As a wife, mother and now grandmother I've worn many hats in my life time - inside the home and outside as well. I've worked as a staff account and bookkeeper for accounting firms and filled various volunteer positions over the years but nothing has made me as happy as listing "Goat Herder" as my occupation. I love living my dreams - homesteading and country living - and being a goat herder is just one more dream come true.
We began raising goats in 1998 and decided we would raise our goats as naturally as possible, using medicine only when absolutely necessary. We rotate pastures for parasite control along with using DE and have fecals done throughout the year to verify success of this method. Our goats have non-medicated, no hormone feed and a high protein hay that is as close to organic as we can find - no herbicides are used on the hay. Free choice hay, goat minerals and baking soda are available to the goats at all times. We keep a closed herd to reduce risk of contagious diseases.
It's hard to say "we own goats" - we feel our goats are part of our family and deserve the best care and all the love we can give them. In return they give back to us so much - love, laughter and the sweetest and best tasting milk ever! We drink it, use it in cooking and baking, make cheese and soap with it. Any extra (what extra!?), is fed to the dogs or chickens in true homesteading fashion. We use the California Mastitis Test on lactating does regularly.
We've chosen not to show our goats for several reasons. We did show the first year or two but found showing involved more time and commitment to travel than we wanted to invest. It's hard to milk year round and be present at shows regularly. We keep milk records on the goats I've milked to verify their capacity and productivity.
I've worn many hats in my life time - inside the home and outside as well. I've worked as a staff account and bookkeeper for accounting firms and filled various volunteer positions over the years but nothing has made me as happy as listing "Goat Herder" as my occupation. I love living my dreams - homesteading and country living - and being a goat herder is just one more dream come true.