Baby Goats, Fresh Milk, and the Busy Season Begins

Isn't that the cutest thing?  Most people don't truly understand the charm of a goat.  But baby goats - it goes beyond charm - they have a cute factor that most other animals don't quite have.  Chad and Chrissy get asked often why they take the baby goats from the dams and bottle feed them.  Well, it adds to the charm of the animal when they are bigger.  Now I'm not going to get into the argument about whether it's cruel or not - I don't think it is, but they really appreciate the adult animal that is created by bottle feeding the babies.  Those babies associate food with Chad and Chrissy (and the kids), and as they grow, they will come running up to them in the field, even when they are grown.  The bottle raised goats on this farm will come up to them and want head rubs, and generally just enjoy being close to them when they are out there.  The dam raised goats (of which there is only one at this time) isn't quite as friendly.  He's not mean, just a little more skittish than the others.  Not something Chad and Chrissy really like.  But aside from ending up with sweet adult animals, it also helps keep the milkers healthy.  Dairy goats (like dairy cows) produce way more milk than the babies can eat.  And if the babies eat it all, they can get sick.  An underfed (slightly) baby goat is more healthy than an overfed baby goat, especially early on.  The other issue is with the goats (and cows) is the lack of cleanliness around the udder when babies are constantly drinking.  Mastitis in cows and goats comes from the introduction of bacteria into the udder from the environment.  That can come from the ground (when they lay down) and from the mouth of the babies when they drink.  The processes used when milking the animals is much cleaner and protects the cows and goats from mastitis. 

So, that is why they take the babies. 

Anyway, the freshening of goats means that goat milk will be available soon.  Stay tuned for updates.

Pork will also be back in a couple of weeks.  Lots of pork.  Be sure to contact us if you want pork.

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