The goats.
*We are currently taking reservations for Mini-Nubian and Full Nubian kids due in late January. Email us for questions or reservations.*
Our Goats
Our goat herd is a mix of dairy breeds including purebred Nubians, Mini-Nubians (a cross between Nubian and Nigerian Dwarf), and MiniManchas (a cross between La Mancha and Nigerian Dwarf). Each goat has a name and a whole-lotta-personality to go along with it. We L O V E our goats. They are playful, mischievous, snuggly, and always entertaining.
The herd enjoys browsing on pasture and the variety of trees that adorn our property. In the late afternoon, they are usually found playing on the granite boulders. We milk the goats and use their fresh milk to make hazelnut coffee creamer, banana and pomegranate yogurt, goat’s milk soap, and a variety of cheeses. Because we don’t keep a buck, our goat’s milk is not a bit “goaty,” but creamy and sweet. Like nothing you’ve ever had from the grocery.
What They Eat
Our goats are grass-fed on pasture and supplemented with organic, non-GMO alfalfa pellet and alfalfa/bermuda hay when appropriate. Goats are ruminants, and their specialized stomachs are not designed to process grain. Large amounts of grain will promote the growth of lactic acidic bacteria, which increases acidity in the rumen and could lead to acidosis, diarrhea, dehydration, or worse. Our goats only receive grain in the form of small amounts of sprouted barley, oat, and sunflower-seed while on the milkstand. Sprouted grain is higher in protein and more digestible, and we feed it to only our lactating goats because of their additional caloric needs. Like our hens, the goats are corn- and soy-free and so is their milk. They have constant access to fresh water, OMRI-certified minerals, and baking soda (it helps curtail any bloat).
What We Don’t Do
We don’t separate mom from her babies. Many dairy operations immediately separate a doe from her kids (or cow from her calf or ewe from her lamb) to maximize milk production for the farm. We just feel this is inhumane. We leave our does with her kids and allow her the pleasure (and sometimes misery) of bonding with, raising, nursing, and weaning her kids herself. As a result, we milk only once a day, instead of the conventional twice a day, for the first three months after a doe “freshens” (i.e., starts producing milk). When combined with the fact that we don’t feed grain, this means we don’t get as much milk from a single goat as we might otherwise. Nevertheless, our goats are happier and healthier than dairy goats fed grain or goat kids raised on the bottle. And because we still spend time daily with the goat kids, they are just as sweet and loving and docile as “bottle babies.” So we feel the trade-off is worth it, not only for the goats, but also for the quality of the milk they provide.
We don’t use antibiotics as a preventative. When one of our herd is under the weather, we always treat first with a holistic approach, approved by our Veterinarian. In the case that this does not work, we collaborate with our Vet to determine the best course of action and only administer antibiotics when absolutely necessary. If one of our animals is facing death, and antibiotics will save his or her life, we will use antibiotics. Only in life-threatening circumstances, however. If antibiotics are given to a lactating goat, that goat’s milk is not consumed until the medicine has cleared her system. We never administer antibiotics preventatively. Same goes for chemical de-wormers. We trust in our herd’s ability to remain healthy when given the food they were intended to consume in a healthy environment with plenty of fresh air, water, and sunshine.
We don’t administer hormones. No way, no how. In fact, because our goats are soy-free and pastured, they actually promote healthy hormone regulation in humans who drink their milk. Animals fed diets containing soy transfer soy isoflavens into their biproducts (milk, eggs, and/or meat). When humans consume those products, they consume those isoflavens, which are estrogen-mimicking and can accumulate in the body to cause various health problems. Soy isoflavens depress thyroid functioning, can interfere with fertility, and upset delicate hormonal balances in men and women, among other things.
Our Goats
Our goat herd is a mix of dairy breeds including purebred Nubians, Mini-Nubians (a cross between Nubian and Nigerian Dwarf), and MiniManchas (a cross between La Mancha and Nigerian Dwarf). Each goat has a name and a whole-lotta-personality to go along with it. We L O V E our goats. They are playful, mischievous, snuggly, and always entertaining.
The herd enjoys browsing on pasture and the variety of trees that adorn our property. In the late afternoon, they are usually found playing on the granite boulders. We milk the goats and use their fresh milk to make hazelnut coffee creamer, banana and pomegranate yogurt, goat’s milk soap, and a variety of cheeses. Because we don’t keep a buck, our goat’s milk is not a bit “goaty,” but creamy and sweet. Like nothing you’ve ever had from the grocery.
What They Eat
Our goats are grass-fed on pasture and supplemented with organic, non-GMO alfalfa pellet and alfalfa/bermuda hay when appropriate. Goats are ruminants, and their specialized stomachs are not designed to process grain. Large amounts of grain will promote the growth of lactic acidic bacteria, which increases acidity in the rumen and could lead to acidosis, diarrhea, dehydration, or worse. Our goats only receive grain in the form of small amounts of sprouted barley, oat, and sunflower-seed while on the milkstand. Sprouted grain is higher in protein and more digestible, and we feed it to only our lactating goats because of their additional caloric needs. Like our hens, the goats are corn- and soy-free and so is their milk. They have constant access to fresh water, OMRI-certified minerals, and baking soda (it helps curtail any bloat).
What We Don’t Do
We don’t separate mom from her babies. Many dairy operations immediately separate a doe from her kids (or cow from her calf or ewe from her lamb) to maximize milk production for the farm. We just feel this is inhumane. We leave our does with her kids and allow her the pleasure (and sometimes misery) of bonding with, raising, nursing, and weaning her kids herself. As a result, we milk only once a day, instead of the conventional twice a day, for the first three months after a doe “freshens” (i.e., starts producing milk). When combined with the fact that we don’t feed grain, this means we don’t get as much milk from a single goat as we might otherwise. Nevertheless, our goats are happier and healthier than dairy goats fed grain or goat kids raised on the bottle. And because we still spend time daily with the goat kids, they are just as sweet and loving and docile as “bottle babies.” So we feel the trade-off is worth it, not only for the goats, but also for the quality of the milk they provide.
We don’t use antibiotics as a preventative. When one of our herd is under the weather, we always treat first with a holistic approach, approved by our Veterinarian. In the case that this does not work, we collaborate with our Vet to determine the best course of action and only administer antibiotics when absolutely necessary. If one of our animals is facing death, and antibiotics will save his or her life, we will use antibiotics. Only in life-threatening circumstances, however. If antibiotics are given to a lactating goat, that goat’s milk is not consumed until the medicine has cleared her system. We never administer antibiotics preventatively. Same goes for chemical de-wormers. We trust in our herd’s ability to remain healthy when given the food they were intended to consume in a healthy environment with plenty of fresh air, water, and sunshine.
We don’t administer hormones. No way, no how. In fact, because our goats are soy-free and pastured, they actually promote healthy hormone regulation in humans who drink their milk. Animals fed diets containing soy transfer soy isoflavens into their biproducts (milk, eggs, and/or meat). When humans consume those products, they consume those isoflavens, which are estrogen-mimicking and can accumulate in the body to cause various health problems. Soy isoflavens depress thyroid functioning, can interfere with fertility, and upset delicate hormonal balances in men and women, among other things.
