Best Dairy Breeds
Nubian goats produce milk with 4–5% butterfat — ideal for cheese and butter. Alpine goats are the commercial workhorse: high volume (1–2+ gallons/day), adaptable to any climate, consistent through a long lactation. LaMancha goats have characteristic tiny ears and produce rich milk with a notably calm temperament — excellent for families with children. Nigerian Dwarf goats are the small-property specialist: up to 1 quart/day of extraordinarily rich milk (6–10% butterfat) in a compact, easy-to-handle package.
Housing & Fencing
Goats need a draft-free shelter with at least 15 sq ft per animal inside. Elevated sleeping platforms dramatically improve welfare and foot health — goats strongly prefer to sleep off the ground. Fencing must be goat-proof: use 4-foot high-tensile woven wire with an electric strand at chest height on the inside. A buck must be housed completely separately from does — his odor contaminates milk during rut season.
Milking Routine
Does produce milk only after freshening (kidding). Milk twice daily on a strict 12-hour schedule. Routine: brush the udder, strip 3–4 squirts into a strip cup (inspect for clumps — early mastitis indicators), pre-dip with iodine solution and dry with a clean paper towel, milk out completely, post-dip each teat, filter milk through a dairy filter cloth, and chill immediately to 38°F in stainless or glass containers.
Cheesemaking Basics
Fresh chèvre is the perfect starting point. Heat 1 gallon of fresh goat milk to 86°F, add a direct-set chèvre culture packet, stir gently, cover and let set at room temperature for 12–18 hours. The milk should gel into a soft yogurt-like curd. Ladle into a colander lined with fine cheesecloth, hang to drain for 6–12 hours. Season with herbs, cracked pepper, or lemon zest. Yield: approximately 1–1.5 lbs of fresh cheese per gallon.
Health & Common Issues
Key health protocols: CDT vaccination annually for adults, twice for kids; copper boluses twice yearly (goats have extremely high copper requirements that most feeds don't meet); FAMACHA scoring monthly during parasite season — checking inner eyelid color for anemia from barber pole worm. Internal parasites are the leading cause of death in goats. Hoof trimming every 6–8 weeks prevents hoof rot and lameness.