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It may seem a little unusual to find goats on an equine website but to me these 2 species co-exist extremely well together.
The horse and goat both share a highly developed sense of self. The goat like the horse is inquisitive, quick thinking, highly social making them very trainable.
It doesn’t stop there though.
Goats will also complement the horse when it comes to grazing eating plants that the horse finds unpalatable.
Most of us have seen dock, ragwort and/or blackberry infested pasture that through over stocking of horses and poor management has become ‘horse sick’
This would be a paradise for a goat. A small group would tidy up such an area in no time.
Because goats are naturally social animals they can also provide companionship for a horse that does not have the luxury of another equine friend.
If you like horses chances are you would appreciate the delightful nature of a goat as well.
Dairy goats of course have the added potential of providing fresh, wholesome, delicious tasting milk each day.
Surplus milk can be easily made into yoghurt, cream cheese, ice cream or a really nice hand cream.
The creamy texture comes from the milk being naturally homogenised. Goat’s milk is easier to digest than cows milk making it a health option for babies with eczema and allergies.
Goat’s milk should always taste good. If the milk has an off flavour there is something wrong with the goat.
She may have a worm burden,
Copper/cobalt deficiency
Access to strong tasting plants
Or mastitis.
Most of these conditions can be rectified very easily.
Another factor that can cause problems with milk quality is hygiene.
Goats milk is a very delicate product and once the doe has been milked, needs to be strained into a scrupulously clean containers, preferably a glass bottle with an airtight lid and
A healthy, well feed dairy goat produces sweet tasting milk and plenty of it. The goat often referred to as the poor mans cow is actually for her body size a more productive animal than a cow. Able to convert a far greater selection of plant matter in to milk.
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