Just, 'because' . . . .
- Thread starter Woodsmoke
- Start date
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
Just for milk. We have all does in our herd, and we make cheese, soap, and hand cream. Plan is to start a wee business with the soap and hand cream, and look into setting up as a micro-dairy to supply milk to a local creamery to be processed into cheese for us. We have one wee buck in that lot, but he's already sold to a pet home. Once we're sorted with CAE registration, etc, we can look at providing studs as the herd is of really good pedigree stock. The other three are destined to be part of our dairy herd
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
This is our first kidding, and to be honest I'm relieved that the wee buck is to be rehomed. As we progress though, I fear we'll need to steel ourselves to the reality that wethering buck goats can have health implications, that there's a limited market for breeding bucks, and that the British Goat Society themselves recommend leaving kids entire and sending them for slaughter at around a year old as a welfare issue. Apparently goats have a very narrow urethra, and wethering prevents it developing fully which can lead to serious issues if diet is carefully controlled. We can't guarantee we'll only ever have doe kids, so it looks as though there'll be some harsh realities to face in the future. The upside is goat meat is superb apparently. I wouldn't know for sure though, as I've yet to try it.
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
I've just checked their prices. Perhaps I should be hoping that our doe to buck ratio is reversed next time around!!
Gorgeous - I want the one with the stripe down its back! Only kidding (see what I did there)
We used to have a white nanny (yes, a goat so no race implications) which I think was a Great Azanan - she came into milk without ever seeing a billy and the vet thought it was due to the oestrogen content in the clover. Used to milk her every morning before going to work and as she was not budded she stuck her horns in my jumper and towed me across our paddock. She loved to break free and come over to the house to chew the washing off the line - usually involving yards and yards of cloth being pulled out of her throat. Sadly now missed.
We used to have a white nanny (yes, a goat so no race implications) which I think was a Great Azanan - she came into milk without ever seeing a billy and the vet thought it was due to the oestrogen content in the clover. Used to milk her every morning before going to work and as she was not budded she stuck her horns in my jumper and towed me across our paddock. She loved to break free and come over to the house to chew the washing off the line - usually involving yards and yards of cloth being pulled out of her throat. Sadly now missed.
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
They're all characters, that's for sure. I was dead set against goats when my wife first mooted the issue. I never could stand the smell. I learned though, that the smell just doesn't exist if you don't keep a billy! I've always hated goats cheese too, and wouldn't even entertain the idea of drinking the milk. Again, I've learned different though. The cheese is beautifully-mild and sweet, and the milk is the creamiest, richest I've ever tasted, without even a hint of goatiness until it goes off. We freeze it in quantity for soap-making, and also use Cassie's generous contribution for our own consumption. It's wonderful.
Our wee herd is now up to nine, including the youngsters. Here are the other four idiots. Left to right, top to bottom: Peanut (aka 'Pickle' or simply ' the tw*t'), Tilly (aka 'Tillypickle' or simply 'the tw*t'), Ruby (aka 'Doobs', 'the Doobster', 'Doobmeister', or simply 'the tw*t') and Emerald (aka 'Em', 'Ginge' or simply 'the tw*t') I would say that the nicknames are my wife's idea. But I'd be lying
Our wee herd is now up to nine, including the youngsters. Here are the other four idiots. Left to right, top to bottom: Peanut (aka 'Pickle' or simply ' the tw*t'), Tilly (aka 'Tillypickle' or simply 'the tw*t'), Ruby (aka 'Doobs', 'the Doobster', 'Doobmeister', or simply 'the tw*t') and Emerald (aka 'Em', 'Ginge' or simply 'the tw*t') I would say that the nicknames are my wife's idea. But I'd be lying
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Yes our goat's milk was delicious and apparently good for you -the next door farmer had a son with some allergy (I can't remember what) and he was told he should drink goat's milk - most of ours went to him (in exchange for stalking). Sadly the arrangement ceased when the farmer retired and moved to Pelynt (nr Looe)
A Guy Out West
Well-Known Member
Red wine, goat cheese, French bread. About as good as it gets. All 4 of my boys were given goat milk up to about age 4. Glad they don’t drink it anymore, $12 a gallon.
Jools
Well-Known Member
Just because goats are goats. For my sins I have two pygmies, yup I know, got them because they made me laugh and thoroughly hacked off my neighbours from hell at my last house. Still never fail to be a source of amusement when they're not being little s##ts. Great business in the making myself and a lot of friends have goats milk and cheese and it's getting more and more popular.
I've just checked their prices. Perhaps I should be hoping that our doe to buck ratio is reversed next time around!!
I ate a lot of gosht in India when I worked there. Fantastic meat and a Hyderabad Biryani cooked overnight with a pastry seal in the pot lid was fantastic
S
StephenToast
Well-Known Member
Goats milk is meant to be good for eczema. Maybe it was that?
My parents always had goats for me for that reason and I still keep them. Whether it makes any difference or not I have no idea but there is nothing better than fresh goats milk in your morning coffee. Just remember to sieve out the hairs.
Jools
Well-Known Member
My little ' darlings' came indoors at the last house by accident, didn't make any mess, but then currants are easily cleared up. Mine are wethers and can pretty feisty when they want, oh and horns are a must have.
Good on you, and every best wish for your success in this enterprise.Just for milk. We have all does in our herd, and we make cheese, soap, and hand cream. Plan is to start a wee business with the soap and hand cream, and look into setting up as a micro-dairy to supply milk to a local creamery to be processed into cheese for us. We have one wee buck in that lot, but he's already sold to a pet home. Once we're sorted with CAE registration, etc, we can look at providing studs as the herd is of really good pedigree stock. The other three are destined to be part of our dairy herd
We have a similar business 5 miles down the road from us. Mrs Gunn loves their soap, and it’s ideal for birthday presents, housewarming gifts, etc.
The Little Goat Soap Company | thelittlegoatsoapcompany.co.uk
www.thelittlegoatsoapcompany.co.uk
Not trying to be a killjoy but I watched an interresting program about perfume allergy a week ago (as I suffer badly with some products). Some of the ingredients used in some of their products may be natural but they are also on the list of the worst 26 offenders for perfume allergy. For example the shampoo bar contains Geraniol, citral and limonene, 3 on that list of 26Good on you, and every best wish for your success in this enterprise.
We have a similar business 5 miles down the road from us. Mrs Gunn loves their soap, and it’s ideal for birthday presents, housewarming gifts, etc.
The Little Goat Soap Company | thelittlegoatsoapcompany.co.uk
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
Indeed. This is why it's so important to actually understand what you're using, and why. Especially with the like of essential oils, and even more when it comes to cosmetics and topical applications. For my part, I've taken specialised courses to understand the implications and effects of essential oils (and not just some hippy 'Smell Yourself Better' aromatherapy nonsense), and the cream I've developed (not yet available for sale) needs to be subjected to independent chemical analysis and evaluation for bacterial resistance (a huge barrier, given our particular requirement to have our product paraben-free), CPSR (Cosmetic Product Safety Report), and batch testing of ingredients. along with a couple of other tests. These things take time, and cost a significant amount of money, but it's absolutely vital that they're undertaken to protect folk. So far my own amateur tests are proving hugely successful, but in no way do they substitute for the stipulated legal requirements. Hopefully, the tests are going well, and we'll be licensed to sell shortly. Our soaps require a CPSR also, but due to the very nature of soap making, any risks from the inclusion of raw goats milk are completely negated by the PH change occurring through the saponification process. It all takes time, and it all takes money, along with a particular set of skills and attributes, which is why premium artisan products such as the ones we aim to provide are more expensive than your run-of-the-mill products. Having said that, reports from friends and family who've so far evaluated the creams have reported very positive results
