You love the idea of raising dairy goats for milk, breeding or pleasure. Download a copy of Sue Weaver's Dairy Goat Breed Information Chart for all the details about the miniature and full-sized dairy goats that work best for the hobby farm.
We called off the combining, not wishing to ruin the combine with the mush of the weeds. Stan and our oldest daughter's husband did the first few days of haying wearing sweatshirts and overalls.It stayed wet in June, though it did warm up considerably,...
The workshop was well-received by all who attended. The ALBC says its goal is to help farmers find niche outlets for their rare breeds and rare-breed products. The workshop covered many aspects of establishing a dairy-processing business, including breed...
Mastitis may be clinical or subclinical, acute or chronic, and sometimes gangrenous. There is no treatment or cure for CAE-caused hard bag, and affected does should be culled expeditiously due to the contagious nature of the bacteria.
Do a strip test to check for abnormalities in the milk. For example, a 200-pound doe needs about 5 pounds of concentrate and high-quality hay . To prepare a goat for milking, you need to clean the teat with a dry paper towel to remove loose dry dirt and...
The samples were analyzed for 13 common water-quality parameters that are part of the lab's basic livestock water-testing package. The objective of the project was to increase awareness of various water-quality parameters that are not tested as often.
June is National Dairy Month and a chance for farmers (and consumers) to celebrate dairy production, dairy farmers and dairy products. “This represented 10.2 percent of all farm cash receipts.” Despite the demand for milk and other dairy products,...
Make this space pretty big. Weight/Bolus Having the goats' weights on hand helps when it comes time to administer wormers or if your goat needs any other medications. We generally do the whole herd on one day, so I often just write the date on the very...
They vet each other's ideas.” Tags dairy cows , farmers , SARE grants It now has 35 participants who use it as a venue for peer-to-peer learning. They have a more consistent, profitable system now, whereas in the past, Wehner says, “All we ever did...
What You'll Need for Breeding Because a goat has to have a kid to start producing milk, a new owner should consider how they want to handle the breeding process. The milking parlor doesn't have to be fancy—in fact, it can be a preexisting structure...
With a doeling (young female), you can get a good idea how well she will milk when mature by looking at her dam's (mother's) record. The Alpine averages the greatest milk output at 2,588 pounds per year with 3.3 percent butterfat.
Despite the hurdles she's faced with the unique Southwestern climate, she's found success in her endeavors and passes along this advice to other budding goat dairies: Check with your state Agriculture department before you start any construction.
Send me your question! « More Mondays with Martok » Tags breed goats for milk , dairy goats , does We have two kid goats that are 6 months old. We Nubians are an exception because some Nubian does have heats when you least expect it.
All of these conditions can decrease the amount of milk these dairy cows will produce.” Middleton, along with Jim Spain, MU vice provost for undergraduate studies and professor of dairy nutrition in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources,...
Vaccinations Vaccinations are the best way to prevent disease and ensure your dairy cow is healthy and productive, but they're not one-size-fits-all. I would caution farmers from using a calving jack or other methods for pulling calves other than by hand.
This is another complex decision, and you'll likely need to consult experts. Milking Stanchion Whether you're milking one goat or 100, you'll need a milking stanchion. Milk should be kept only slightly above freezing until delivered to the customer.
French Alpines are purebreds, the result of breeding two registered French Alpines. White markings are always present and include white ears with a dark spot in the middle, two white stripes down the face from above each eye to the muzzle, and markings...
These requirements might be met by feeding hay, grazing, providing a high-energy supplement or a combination. Knowing the nutritional value of the feeds you are providing to your goats is the key to knowing what you need to feed them.
According to United Nations figures published in 2001, 84.6 percent of the world's milk was produced by cattle; 11.8 percent by water buffalo ; 2.1 percent by goats; 1.3 percent by sheep and the remaining 0.2 percent by an assortment of other mammals,...
Sheep that work for a living on commercial dairy lines, like cows on dairy lines, might not easily adapt to hand milking. One thing worth mentioning is that sheep are milked from the rear instead of the side.
Get more milk-based recipes on HobbyFarms.com: Fromage Facile Whey Ricotta How To Make Yogurt at Home « More Plowing Through » Tags cookbook , dairy , milk , recipes All in all, The Dairy Good Cookbook is a solid addition to your cookbook library, featuring...
The scientists collected a range of field data on grazing systems, manure management and their effects on nutrient loss to the environment. Estimates for emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide from both primary production and the secondary...
Research goat fences in your locale and have goat- and predator-proof fencing in place before you bring dairy goats home. Most “house cows” are Jerseys or Guernseys, the smaller of the standard dairy breeds; in addition to their compact size, both...
Special Considerations/Notes: Holstein heifers can be bred at 13 months of age, when they weigh about 800 pounds–but it's desireable that Holstein females calve for the first time between 23 and 26 months of age.
If you keep dairy goats, you can have your own fresh milk, produce your own butter, cheese, ice cream or yogurt , and for those who enjoy some pampering, even prepare your own luxurious soaps and potions.
Oberhasli does tend to be dominant when kept in a mixed-breed herd. Height: 28 to 30 inches Weight: 120 to 150 pounds Urban Uses: Oberhasli are bred as dairy goats. They are known for their distinct coloration of reddish brown with black points and a...
After 15 minutes or so, dry off the jars and pop them in the refrigerator. She freezes water in secondhand plastic containers to make large ice cubes to cool the water faster. Cool the milk as quickly as you can.
