Home Dairying

People ask us all the time why we do it?  Why do we take the time to milk our own animals when milk is basically cheap and you can get it at the store? “You’re right, I say, but there is a lot more to milk and the benefits of milk than just cost and availability”. Don’t get me wrong…Milking and preparing your own dairy products is hard, time consuming work! But…the rewards are endless.

The Story:

When we began showing goats, we started with meat goats primarily and had a few Nubian dairy goats. We didn’t milk them, we just let their babies empty them out until weaning and then we dried them out. After attending the ADGA National Show and talking to many people, I learned that very few goat owners actually consumed what their animals were producing. This kind of shocked me , so I started researching and eventually made the decision to begin home dairying.  I believe that every animal on our property is there to contribute in one way or another…so why are we buying milk when it is standing in the backyard?
In my research and comparisons between cow and goat milk, I discovered the many benefits that raw goat milk has to offer. I was so excited.  I thought, “This is going to be so great”…my family on the other hand was mortified at the thought!  “What did I mean we were going to milk this stuff out of Shelbie and then drink it?!? “  Obviously I had lost my mind! Well, needless to say that was 2 years ago.  Now we not only drink goat’s milk, but we make our own cheese, ice-cream, yogurt, sour cream, lotions, soaps, lip balms and more; all out of this beautiful milk!

The Facts:

There are many benefits to Raw Goat’s Milk and by raw I mean non-pasteurized (filtered but not pasteurized). Being the closest milk in makeup to mother’s milk, it offers the perfect combination for humans and animals alike.  Some of it’s wonderful benefits include:

• Easily digested (better for those with digestion issues)
• A natural immunity booster ( a much better way to naturally boost your body’s own defenses)
• Available to lactose-intolerant people or those who suffer from food allergies, (goat milk has 7 % less lactose in it, and the body can digest this type)
• It has 13% more calcium, 25% more Vit. B6, 47% more Vit. A, 134% more Potassium and 350% more Niacin than cow’s milk (it brings so much more nutrition to the table)
• It is super yummy!

Resources:

For more info on Raw Goat’s Milk, check out these great educational sites: www.FiasCoFarms.com andwww.realmilk.com.  Unfortunately, in Tennessee we cannot sell Raw Farm Goat’s Milk….so we work diligently through education, quality available goats and support to help people get all set up on their own home dairying journey.  If your looking into milking your own animals, give us a call! We love to help get people started. It will be a blessing to your family each and every day! 

A Typical Milking Schedule at Udder Joy Farms:
6:30 am…feed and milk out does
6:30pm…feed and milk out does
Our goal is to keep the milkers on as close to a 12 hour schedule as we can. This helps production and keeps our udders healthy! Average milking time can range anywhere from 5-20 minutes per goat depending on whether you are hand or machine milking and the cooperativeness of your goat!