Hi, We live of 3 acres in central Indiana. We have 4 chickens and are thinking about getting a milk cow or dairy goat. Another family is willing to share costs and responablity, and their 13 year old daughter would help care for the animal for 4-H, they live near by. We don't know much about cows or goats, or where to start, or which to choose. We want to find out: the basic costs, what breed, what the needs of the animal would be, and where to buy it or them. We would like to go basicly organic. We would like to have enough milk for 4 adults and 5 children. We are both homeschool families, but my 3 kids are still preschool. Any wisdom for us?

-- Sarah Brown (joypeaceandlove@hotmail.com), September 19, 2001

Answers

Greetings Sarah,

If you decide to get a dairy goat, please be sure to get a pair. The goat will need a companion. Either another doe or a wether (castrated male). This is the most common mistake of new goat people. Us included.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), September 19, 2001.

Hi Sarah, first I would have you visit the farm, milk some does, taste the milk and see if you and your children enjoy goats. If I were your mentor I would start you with 3 bred does, who would be having kids (kidding) in December/January. This will give you several months to get used to them before they have their babies, and you start milking twice a day for the rest of your life :) I would also steer you towards LaMancha's. Since it sounds like children are the ones who will be taking care of them, the docile personality of the LaMancha's along with their will to milk would be pluses. Don't even think about getting a buck, whoever you purchased them from will have bucks for you to use many years before you may want to go into your own direction with them. With 3 does, you will have plenty of milk, will also be able to from then on, stagger their breedings so you have at least 2 in milk all the time. LaMancha's are also the best dairy breed for the gal to show in 4H since being a lesser breed, they will really want her at the shows to make them official. A huge difference in the whole show feeling of showing Lamancha's and showing lets say Nubians:) My middle daughter showed Lamancha's for 10 years. Visit farms, visit web sites, visit goat clubs, start at groups.yahoo.com and join LaManchaTalk, goatworld.com, saanendoah.com or any of the other 100's of goat sites. Buy ADGA registered, buy from somebody who tests for CAE and CL, learn as much as you can about the animal you are choosing to purchase before you purchase. Find a local mentor who is willing to help you, your best bet is at a local club, email me and I will send you names in your area. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), September 19, 2001.

Several goats would be much cheaper than one cow, plus if you have a loss you don't lose everything. A good producing goat will give at least a gallon of milk as a 2 year old, this will depend on breed and quality. To have milk year round you can stagger when you breed the goats, so that if one is dried off before kidding the other one is still giving milk. You can sell the kids, or use them for meat. Check around to see what breed you like, check out different herds, taste the milk and/or try milking the animal. Check to make sure the goats are CAE negative and free from other diseases.

-- Leslie in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), September 19, 2001.

I asked basically the same question several weeks ago regarding cows. The winning cow was a Jersey and many recommended reading the books..The Family Cow and Keeping A Family Cow. I was able to get both immediately through the local library. I have ordered The Family Cow. I found them to be very helpful...unfortunately I haven't been able to find a cow yet. I too have checked into the dairy goats and have decided on LaManchas which are readily available here. The Alpine was recommended also. Good luck!!

-- Sandi (msjazt@aol.com), September 19, 2001.

Hi Sarah.... I would say that starting out with goats is the smart thing too. Right now, that is where I am...I do plan to eventually have a Jersey cow, but for at least another year I will be milking goats. I just love my Saanens and really recomend the breed. My favorite doe gives a gallon a day at peak, and never less than a half gallon. She is not a show doe, or perfect...(funny feet) but she is the sweetest most loving thing, and anyone could handle her, although she is quite large. Her kids have had her wonderful personality, and her daughter from last year turned out to be beautiful. She had a lovely little buckling this year that I sold as a wether. Before I had other goats her pasture buddy was, and still is her best friend, Gideon who is an angora wether. I agree..please don't get just one goat. Cows, I have heard can deal with being an "only cow" better than goats can deal with being an "only goat". 2 does should provide enough milk. Be sure to taste the milk from the doe you are buying!! (if possible) Some goats really do have tastier milk than others. Good luck!! Let us know what you decide.

-- Jenny Pipes (Auntjenny6@aol.com), September 19, 2001.

< -- Sandi (msjazt@aol.com), September 19, 2001.>>

If you are just needing a 'family' milker, you could possibly check with local dairy herds, and get a cull. Big milking operations typically don't want to fool with a cow that takes special handling, so they get rid of them. We got a Jersey that had lost a quarter to mastitis, so she's only running on three pistons, so to speak. She is a wonderful cow, very gentle, and an excellent momma, and she still gives over 4 gallons a milking, without us pushing for production. She's getting close to retirement age, but we had her bred AI, with a top ranking bull, and got a daughter. She's ready to breed now, so I'll probably be drowning in milk next summer, since momma's still going strong.

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), September 20, 2001.

Hi Sara. We own a small dairy with a mixed jersey/holstein herd. We also have a few "color breeds". This forum seems to love jerseys and guernseys. I'd recommend a Milking Shorthorn or a Milking Devon. They are more docile than a Jersey, make a more appropriate amount of milk for a family and have a dual nature - bull calves can be reserved for oxen or for beef. Devons have a pH and protein/butterfat component that makes it lovely for double cream or cheese making. Devon and Shortorn bull calves are also in demand by oxen enthusiasts. One dairy in New Hampshire with Shorthorns sells all bull calves for oxen.

Just one more idea. ALso make sure you like goats milk before you choose goats.

Good Luck.

-- Shannon (heamour@berkshire.net), September 24, 2001.

Dear Sarah:

It seems you are where my wife and I were several years ago. We opted for goats.

You will find that there is a tendency for people to be partial to whatever it is that they have had in terms of a breed, as long as the experience has been a fairly good one. Also there is the occasional problem animal in all breeds, so someone may have had a problem as well. Bottom line is you will get a lot of different suggestions as to breeds.

We chose Saanen (a white swiss goat) and Nubian (lop eared). We loved both breeds. Other good dairy breds are fine too.

A goat is much harder to fence than a cow, but much, much cheaper to feed and keep. The cost of feeding a milk cow can make one's hair stand on end.

Goats take very little pasture.

I recommend a small weave (dog proof) stock fence with one electric line at the top for goats. This is a grid type fence that has grids at the lower part that are too small for a dog to get through. Goats are escape experts.

Something I found on the internet:

Eats: Cows are ruminants or cud-chewing animals eating hay, corn, soybeans, grass, wheat, and ensilage. Each cow eats 20 to 25 pounds of grain, 40 to 60 pounds of ensilage, 30 pounds of hay and drinks 15 to 25 gallons of water every day. (Something to consider)

Milk Production: In a year's time a dairy cow produces 1,500 gallons or 6,000 quarts of milk. A Jersey cow will give as much as 3 to 4 gallons or around 16 quarts of milk each day.

That is alot of feed and alot of milk. We even at times had to feed milk from our three goats to the dog or pour it out we had so much.

One dairy goat can produce 1/2 to 2 gallons of milk a day. The two gallons would be a most exceptional goat. Ours averaged 3/4 - 1 1/2. (Our Saanen could really crank out the milk.)

Goat milk tastes a little different from cow milk, (and if the doe is keep in the near area of a buck it will taste very, very different [as in "bad" to most tastes]). If the does are kept far from a buck, and are a true dairy breed, it is very good milk (to my taste) , but some people take some getting used to it, or others don't even like it.

It would be a really good idea to get goat milk for a while to see if you like it before you get one (same for a cow). Be sure to get it from does seperated from a buck or it will have a strong "buck taste".

Here are some books on Dairy Goats: (You might seriously consider reading one before getting a goat).

-The New Goat Handbook f/m Barron's Pub. (General one on goats)

-Raising Milk Goats Successfully f/m Williamson Pub.

-Raising Milk Goats the Modern Way f/m Storey Pub.

The later two would be more relevant.

Be sure you get any goat tested for CAE Virus by a vet before you buy. Be sure you have any goat you plan to milk tested for TB by a vet.

*Don't (as in absolutely DO NOT) get a buck (or keep a buck kid to maturity) if you can possibly make do with someone in an hours or two drive that has a good dairy buck of your breed.

If you opt for a cow Dexter, Jersey, and Guinea Jersey (rare) are small breeds. Do your home work before you get a cow or a dairy goat. Visit, and talk extensively, with people who are doing (and have done for a good while) what you are interested in doing before you do it. You will learn more the "easy" way like that.

May God bless,

Bill Tingle

-- Bill Tingle (tinglebill@juno.com), November 12, 2001.