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Barnyard Buddies:  All Things Dairy (Goats, Cows and Sheep)  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11221 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
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 Posted - Feb 14 2010 : 5:15:29 PM
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I thought we might need to have a dairy thread going here since there are so many of us that have goats and cows. And we are always needing advice and help on one thing or another. So why not start a dairy area.
Anyone interested? We can talk all we want about our favorite girls. I'll start.
I have 3 Lamanchas and 1 Nubian. They range in age from 3-7. They are all due to kid around the end of march. I am hoping for more girls this year. We had 13 kids last year and only 2 were does. So I keep rubbing their bellies and talking to the "girls".
I have been milking goats going on 5 years now. I love it. I milk by hand. I have 3 stanchions so that makes it easy. Last year I had 7 I was milking. 4 is still a lot and I may end up selling 1 more. One of the does is half Toggenburg and her milk last year was not that good.
So ya'll join in and lets talk dairy here.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
Edited by - kristin sherrill on Feb 09 2012 09:45:49 AM |
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maggie14
True Blue Farmgirl
6736 Posts
Hannah
Washington
USA
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Posted - Feb 14 2010 : 5:31:12 PM
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Oh this will be fun!!
I have 2 nubian does and 1 nubian buck. Both my does are pregnant. One will kid pretty soon and the other will kid in May. There names are Esther, Sadie, and Joey.
I have only been milking my goats for a year now and am learning so much and am having lots of fun!! I milk by hand too.
Well I guess this is a start!
Hugs,
Channah
Friendship is not something that can be bought, it is earned. |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
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Posted - Feb 14 2010 : 6:29:00 PM
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I love dairy animals too..this IS a great idea. Right now I have Mona, my wonderful Jersey cow. She is 6 years old. I got her when she was 2. She is due to calve with her 4th calf mid-May. I hope it is a heifer this year! She has had two bull calves and one heifer calf so far. Before Mona I had dairy goats for many years..Saanens and Oberhasli mostly. I LOVE fresh dairy products and we are hating the waiting right now for Mona to calve.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
1928 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
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Posted - Feb 14 2010 : 6:46:37 PM
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| I have 2 gorgeous Nubian does(USDA papered) (Lotty & Lucy)bred by by friend Linda(woolispinner here) They are 3 YO & I have not bred them yet, because I have such a hard time pinpointing their heat,(contrary to their reputation, my Nubies are not overly vocal) & I do not have a buck. The one time I was sure Lotty was in heat, I took her to Linda's buck, but I was too late. The other time she was in heat(that I was sure of), hubby was unable to help me transport her. I am hoping to catch one of them in the next month or so, otherwise, I fear it will be too late, & they will be too old. I do love my goats though, milk or not. They are so sweet & have such adorable personalities, although Miss Lotty has started to be a bit of a stinker & tries to butt me if I want to do anything to her. But I love going out to the barn & talking, singing, brushing & just spending time with them. & they love it too. Goats are the best! |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11221 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
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Posted - Feb 14 2010 : 8:16:45 PM
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I forgot to tell my goats names. Abby is the oldest. She's almost 8. Then Faith is 6 and her daughter is Sadie Mae Belle. She's almost 3. Ya'll have heard some about her. Then there is Sandy, the Nubian. I got her when she was just a few days old. She's almost 4. She's my baby. I got a Nubian buck this time to breed her with and I am so excited to see her kids. I always bred her with Lamanchas but I wanted goats with ears this time. And she is the most vocal. The Lamanchas don't make much noise at all.
I also just a few months ago got a half Jersey half Angus heifer calf. Her name is Roxie. She's 5 1/2 months old. She's all black but looks Jersey. She's got a reddish belly. So in about 2 years I might be milking a cow, too.
I am really missing goat milk right now. But I have been getting cow milk from my friend who I bought the calf from. I am partial to goat milk, though.
I wish you lived closer, Lisa. I'd let you borrow my buck. It sounds like you may just need to get one to come stay with the girls awhile!
Jenny, I bet you are missing all that fresh milk. Do you let the calf nurse or do you bottle feed it? That's a lot of work, bottle feeding a calf. I raised 2 that way and they thought they were still little babies after they were over 800 pounds. Mazie is still that way.
I am still thinking about bottle feeding if Abby and Sandy have does. The other 2 will raise theirs.
Thanks for joining in here, ya'll. I hope we all have healthy kids and calves soon.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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maggie14
True Blue Farmgirl
6736 Posts
Hannah
Washington
USA
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Posted - Feb 14 2010 : 9:44:31 PM
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Thank you so much Kris for starting this!! I cannot wait to learn from you gals!!
Hugs,
Channah
Friendship is not something that can be bought, it is earned. |
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Laur
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Laurie
Boonville
MO
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Posted - Feb 14 2010 : 10:26:11 PM
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Goats will be about all I'll be doing for several weeks to come, I actually had to sit down and count my herd list for here and I believe there's around 30 mostly purebred,papered Nubian, Lamancha, and Saanen does, and 7 bucks. We had 3 Nubians kid in Dec. and have about 16 to kid starting the 1st of March. Some are supposed to be sold, but winter has thrown its curves for transport. My youngest son Nate(just turned 11) owns the Lamanchas and is in 4-H. I have been a 4-H project leader so long, that soon I'll have a granddaughter in Clover Kids!
At the dairy I look after about 50 adult does and 14 yearlings. They just started kidding and tonight I'm a little concerned as it's snowing, very cold, and windy, My middle son Guy is their right hand man and he called to say they were in the barn with babies and wondering about tomorrow, as they need help and do I want to play with my newest granddaughter Elli(3months) at the dairy or his house? I think there could be 35 or so does kidding in the next week. It will be amazing!!!!! Most years it has gone smoothly and I pray as well this!!
Have a couple of cows here too. The mostly Guernsey cow Summer is dry as I had no bull here and didn't want to transport her, but her Jersey x daughter is bred to a Jersey and will freshen hopefully later in March.
We milk some goats year round here at home as most of the family has cow milk allergies and my husband Mark has Crohn's disease as well as Stage 4 renal cell(kidney) carcinoma now in his lungs, so the milk is a necessity here.
I usually just hand milk at home, but machine milk at the dairy. At the dairy all of the milk is made into artisanal cheese soft chevre rounds and tubs, flavored and plain, feta, camembert, blue, and hard cheese too.
I routinely dip the soft cheese, salt the camembert, and have made a little hard cheese too. I hope to make more cheese this year.
I love these 4 legged friends and so enjoy all the wonderful people I meet through them!! I look forward to hearing about all things dairy... best wishes with kiddings and calvings!!!!
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11221 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
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Posted - Feb 15 2010 : 04:20:50 AM
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Laurie, it sure sounds like you will be a busy lady. That's a lot of goats. So when all is said and done, how many goats do you milk at your house? And do you bottle feed any? I guess at the dairy they are all machine milked.
And with milk allergies did you find they could drink the goat milk right away and were fine?
We used to order cheese from a dairy in Mo. and they had some goat cheese. I can't remember the name right now. But the cheese is good.
Please let us know about all those beautiful babies when they come. Can you post pictures on here? I still can't get mine to work. I love seeing other people's kids and goats. And the cows, too.
And Miss Channah, I'm sure you have all sorts of great valuable info for all of us here. Sometimes I think I would not know what to do in a certain situation then discover I do. It's amazing how much we learn as we go on this journey. Most of it is fun but there are some sad times, too. That just go along with all this farm life. That's what so amazes me. No 2 days are alike.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
1468 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
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Posted - Feb 15 2010 : 05:52:45 AM
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I have 2 Nubian papered does, Milly and Mindy that are due to kid and then will be milked. I have 7 others ready to kid but will not be used for milk. Two does provide the amount of milk I use and a bit to share.
I had 1 Nubian buck but he recently died after being leased out for breeding. so sad.
There is something about farming....once you get "good" at something the amount you have is not enough..... never can have too many chickens, grow too many tomatoes, and now I'm wanting more goats!!
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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aunt boby
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
toby
polo
illinois
USA
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Posted - Feb 15 2010 : 06:55:31 AM
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We currently have 23 boer does, 16 kids we just weaned two weeks ago, 2 wethers, 1 buck and 2 tog/alpine cross does. I got my feet wet last summer with the milking. I had just weaned off the kids from one of my dairy goats and the next day I had a boer doe die three days after she kidded. I milked her for two months and fed the orphaned boer kids with a bucket feeder. We were not ready in any way for this. I tied her up to the fence and stuck grain in front of her to keep her still but as soon as the grain was gone she would be kicking at me to get off of her udder. I learned to milk real quick so I would be done before she got done with her grain. The two dairy goats are due to kid in a couple months and this time I will be prepared to milk them after they're weaned. The dh built me a stanchion and I have been reading about soap making. I was thrilled to see some ladies started a thread about that. Does anyone use a pasteurizer? I've seen them fairly reasonable on Ebay. I will make it a point to get pictures on her to show off all my girls.
Wow Laurie!! I thought my days were busy. I would love to see your farm. It sounds wonderful. Here in Illinois, you have to buy out or buy into a goat dairy. You can't start one up. I love when government gets involved with agriculture.
Kris, I think your word is good as gold. I love reading your posts and hearing your input on things.
POOR IS THE MAN WHO CANNOT ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE- anonymous |
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Candy C.
True Blue Farmgirl
820 Posts
Candy
Mescal
AZ
USA
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Posted - Feb 15 2010 : 07:19:08 AM
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Great topic Kris!
I have three dairy goats, two Alpines and a Toggenburg. One Alpine, Nike, is 10 years old and registered (she was given to me). The other Alpine, Madeline, is Nike's daughter and she is 3 years old. Last year, I retired Nike from breeding and bred only Madeline, she gave us 2 little bucks. Nike gave us 2 does the first year and 3 does the next! I was doing some baking of bread and selling at the Farmer's Market and didn't have enough milk to meet my needs (plus one of my friends gets milk from me) so I bought another goat last fall. I got a 3-year-old Toggenburg, Tara. Madeline and Tara are both bred to a Nubian buck. Madeline is due the middle of March and Tara is due the end of March. The baking thing got squashed so now I am going to have TOO MUCH milk! Plus, I have heard that Toggenburg's don't have such great milk? Maybe I can find someone to sell her to! She is really sweet though!
I love my goats, love spending time with them and I am really missing the milk right now!
Candy C.
Farmgirl Sister #977
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11221 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
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Posted - Feb 15 2010 : 09:31:22 AM
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Catherine, that's so sad to lose a goat. Especially when they have been away from your farm then come back sick. Have you gotten another one yet? I think 2 does is plenty of milk for us, too. I did sell milk the last few years. But people are not consistant. No one wants milk when the fridge is full but when it's empty or the goats are dry, they want milk. So I will keep my half gallon a week customer and maybe one more. But I will use some to make cheese and soaps. Are Nubians the only breed you've had?
Toby, I have had a few Boers and some Kiko. I wanted to get into meat goats but most people wanted lamb. So I went to dairy. I had an Alpine cross that I started milking on. She had a great udder. It was small but she gave lots of milk. I wish I had kept her. I have to keep the feed coming to my girls, too, when I'm milking. They are pretty good about being still when they are done. But I am pretty fast. I do not pasturize my milk. I like drinking raw milk myself. Plus those machines are so expensive. Also the separators. I'd love to have one of those, but will probably never. I would love to see pictures. And thanks for the kind words. That means a lot to me.
Candy, I have a Lamancha-Togg cross. She was a first freshener last year. It took forever to be able to drink her milk. I posted on here alot about her. Sadie Mae. I think that Toggs were bred to have stronger tasting milk for cheesemaking. I ended up giving most of her milk to the chickens, pigs, dogs and cats. I did freeze some, too. If her milk is bad again this year, I may have to sell her. I love that goat and she looks just like a Togg but has elf ears. She's a jumper, too. Just give it a try. Her milk may be good. I just didn't like Sadie's. The Alpines have great milk. And very nice udders, too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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maggie14
True Blue Farmgirl
6736 Posts
Hannah
Washington
USA
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Posted - Feb 15 2010 : 09:54:22 AM
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Wow, I had no idea there were so many of you who had goats!! YAY!! I don't have anything to really add but I'll keep read this topic!
Hugs,
Channah
Friendship is not something that can be bought, it is earned. |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
395 Posts
Melina
USA
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Posted - Feb 15 2010 : 1:52:17 PM
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Well, I had to give up my goats when we moved back to civilization, but I can add something once in a while. Over the last 30 years we had mostly Alpines and Saanens, with the occasional mix thrown in. We kept them as much for humor and companionship as for the milk. DH loved homemade buttermilk and yogurt, I tried my hand at cheese with varying results, and we always loved kidding time, waiting to see what we got. A little boring, that part, with the Saanens always being white. My first goat, Angel, was my favorite. She was Alpine/Nubian cross but looked and was colored like an Alpine. She gave me lots of great babies and tons of milk over the years, and the experience was most valuable. She became paralyzed with her first two kids, both coming at the same time and pinched the nerves running down her back legs. She had to be in a sling for a week before the feeling came back to the point she could stand, but she raised the babies and gave me over a gallon a day that first year. What a beginning THAT was!
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11221 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
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Posted - Feb 15 2010 : 3:42:11 PM
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Hi Melina. I think that's the reason I never got Sanaans because they all look alike. But last year with all the white kids I got they could have been Sanaan. I had 13 kids and 10 of them were all white like the dad. And I used another white buck this time. 3rd year in a row. You'd think I'd know by now. But I keep hoping for some color. The Nubian buck is all black but with the Doberman look. My Sandy is all red. So I can't wait to see what her kids will look like. She does have pretty babies. They are all getting bigger every day. I was noticing udders today. Abby and Faith's are getting bigger. Sadie's are lumpy with bumps all over. I hope that clears up. Any ideas what could cause that? She does jump over the fence.
We'll have to post cheese recipes here soon. And talk about all the ways we use all this good milk.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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southerncrossgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
631 Posts
Gena
Harmony
NC
USA
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Posted - Feb 15 2010 : 4:40:06 PM
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I only have Nigerian Dwarfs right now. We sold our whole herd of Registered Nubians to a family we go to church with. The good thing is, I get to see them as often as I like.
I just am not as attached to the Nigerians. I have 1 doe, named Sara, 1 buck named Oreo, and 1 wether named Dud.
My doe is expecting in March. She looks huge.
Someday I hope to get Nubians again. I really loved having them.
We have one heifer Angus/Holstein cross. Her name is Betty. She is at the neighbors farm getting bred to a Angus.
I want to get a little jersey calf soon. I want to keep her to breed and give us milk.
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
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Barnyard Buddies: All Things Dairy (Goats, Cows and Sheep) |
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All Things Dairy (Goats, Cows and Sheep)
