America's new pastime - Milking goats
- Thread starter sumi
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Mini Horses
Sustainability Master
Sheep are lovely animals. I'd probably have a few if not for the copper difference between them & goats -- feed to buy, watch, control, etc. So, I stay with goats.
Today was a very soothing day for milking.
Just was. And I needed it! Brat & I were both relaxed and happy. While milking, I had a story come to mind....
My late DH was a child of the depression and lived with his aunt for a few years. Both Aunt & her DH were legally blind. He remembers the "bread lines' during these times and that his aunt had a goat -- that she milked to provide for herself, DH, their 2 kids & DH & sister. Winters in Long Island were cold and the goat was then kept in the basement. Summers she was tied out to graze the yard. A pair of rabbits helped provide litters for meat.
Odd what your mind recalls during some of our farm days. And many of us still depend on these wonderful animals for meat, milk, cheese, cream, butter and love. It's why we homestead.
Today was a very soothing day for milking.
Just was. And I needed it! Brat & I were both relaxed and happy. While milking, I had a story come to mind....My late DH was a child of the depression and lived with his aunt for a few years. Both Aunt & her DH were legally blind. He remembers the "bread lines' during these times and that his aunt had a goat -- that she milked to provide for herself, DH, their 2 kids & DH & sister. Winters in Long Island were cold and the goat was then kept in the basement. Summers she was tied out to graze the yard. A pair of rabbits helped provide litters for meat.
Odd what your mind recalls during some of our farm days. And many of us still depend on these wonderful animals for meat, milk, cheese, cream, butter and love. It's why we homestead.
CrealCritter
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I like lamb chops does that count?
tortoise
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wyoDreamer
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That graph is just showing the percentage of increase/decrease in total numbers since 2007. So, at 2007, there was no change in any of the data since 2007.
Hard to really tell what the graph really means without knowing the actual data. With the huge numbers of dairy cattle - a 1% increase may mean there are 100 cows added to a dairy heard for every 1 goat. It's the magic of statistics - you can get numbers to say most anything you want...
I thought it was a fairly weak article also. But interesting.
Hard to really tell what the graph really means without knowing the actual data. With the huge numbers of dairy cattle - a 1% increase may mean there are 100 cows added to a dairy heard for every 1 goat. It's the magic of statistics - you can get numbers to say most anything you want...
I thought it was a fairly weak article also. But interesting.
Medicine Woman
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I am too late to be able to read sumi’s link. It’s gone. But I do have a few pregnant does and I don’t mind milking the ones with normal size parts. I need a pump if they too small for my hands though. My kids act like they don’t like goats milk 🤷♀️ I like it.
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
I'm not surprised, lol!
Mini Horses
Sustainability Master
No one wants Bison? 
Goats are great! WHO TOLD???????
I read the article and she didn't touch on "lactase" being more prevalent in goat milk, the enzyme that mitigates ome of the lactose (that is already lower) and the A2 milk thing -- which goats are.
Love my goats, the milk and cheese, yogurts, kefir and all that. But I am NOT wanting 1000 of them
Nope, no dairy set up for me! I'll just enjoy what's here and "share" some. Sell a few milk trained, too.
Goats are great! WHO TOLD???????
I read the article and she didn't touch on "lactase" being more prevalent in goat milk, the enzyme that mitigates ome of the lactose (that is already lower) and the A2 milk thing -- which goats are.
Love my goats, the milk and cheese, yogurts, kefir and all that. But I am NOT wanting 1000 of them
Nope, no dairy set up for me! I'll just enjoy what's here and "share" some. Sell a few milk trained, too.
baymule
Sustainability Master
I still love my sheep.
Beekissed
Mountain Sage
I still love my sheep.
Me too. If you'll notice, in the east there's a suspiciously bare spot right in the middle...in WV. Not many goat lovers there, I guess.
