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