My herd is small, clean, and closed. I raise these beautiful goats for milk

My herd is small, clean, and closed. I raise these beautiful goats for milk
These goats really work. I use the milk for cheese and soap, and other things. I milk by hand and expect lots of good tasting milk and nice manners on the stanchion.

ABOUT US

We live on 11 acres in the high desert of Central Washington State. Our horse ranch has been mostly turned over to the dairy goats. We raise Nubians and Miniature Nubians, and all of them are registered and CAE/CL neg. We tested again Feb. 1015 and all tests were NEG.
You can read about Miniature Dairy Goats here

I am the main goatherd and I love to make my morning mocha latte with goat milk from my herd, drink raw milk kefir smoothies, eat raw goat milk cheese, and bathe with my own gorgeous raw goat milk soap. My goats are a hobby but also a way of life. I love to walk the property with them, nap on the grass in the summer while they browse, and sit in a lawn chair and read while the babies hop and dance around me or curl up in my lap like puppies. My goats are pets, not just livestock.

The mini's are colorful and beautiful while being very productive. They are small enough to be easily handled by me and my children, so when my husband isn't handy we feel perfectly capable.

On our ranch we are surrounded by other horse ranches, apple and pear orchards. We are really hobby ranchers I guess, keeping honey bees (which have been demolished by yellow jackets. I will start again!) and poultry as well as the horses, goats, cats and dogs and two pet alpacas. Meet the boys:
 
The white one is Pacha and the brown one is  Napoleon.
 

 We keep a few livestock guardian dogs (2 Meremma sheepdogs and a 1/2 Meremma- keep an eye out for occasional puppy sales) in addition to the alpacas because our area is overrun with bold coyotes
 
 The Volcanic soil of the Yakima Valley grows some phenomenal hay. We have a local grower who only sells to private clients and we only get his hay because of a connection. 
This is the best in the valley, per our vet, who did an analysis because he uses it himself. We know this is a blessing and I believe Proverbs 27: 27 when it says:
 the lambs will provide your clothing,
and the goats the price of a field.
There will be enough goats' milk for your food,
for the food of your household
and maintenance for your girls.

The sale of my extra kids every year does bring the price of a field- all cut, dried, and baled up on the back of a truck to be stored in my barn. *U*
It is enough to feed all of the livestock.
 
 
Our pregnant and lactating does get alfalfa and the rest, including bucks, horses and alpacas get the grass hay. Our animals also get to browse the 10 acre pasture and 1/2 acre grass area and along the driveway, which is very long and holds their favorite treats; certain weeds, grasses, poplar tree leaves, etc. The boys don't get grain at all, and the girls only do when they are on the stanchion to be milked. They also love treats like banana and orange peels as well as carrots and apples, raisins and Ritz crackers. I sometimes add black oil sunflower seeds for extra protein. The entire herd has access to free choice baking soda and Purina goat minerals when loose or pressed blocks when I can get them. They devour those in 2 days flat though, and they're $15 each.
 
Our does kid once a year, and dam raise their kids most years, but they are handled frequently by us. The herd is tested for CAE and CL every other year and kept closed except to some of our previous does (and the occasional friend's does) that come back for breeding after they have proof of clean tests, and the occasional new kid that comes from tested, disease free herd and parents.

Our state is a TB and Brucellosis free state so we don't need to test for these and many vets don't even do them.

We do cocci-prevention on every kid and disbud them. They get their 1st dose of CDT the day of disbudding. On day 2 they get Bo-Se shots, as does the dam who also gets wormed that day.
 
 Coccidiosis Clinical symptoms: Diarrhea., anemia, weakness and death have seen in coccidiosis of goat kids, in old animal milk production is reduced with foetid smell, develops.
Preventive care:  Sulphamezathine or sulphadimidine 0.2 gm/kg body weight. Amprosol 20% solution 100 mg/kg body weight 4-5 days
 
 
Our primary focus is on great milk genetics, and that of course does include correctness and sound breed character. They need to be productive, and that means they must hold up well over many years. A correctly attached udder would obviously be needful, not just for show. I say to other breeders, "I am looking for milk genetics, not "show business", meaning when I'm looking to add to my herd once every 3 years or so, I am mostly concerned with adding great genetics for producing milk. My herd is "show business" looking because they are very pretty and yes, very colorful. I love the miniature Nubians for their dazzling colors as well as creamy, sweet, rich milk! When I look out on my herd I enjoy seeing their beauty. They delight my heart, and it's the reason I have done this for 11 years even though it isn't always convenient or easy.
 
I cull ruthlessly every year, because when winter comes I want fewer numbers. This is practical. I want to continue to supply my goats with the very high quality and expensive hay. The only way for me to do this is to have fewer goats than I would really like. Also, I think it's important for me to have the ability to stay on top of vaccinations and feet trimmings, as well as get to know each goat so well that I can tell with a glance or sound what's going on with my herd. When you do this long enough, you can.
 
I love to make soap, and raw milk kefir and cheeses. We drink the raw milk and have for 11 years now. I originally goat my 1st ever Nubian doe because our oldest two children were allergic to cow milk and drank it anyway because they loved it. They had allergies and asthma and were each on oral medications, inhalants and our daughter got weekly allergy shots. Within 3 months of drinking only raw goat milk all symptoms were gone and all medications thrown away. Really.
 
If you are interested in a farm visit or a kid contact me at dailywalkinfarm@yahoo.com
I take cash, money orders and paypal or credit cards on the Square.

Deposits are $50  NON-refundable (because someone changes their mind on a sale and I'm stuck or I lose a sale from another interested party)
I reserve the right to refuse sale of any kid or retain kids needed for our own herd and refund deposit or shift to a non-reserved kid (buyers option).
 
 All shipping costs, including required health certificates and crates shall be paid by the buyer prior to shipment.
 
 




 
 

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