Reader’s Question: More about goats
I really enjoy your column and this immediate gratfication blog! Can you talk more about your goats. Do you have a buck? I have one and need to separate him from the does, but don’t know how far away to prevent him from getting their milk stinky. Also, how do you milk? And how often? I figure you built a milk stand for “the girls” but I’d like to see how you did it. So many of the stand plans I have seen are for dehorned goats- I have left the horns on mine so they have half a chance against predators. Will you eventually allow yours to graze your land? Is that why you have the donkeys - as goat guardians?? My plan is to make some cheese for home use - which from your past columns I should be able to can - and to use some of the milk to continue making my goat milk soap. Any suggestions would be really appreciated! One other question, I have heard goats will not cross water - I find that hard to beleive but have never tested it myself for fear of losing a goat. Any thoughts or experience on that topic??? Thanks a million!
Lyn Ankelman
Thorsby, AL
I’ll try to answer your questions. Yes, I have a buck. Actually three, counting two of his buck kids from last year, which I have for sale. My bucks are all Boer crosses from good producing does. I love Nubians with their floppy ears and bright surprising colors, but they tend to be “racehorse” built so I’m putting more body on them and it’s working. I still get the milk but have a stronger body. Mine are all disbudded.
I keep my bucks across the aisle from the does when they’re stinky (breeding season). When the does are bred, I often let the buck run with them and haven’t had any problem with buck smell in the milk. Bedding with shavings helps absorb the urine, which does smell bucky. You don’t want your doe laying in that with her udder! Of course, you always wash and rinse her udder before you milk and milk a couple of squirts out. This removes any odors from manure or urine and also any bacteria wedged in the ends of her teats.
Yes, I will be putting them on the pasture. A fenced pasture. And the donkeys will be run with them, both for possible protection and just because they’ll like it. I already put one doe in with them and worried about them “playing” too hard with her. But she ruled the roost, kicking them out of their feed pan!
But even without the donkeys, I’ve never lost a dehorned goat to a predator. In fact once my old brown doe chased a coyote all across our three acre goat pasture. And she had been dehorned. The only time I’ve known goats to be harmed by predators, it was when they were chained up and couldn’t defend themselves or when a pack of neighborhood dogs tore into a friends kid pasture. We’ve lived with coyotes, wolves, cougars and eagles and haven’t lost one yet or had one injured. BUT we DO bring them in each and every night. I think that is the key. Night belongs to the predators; leave tasty meals out and you may loose it.
I milk by hand, twice a day. My current stand came from the dump! It’s basically a short table with two upright 2″x4″ posts with a 1″x4″ across on each side of the top, making a slot. Another 2″x4″ upright pivots from a bolt drilled through the bottom two 1″x4″s, letting it slide to the side, making a big V. When the doe hops onto the stand she dives her head through the V to get the feed in a pan on the other side. I slip the V closed on her neck and slide a bolt through the holes that line up on top, pinnng the V closed comfortably. This will work for a horned doe. She quickly learns to tilt her head to snake her horns through the V. You can always make the V wider, if necessary.
I’ve never saw the goat that would willingly cross water, as in swimming or wading a creek or pond. Horses and cattle, yes. Goats, no. In fact, when it rains, they come yelling and running for their shed. They don’t like water. Mine will take a huge running jump to get through a big, shallow puddle while I have them out for a walk. But they do not like it one bit.
It’s tough, having horns on goats. They can’t be fenced with the handiest fencing, stock panels, because they can get their heads through the fence (don’t ask me how!), but can’t get back out and can strangle. They can also strangle on their own collars, their pasture mates’ collars, break their own kids’ legs (by getting them in the narrow V where they meet), poke you in the face accidently, or mash your fingers when you try to lead them (on purpose!). I’ve had goats for 45 years and am totally in favor of disbudding all kids soon after birth. I hate it but they forgive you in five minutes and it’s done for life.
I suppose if I was running a herd of 500 goats out in the brush country of south Texas or in the mountains of Montana, I’d probally leave the horns on. But I don’t. My goats are in pens and handled every day. I like to make it a pleasant experience for all of us, including our goats. — Jackie
