Beginner’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats

Whether you’re new to homesteading, or you have been doing it for a while, owning a dairy animal may cross your mind. My complete beginner’s guide to raising dairy goats will help to answer your questions, and allow you to determine whether dairy goats are right for you!

Before you purchase a goat!–Basic Goat Terminology

Beginner’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats

The Buddy System

Goats are herd animals, which means they need a buddy. Typically, if you do not have goats and are interested in purchasing one, it is best to purchase two at the same time. A lonely goat is never a good idea. It can cause them to be loud, mischievous, and even impact their health. Goats are intelligent, curious, and social animals. They will bond with the other animal over time. If possible, it is best to purchase two goats from the same herd so they are well acquainted with each other from the beginning. 

There are a few different combinations that you can have. You can have two does (females), a doe and a weather (castrated male that cannot reproduce), or if you’re interested in starting a herd, you can have a doe and a buck (intact male that can reproduce).  

Registered vs Unregistered

Just like many different animals, you have the option to purchase dairy goats registered (with papers) or unregistered (without papers). While the registration alone does not affect the milk, it can affect the price of the goat or its kids. 

In order to get milk from a dairy goat, the doe needs to be bred by a buck. After 145-150 days, you can expect baby goats, also known as kids. Unless you plan on keeping 1-4 kids per goat, per kidding (typically yearly), you may be interested in selling the kids. While you can sell and show unregistered kids, registered kids can be sold for more due to having papers. The papers allow the buyer to see the goat’s pedigree, the quality of milk that the goat may produce, and the goat’s genetics. Papers basically act as the goat’s “proof” of quality and authenticity. While a registered goat will cost more in the beginning, it is an investment that will pay off in the end.

Breeds and Characteristics

There are many different breeds of dairy goats. I have listed a few of the most common ones and some breed characteristics:

• Alpine
  • Alpine does grow to be 30” tall and 130+ pounds, while bucks can grow up to 35” tall and 170+ pounds. On average, an Alpine doe will produce about 1-2 gallons of milk per day. Their butterfat content in the milk is around 3.5%.
• Saanen
  • Saanen goats are very similar in size and weight to an Alpine. However, Saanen goats are a solic cream or white color. They produce around 1 ½ -3 gallons of milk per day, with a butterfat content of 3%
• Nubian
  • Nubian goats are similar in size and weight to both the Saanen and Alpine, but they only produce about 1 gallon of milk per day. Their butterfat content sits around 5%.
• Nigerian Dwarf
  • Nigerian dwarf goats can grow to be 17-23 ½” tall. The average weight of a Nigerian Dwarf is 75 pounds. They only produce about ½ gallon of milk per day, but the butterfat can range from 6%-10%.

If you need a large quantity of milk per day and are not very interested in making recipes that require a large amount of cream, the Alpine, Saanen, or Nubian may be a great fit for you. However, if you do not need to be swimming in milk and would prefer a larger butterfat percentage, a Nigerian dwarf may be for you. Another great page to find out about all breeds is the ADGA (American Dairy Goat Association). You can find a link to that page here.

What should I do with all of this milk?

I’m glad you asked! When I first started milking my goat, I was so excited to see a refrigerator full of milk. I thought I knew everything I wanted to make and how I wanted to use the milk. Flash forward to a refrigerator actually full of milk, and me panicking to use it all… Goats have to be milked daily, and depending on the amount you’re getting from your doe, the refrigerator may fill up faster than you think! Here are a few of my favorite ways to use up your fresh, raw milk.

Cheese

• My favorite way to use up fresh milk is to make cheese. Chevre, or a spreadable goat cheese, uses one gallon of milk per batch. This cheese can be flavored with anything from garlic and herb to honey and berries. Cajeta
• Cajeta is basically a goat milk caramel sauce. It is great on icecream, apples, or if you’re like me, eaten right off of a spoon! 

Yogurt

• Whether you have an instant pot or not, you can make yogurt. All it takes is the right temperature and some culture. 

Soap

• Goat milk soap is great for your skin, and not to mention pretty easy to make with the right tools and materials.

Drink it raw

• I know, this may sound like the most obvious option, but sometimes we are so caught up in the idea that we can make something from scratch, that we forget about it in its natural form. So drink up! Did I mention that goat milk is great in coffee and warm teas??

For most dairy breeds, they can only breed for a small period throughout the year (kind of like the rut in deer, but we will get into that more in detail later in this post). Late Summer through early Winter is the typical breeding season for dairy goats. However, this does not go for all breeds. Nigerian Dwarf goats can breed all year long. Here is the typical breeding cycle for my goats (nigerian dwarfs), but would work for all breeds:

• Early Fall (Mid October): Breed does to buck
• Late Fall/Early Spring (Early-Mid March): Doe will give Birth (145 days on miniature breeds, 150 days on standard breeds)
• Mid-Late Spring (Late April): Weaning the kids from the doe. I wean at about 7 weeks of age. Any more than that and the buck kids may breed their dam back. At this point the does will need to be milked twice a day since the kids are not drinking the milk.
• Late Summer (Early-Mid September): This is the time that I start drying my does up. This means gradually milking her out less and less until she stops producing milk. You can milk up to 2 months pre-kidding, but I prefer to dry them off before re-breeding.
• Early Fall (Mid October): Breed does to buck

And the cycle repeats itself. Keep in mind, this is my breeding cycle based on where I live, weather factors, and my personal busy times of the year. This may vary for you.

How much space do I need for my goat?

Space depends on a few factors. How many goats do you have? Are your bucks and does separated? Can you feed them hay daily? Goats need a good amount of room, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If they are in an area with grass, great! Just allow them to have enough room to be able to run around. If you do not have great grass where you live, you will need to supplement your goats with hay. The rule to build a goat enclosure is typically 20-30 sq ft per goat. As mentioned before, goats hate water, so make sure they also have somewhere they can get out of the rain if need be. Also, make sure that your fencing is AIR TIGHT! I cannot stress this enough. If there is a hole in your fence, the goats will find it. I use 2”x4” horse panel stapled to wooden posts for my goat pen. They still manage to escape when I forget to latch the gate…

Goats Love Routine

Feed me, milk me, love me…over and over again. Goats love routine, they crave it. If your goat is not used to being on a milking stand, it will only take a few days to make them run for the stand. Every day, put your feed in the milk stand trough and lead your goat to the stand. Have them jump up and close their head in between the stanchions. After a few days of doing this, your goat will learn that it will receive feed when getting on the stand. They will learn to call for you at the same time you feed them everyday. A solid routine will make your herd happy.

Bucks STINK!

And I mean STINK! Like knock a hungry dog off of a meat wagon kind of stink! Some times of year are worse than others. The odor is caused by the bucks urinating on themselves to impress the lady goats…..I know, GROSS. Some people say that their bucks don’t smell…I frankly don’t believe them. If you decide to own a buck, make sure that their pen is down wind of you. Frequent washing will help handle the smell, but it will never completely disappear. 

Goats are…..Deer??

Did you know that goats are not in the same family with sheep? They are actually in the same family as deer…hense the bucks going into a rut during breeding season. They are also not grazers like everyone believes. Goats are browsers, which means that while they will eat different grasses, they prefer shrubs, bushes, and leaves.

Why you should choose a goat over a dairy cow

And lastly, the question we’ve all been asking. Why should I choose goat milk over cow’s milk? The answer can vary depending on who you ask, and depending on your needs. However, I have put together a few reasons below:

• Goat’s milk has a higher vitamin A and calcium content
• Goat milk has less lactose, which makes it a good option for people that are lactose intolerant
• Goat milk is easier to digest
• Goat milk contains lactic acid, which helps to repair the skin
• Goats take up less space and are easier for both adults and children to handle
• Goats eat less, which is easier on your wallet

Now that you have all of the information, it is time for you to decide! Like all animals, goats have their pros (and cons). When you finally see your refrigerator full of milk, all of the blood, sweat, tears…and money, will suddenly become worth it. 

Check out my other post here to learn all about the necessary equipment to milk a goat!