenty of brush to eat. Goats are herd animals and prefer the companionship of one or more goats. They don’t need fancy housing but they do need a clean, dry, well ventilated, draft-free shelter. Bucks should be kept away from milk goat, because it will make the milk smell as bad as the buck and it will ruin the taste. A dairy goat’s life span is 8 to 12 years. On a worldwide basis, people drink more goats’ milk the any other kind of milk. Goat’s milk is more easily digestible than cow’s milk and can be given to people who are allergic to cow milk. Dairy goats in their prime will give 3 to 4 quarts of milk per day during a 10-month lactation. It has a butterfat content of 3.5% and is naturally homogenized. Goat’s milk is used for drinking, cooking, and baking. It makes cheese, butter, ice cream, yogurt, candy, soap and other body products. Chevre is a French word for goat. The term also applies to goat cheese. |
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