#micro-dairy

We've hatched a plan. I think this is due to the fact that we're sitting here twiddling our thumbs waiting for our latest big project to be completed- the duck barn. We've had a really hard time finding someone to do the water work portion of our duck upgrade. Finally we got a written quote that was sort of inline with our budget, and the work is scheduled to begin next week. Yes! A line will be tapped off our existing well head, trenched 6 feet down heading over towards the duck barn. A frost free hydrant will be installed in the yard, and also IN THE DUCK BARN! The quote was around $2500, and we had budgeted $1000. This is not the type of project we could attempt ourselves, and it is much much cheaper than drilling a new well for the duck barn, so we just had to accept the cost. We did save $1000 on the amount we expected to pay for our recent used car purchase, so....

Anyhow- our new plan. After the duck barn, after several years have gone by, we are planning to construct a really real goat dairy. A Micro-dairy! And make really real goat cheese from our herd. There are a gazillion complications and steps before this can ever happen, but it's our plan. Let the dreams and planning begin.

When I milk, I keep my journal with me in the milking shed, so I can write down thoughts that come as I wait for certain goats to finish up their snacks. Sitting in the milk shed occupies at least two hours of my day, giving me plenty of thinking time. I frequently ponder goat genetics, since the reality of my herd-who is giving what and how each goat is doing overall is right in my face during these two hours a day. Since the beginning of my goat keeping adventures, I have resisted the typical chemical treatments used by most goat keepers. I have been striving to keep only the best, most hardy genetics using a combination of good TLC but also Survival of the Fittest. Some goats have to go on to a new home or have become part of the food chain.

We currently have 10 goats, down from 13, since we just culled three yearlings. There are 5 (what I would call) stellar does in the herd. They each have faults of their own, as do you and I, but these are the girls who I HOPE will have doelings next spring. In my goat geneticist role, I want to be building up a bank of the best moms to produce our own dairy herd when the time comes.

Goats are a one year circle- meaning they are having their own baby when they are one year old. It wouldn't take long to build a great herd from the best of our best goats. In fact it looks like it'd take 3 years to build a herd of 20 milking goats from my 5 stellar does. Goats seem to be on a 50% yearly increase. Averages are half and half girl/boys, and twins are the norm.

2013: 5 does give birth to 10 kids=15. - 5 for bucklings = 10 does (5 milking)

2014: 10 does give birth to 20 kids= 30. - 10 for bucklings= 20 does (10 milking)

2015: 20 does give birth to 40 kids= 60. - 20 for bucklings= 40 does (20 milking)

But that is getting ahead of myself and our plans. We don't need that many milkers yet. As soon as we do, I'm all over it. And of course there are so many variables out of our control. We could potentially have a year with alot more boy kids born, or lots of single births, or tragedy striking, or, or, or...

Meanwhile my "best 5" goats will also be under scrutiny. It's not just about keeping the highest milk producers, it's not about pedigrees or looks. Our foundation herd will be continually selected for being: the most hardy without chemicals, the least trouble making, best at converting grass (vs the grain junkies who only give alot of milk when they eat alot of grain,) most naturally healthy, a good momma, and an easy kidder. As I wait for the go ahead, I'll keep paring down the herd to the very best of the very best.