The money saving benefits of having goats

The easy-to-handle size, excellent foraging ability and nutritious milk of goats make them ideal dairy animals for a family or small farm. Here are some of the benefits you will get from keeping goats.

• Goats produce a moderate amount — three to four litres (one gallon) per day — of milk that is fully comparable, if not better, in flavour and nutrients to cow's milk.
• It is easier to digest because it is naturally homogenized (the fat particles are so small they do not separate from the rest of the milk).
• It is less likely to provoke an allergic reaction in comparison to cow's milk.

The best bet to buying the right goat is buy an adult female already producing milk and has a good production record. If you are buying a young female (goatling), then look at the productivity of its mother and sisters which will be a good indicator.

Appearance is another factor in choosing a goat.  Here is what to look for:

• A large well-rounded udder with smooth elastic skin and no lumps.
• A straight back and broad rib cage, which shows the doe can consume large quantities of feed for conversion into milk.
• A long trim body, which indicates the doe will convert most of its feed into milk, not body fat.
• Bright eyes and a sleek coat are good signs of health.

Before you buy a milking doe, make sure you know how to milk it correctly. If you fail to empty the udder completely at each milking, the production of milk will slacken and can even stop completely.

Compared with cows, goats are relatively inexpensive to keep and their shelter and space requirements are easy to satisfy. It's a great way to save money on cow's milk.