Sovereignty Module: Keep the Herd

Complete Goat Keeping: From Kid to Milk to Cheese

Goats are the most versatile small livestock, providing milk, meat, fiber, and land clearing. This campaign covers breeds, housing, feeding, milking, breeding, and health management.

Chapter 1: Breed Selection

Chapter 2: Housing and Fencing

Fencing principles: 1) Goats test every fence constantly (they are escape artists). 2) Woven wire (not welded wire) is strongest. 3) No climb horse fence (2x4 inch mesh) is ideal. 4) Electric fence: hot wire at nose height (inside) deters pushing. 5) Hot wire at bottom prevents digging/crawling under. 6) Posts every 8-10 feet (closer on corners). 7) Corner posts must be very strong (braced). 8) Check fence daily (goats find weaknesses immediately).

Chapter 3: Feeding

Chapter 4: Milking

Milking procedure: 1) Wash udder with warm water and clean cloth. 2) Strip first few squirts into separate container (check for abnormalities). 3) Milk into clean, sanitized stainless steel pail. 4) Wrap thumb and forefinger around base of teat (trap milk). 5) Squeeze remaining fingers in sequence (push milk out). 6) Do not pull teat downward (causes injury). 7) Alternate teats rhythmically. 8) Milk until udder feels empty and soft. 9) Apply teat dip after milking (prevents mastitis). 10) Strain milk through filter into clean jar. 11) Chill immediately in ice water bath. 12) Goat milk is naturally homogenized (cream does not separate easily).

Chapter 5: Breeding and Kidding

Reference Card

1. Goats are browsers, not grazers (goats prefer shrubs, weeds, and tree leaves over grass; they are nature's brush clearers). 2. Never keep a single goat (goats are herd animals and become stressed, noisy, and destructive when kept alone; minimum two goats). 3. Goats need copper (unlike sheep, goats require copper in their mineral supplement; sheep mineral without copper will cause deficiency). 4. Fence for Houdini (goats are the greatest escape artists in the animal kingdom; build fences assuming they will test every weakness). 5. Consistency in milking (milk at the same times every day; irregular milking reduces production and increases mastitis risk). 6. Chill milk immediately (goat milk flavor depends on rapid cooling; milk that cools slowly develops a goaty taste). 7. Rotate pastures for parasites (internal parasites are the number one health problem in goats; rotating pastures breaks the parasite lifecycle). 8. Start with two does (two dairy does provide enough milk for a family plus cheese making; add a buck only when you are ready to breed).