When dairy goats were first added to Shady Oak Farm, the intentions were for goat milk soap. It was(and still is) my favorite soap to use so I was excited to be able to make my own. Little did I realize just how much of an impact these little goats would have on the farm. It has been about 4 years into this adventure and every day has been a new experience not only in goat husbandry, but also in the utilization of their milk.
My goal was to start this blog shortly after the website was up and running, however, it was put on the back burner as the soap business began to form a life of its own. It became my priority as I gained regular customers and started the conversation of adding it to local shops.
Now that I have been able to get into a goat milking and soap making rhythm, I am able to spend some extra time on things such as the website. I’ve decide to share my dairy goat journey here for others to relate to and learn. It is here you will learn about how I got where I am now, where I want the farm to be in the future, tips and tricks for goat husbandry, goat milk utilization including things like soap, yogurt, ice cream, cheese and much more!
Today, I’ll start with the obvious. Drinking the milk! Can you believe that was actually something that was hard for me to do? Full Disclaimer here: I grew up drinking Fat Free Skim Milk. Basically, I drank water with a little bit of milk. Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE milk. But I loved the kind with the pink plastic lid that came from a cow. I always felt a little guilty when I would get asked, “Do you drink your goat milk?” …Yes and No?
I had a mental block that was making me nervous to drink the fresh whole milk right from my farm and I would get overly critical of my milk. With that being said, it did take me a couple of years to really get over my hesitation. I am a researcher, so I knew there were risks. Which means I have done everything to AVOID those risks. Such as only buying goats from consistently clean tested herds, testing my own herd, clean and safe milking practices including adding a milking machine instead of hand milking and cooling my milk right away. My goats get a rationed diet of dairy goat feed, free choice minerals, grass hay and a dairy quality alfalfa hay (as well as pasture to browse). It took a few years to build my herd, formulate the right feeding regimen and work out the quirks of my milking practices.
Today, I can honestly say that I absolutely love the milk my goats provide. And when I get asked if I drink my goat milk? Heck yes I do! I no longer buy milk from the store. I feel safe drinking my milk raw. The flavor is fresh and delicious with a little bit of sweet. If I could share it with the world, trust me, I would. Unfortunately, in the state of Iowa, raw milk is illegal to sell or give to anyone for any purposes essentially. So, it stays here with me to enjoy.
For those of you that may be in the same boat that I was, there are a few things that helped me feel ready to drink my milk. Listed below are some examples:
- Purchase healthy goats from healthy herds
- Research goat diseases – what ones you can test for and what ones are zoonotic(can be transmissible to humans). AND have a contingency plan if a goat tests positive.
- Research the risks and benefits of raw milk so you’re comfortable with your decision to go raw or to pasteurize (only you can make that choice for yourself and your family, no one else).
- Have a clear understanding on proper milk handling and storage
- Understand the breed AND pedigree of goat you have and what qualities you should expect from their breed/pedigree.
- Research feeding practices for dairy goats. Is the soil in your area deficient in something? Mineral deficiencies can be a number one factor to poor tasting milk. How will you ensure your dairy goats are receiving everything they need?
- Decide on hand milking vs. machine milking. I preferred machine for a variety of reasons. In my opinion, I wasn’t the most efficient hand milker so I feel that a machine keeps my milk cleaner, as well as milks quicker, which means I can get the milk cooled quicker.
These are just a few things that should help you with your goat milking adventure. They will vary for everyone as each dairy goat herd is going to be different and no one herd will operate the same. Spend some time asking experienced herds, researching online and asking questions. As always, feel free to message me if you would like more information on something. Happy milking!
