I'll Pour: Trip to a goat farm, goat milk soap, fodder, and other goat Info.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Trip to a goat farm, goat milk soap, fodder, and other goat Info.

I found a lady who lives close of Mulvane on a farm and she sells fresh goats milk. Obviously I had to get some fresh goats milk and visit her farm. The kids loved the goats and the goats loved us. They even tried to eat my dress. LOL I was not familiar with feeding goats fodder, so I had to Google fodder and find out what it was. It appears to be well worth it if you have animals and can't get hay for them due to the drought. Of course, it is extra work for you, an initial expense to set up the system, and you need somewhere to grow the fodder that has water access and hopefully cement floors. You may find this link helpful if you want to read up on fodder: http://www.peakprosperity/blog/growing-sprouted-fodder/72618

Most people seem to be growing barley as fodder, but it is not the only grain used for fodder.

Information about the farm can be found at: http://www.thislittlefarm.com

I made a batch of goats milk soap using white lilac fragrance oil. Apparently it accelerates trace or seizes and makes the soap thick very fast. I thought it was me the first time since I was trying to get done fast, but on the second and third batch it still set up too fast.

Since I was talking about goat milk or goats milk or goat's milk, I thought I would read up on goat milking. (Which way is proper?) I found this useful information on Goat Milk Stuff's website. (http://goatmilkstuff.com/Goat-Milk.html) and I thought you may find it interesting. Check out the website video on you tube. I had no idea how soon goats breed. I also have not set down to the kitchen table and enjoyed a goat meal. I am sure it is very good, but I can't do it. I raise my chickens for eggs only. I do eat meat, but not every meal and not one of my animals.

"There are also mini breeds and dual purpose breeds such as Nubians that were bred to give a moderate amount of both milk and meat.

In order to give milk, a goat must first get pregnant and have kids of her own. Her body creates the milk to feed the kids. Dairy breeds have been bred to give more milk than their kids would require.
At Goat Milk Stuff, we raise our goats with the goal of having them large enough to freshen (deliver kids) around their first birthday. We milk the goats for ten months and then dry them off two months before they have kids again around their next birthday. This dry period is necessary for them to have enough energy to grow their kids.

Individual goats give different amounts of milk. Over the course of their 10 month lactation, their milk output will follow a general lactation curve. Many different variables can affect this lactation curve - genetics, age, health, nutrition and number of kids can all play a role.

Some goats give so much milk that they are able to “milk through” into a second year. Occasionally a goat will give milk without having kids – this is referred to as a precocious udder. And bizarre as it seems, there have even been bucks that have been known to give milk (yes all bucks have teats, and no, a milking buck is not normal)."