Lots of goat questions

[Trixie]

When I was a kid, my stepdad would sometimes buy a herd of goats and keep them for a while to clean out the underbrush. Other than that, I have had little contact with goats.

As a kid, we always had a cow for milk, and we had cows when my kids were small. I like the idea of cows, but we have a smaller place now and we are thinking of goats rather than a cow.

First off, is there a really good book on goats. I am not interested in raising for sale, and it doesn't matter whether they are purebred (does it?), etc. I just need a real 'Goats for Dummies' type book - complete with pictures.

Now my questions to you guys.

How much milk does a goat give a day? More or less, compared to a Jersey cow?

Does it differ, in taste, from cow's milk? If so, is the taste very pronounced?

Can you make butter and does it taste as good?

The cheese, would be great -

What breed would be best for NE Texas?

How much should I expect to pay for them? I assume I would need a pair, or can you 'borrow' a male?

Thanks

[nehimama]

I think goats' milk tastes BETTER than cows' milk. Of course, a whole lot depends on how the milk is managed. Clean milking conditions, immediate straining and chilling, and no bucks around!

A good book is Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats, by Jerry Belanger. ISBN 1-58017-259-8

Hope this helps somewhat. I often buy used books at abebooks.com
They are very reasonable.

NeHi

[kerrinatoz]

I would concur with nehimama, the Storey guides have been really helpful also FarmYard in Your Backyard looks like a pretty good book too. As far as milk goes, its my understanding that the taste of milk also depends on the breed of goat. I have Nigerians but we don't have milk yet. So we found a local goat farm with Nubians that sells milk. It's really rich and creamy but the first time I used it it had an "aftertaste of goat". Not bad mind you but just different. The next time we tried it it didn't have that taste. But everytime has been really good. At first, I mixed in a bit of choc soy milk until we got more accustomed to the taste. But I do think goat's milk is superior because even people who are intolerant of cow's milk can drink goat milk. It makes EXCELLENT fudge!! Now we go every week to the farm for our goat milk. Next year, we'll be going to OUR barn! Yeah.

Kerrin

[suzyhomemaker09]

Now my questions to you guys.

How much milk does a goat give a day? More or less, compared to a Jersey cow?
goats give far less milk than cows...
Does it differ, in taste, from cow's milk? If so, is the taste very pronounced?
I agree with the above poster...our goatsmilk is sweeter tasting that cow's milk..it's all about sanitation and proper cooling
Can you make butter and does it taste as good?
butter is a possibility..but as goats milk is naturally homogenized you would really need a cream seperator to gather cream..there are those who let it sit and it will rise but nothing like cow's milk

The cheese, would be great -
I make cheese with our goatsmilk..it comes out great..there are lots of goat folks here that do as well
What breed would be best for NE Texas?
most any breed would be suitable there as far as i know...it's really all about temperament and what you like
How much should I expect to pay for them? I assume I would need a pair, or can you 'borrow' a male?
goats are best kept in at least a pair..they are herd animals and don't do well alone...if you have goat people in your area you may be able to lease a buck for breeding..or find someone you could take your does to for breeding

Thanks[/QUOTE]

[southerngurl]

How much milk does a goat give a day? More or less, compared to a Jersey cow?
goats give far less milk than cows...

Yes, but they do give more pound for pound.

[southerngurl]

Oh, this site has TONS of information BTW

http://www.fiascofarm.com/

[dezeeuwgoats]

Originally Posted by Trixie

Now my questions to you guys.

How much milk does a goat give a day? More or less, compared to a Jersey cow?
Does it differ, in taste, from cow's milk? If so, is the taste very pronounced?
Can you make butter and does it taste as good?
The cheese, would be great -
What breed would be best for NE Texas?
How much should I expect to pay for them? I assume I would need a pair, or can you 'borrow' a male?
Thanks

My milkers average a gallon a day. I think goat's milk is sweeter than cow's milk. I've made butter with it - but hate using my cream separator, so not often. Cheese IS great - I just made a batch! My sr does kid in the fall, and I have lots of milk again - hurrah! Breed is a personal choice - I have nubians. I like that I can breed them year around. The price of goats is like the price of cars - you can get economy style, or luxury models. Auction (not recommended) $50 for a dairy goat, sometimes even registered. Breeder with top ten show animals, top ten milk score animals - $800+, or make friends and buy a 'cull' from one of these herds for a few hundred. Some people's culls are better than other's very best goats.

You can usually take your doe to be bred for a fee - I've heard $25. However, I would recommend two does, or one doe and a wether to keep her company - a single goat is a sad thing. Don't buy a buck to keep her company tho' - the milk will taste bucky if you keep them together. You don't need the expense of a buck for only one doe. Two does and you can stagger breeding dates in order to have milk year round.

Good luck!
Niki

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

How much milk does a goat give a day?

Although all goats milk a gallon a day In reality a goat may milk a gallon to one and one half gallons well bred and well taken care of, but she milks about 3/4 of a gallon for 10 months on average. Most of my older adult milkers milk about 1/2 a day of what my friends Jersey milks, but they also eat about 5 times less. Her milk per gallon cost is way above mine.

More or less, compared to a Jersey cow? answered above, but also take into account that goats have little dry nanny berries and cows poop...oh my!!!!

Does it differ, in taste, from cow's milk? If so, is the taste very pronounced? No, milk is milk is milk.

Can you make butter and does it taste as good? I don't bother making butter, I trade for it. When customers of mine want it I go get milk from the dairy for $2 a gallon to make them butter

The cheese, would be great - Yes, both make wonderful albeit different cheeses.

What breed would be best for NE Texas? Any that you like.

How much should I expect to pay for them? I assume I would need a pair, or can you 'borrow' a male? A milker this spring, $150 and up...tested, purebred $250 and up. Infant kids, $35....CAE prevention kids..$100 and up.

Please don't let anyone talk you out of having your own buckling. Get him this spring, use him this fall, and if you don't want to keep an adult buck, sell him or butcher him late winter when you know your does are bred, or have kidded. Just read the forums, taking your doe back and forth...the breeder is busy and you can't go and your doe is in heat, your truck is broke down, the doe comes back in...it's is the pain!

There are tons of goats around you, if you come down near Houston over the holidays come visit! There are several gals in your area on our dairy forum dairygoatinfo.com nice to buy from folks who are recommended to you rather than someone you find. Let us help you get something that isn't diseased. Vicki

Thanks

[PygmyLover]

First off, is there a really good book on goats. I am not interested in raising for sale, and it doesn't matter whether they are purebred (does it?),nope it doesn't matter at all unless you want to sell for a really good profit etc. I just need a real 'Goats for Dummies' type book - complete with pictures. A good book is pygmy goat management and veterinary care by Lorri Brodwick. I know it says pygmies but most of it is the same for all breeds (at least for dairy)

Now my questions to you guys.

How much milk does a goat give a day? More or less, compared to a Jersey cow? My girls gave aprox 1 gallon a day not sure how that compairs to a cow

Does it differ, in taste, from cow's milk? If so, is the taste very pronounced?I think it depends on what the goat eat and the breed of the goat. I didn't like it unless really fresh, but I am picky!

Can you make butter and does it taste as good?never made butter sorry

The cheese, would be great -
We made soft cheese and that was good, again the milk needed to be fresh to make it taste right, picky me again

What breed would be best for NE Texas?I wouldn't know, sorry

How much should I expect to pay for them? I assume I would need a pair, or can you 'borrow' a male? Depends on the breed, doe, wether, buck, and if they are registard or not. I would say a fair amount for a mix breed or unregistard doe would be up to 100.00. A buck the same. But you can rent out bucks for a stud service. This is what i have always done. not use dealing with a buck when you only need him once or twice a year. I have had dairy goats for 10 years but just got into pygmy goats. Registard does and bucks will cost more but are not nessary for just brush control, and milk production.

[AllWolf]

I'm just going to answer a few of these questions.
How much milk does a goat give a day? When my doe was in milk she would give me close to a gallon a day sometimes a little less.

On the taste of goats milk. I think it is alot better than cows milk and to us it taste just like cows milk or just a little sweeter.

I know lots of folks say their milk tastes bucky not ours but of course we don't keep a buck in with our does.

Can you make butter and does it taste as good? I haven't gotten into that yet but hope to later alone with making home made goat cheese and ice cream.

Sorry I'm not in NE Texas

Good Luck on what you decide.

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by Trixie

First off, is there a really good book on goats. I am not interested in raising for sale, and it doesn't matter whether they are purebred (does it?), etc. I just need a real 'Goats for Dummies' type book - complete with pictures.

How much milk does a goat give a day? More or less, compared to a Jersey cow?

Does it differ, in taste, from cow's milk? If so, is the taste very pronounced?

Can you make butter and does it taste as good?

The cheese, would be great -

What breed would be best for NE Texas?

How much should I expect to pay for them? I assume I would need a pair, or can you 'borrow' a male?

Thanks

Good goat book.....I can't think of one that covers it all. The internet is a great resource and your absolute best idea is to visit local breeders till you find someone who's goats you like the look of and what they do, then see if you can somehow get some mentoring from that person. I know I wouldn't mind doing a bit of something like that if the person didn't mind pitching in and helping with chores a bit. Then you can get some first-hand experience.

A goat will give quite a bit less than a good milking Jersey cow. A good milker will give at least a gallon a day. Some up to 2 gallons a day. You must feed them properly, of course.

Growing up with fresh Jersey milk....and milking Jersey's and goats now...I prefer the Jersey milk. To me it tastes better and richer than goat milk. But goat milk is quite good if you can't justify a Jersey cow. Goat milk is not nearly as forgiving as cows milk, so if you want good-tasting goats milk, you must be ultra-clean, cool it very quickly and use it a bit sooner than cows milk. Still dang good stuff.

Never made goat butter, though I know you can.

Goat cheese is great as long as its made from good milk.

Any breed would be fine in your area, but you are better off buying locally if you can, that way they are acclimatized to your weather and its not hard on them.

For *good* milk stock, unregistered or registered, will likely run you from $150-$400. A bit higher if your wanting show stock. Prices will differ depending on your area. If your wanting healthy stock, buy from a reputable breeder...NOT a salebarn!

Things I learned about goats being different than the Jersey cows I grew up with: Goats need a dry barn, cows will be fine out in the weather. Goats cannot have any mold in their hay or feed, cows can handle a bit. Goats are harder to contain. Goats are much more addictive! Goats multiply faster. Goats are easier to handle, but sometimes are too smart. Goats need wormed more often and worms will get them down faster. Goats are easier to milk, but the milk is not nearly so forgiving. Goats prefer brush, cattle prefer grass. Hope this helps a bit.

[Trixie]

Thanks to all of you!!!

That's what I was wanting to know.

It will be a change as I am very partial to Jersey cows. We raised our last milk cow from a tiny baby and I still miss her. It would take years to raise another milk cow and I think it would be really hard to find a cow borken to milk these days. You can buy cows from diaries when they no longer produce enough for dairies, but I don't know any dairymen personally any more. I am so frightened as to what cows may have been 'given' these days. Also, there is the real chore of breaking a cow to hand milk. Just because they are milked in a dairy doesn't mean they want anyone milking them by hand. I did that once with a Guernsey - but I was much younger then and could dodge a kick faster.

That is the main reason I am thinking goats, and for the fact we have a much smaller place than before and two families living on it.

Thanks again,