Being a moderate size, having excellent foraging capabilities, and producing around 3 to 4 quarts of milk per day, goats make great dairy animals for a family or small farm. Their milk is closely comparable to cow’s milk and is superior in some ways. Goat milk is naturally homogenized (the fat particles are so small that they don’t separate from the milk) making it easier to digest, and is less likely to provoke allergies. It is best to purchase a goat that is already producing milk rather than a young goat that may be difficult to raise for beginners. Look for a goat with a large well-rounded udder with smooth elastic skin and no lumps; a straight back and broad rib cage, which shows that the doe can consume large amounts of food to produce more milk; and a long trim body, which indicates that the doe will convert most of the food to milk and not fat. Bright eyes and a sleek coat are good indicators of good health. Make sure it has been tested for brucellosis and tuberculosis.
Feeding
Good quality grazing will provide most of the nutritional needs of does not currently producing milk. A goat’s pasture should include a variety of leaves, branches, weeds, and tough grasses; legumes are also needed. Goats won’t eat hay off the ground so it must be placed in a rack. A doe producing milk will need additional protein from a mixed-grain supplement. An average of 2 to 4 pounds of grain are to be fed daily. A combination of corn, oats, and wheat bran with some soybean oil meal or cottonseed oil meal is the most common. Molasses is frequently added for extra moisture, sweetness, and vitamins. Be sure not to overfeed them with grain as this can hinder their digestion and even cause bloat; which can be fatal. An efficient way to prevent overeating is to provide the grain after they have eaten plenty of grass or hay. Note that a goat’s stomach can be disturbed by changes in diet, so feed them at the same time each day and make any dietary changes gradually. Provide fresh water and change it twice a day when you feed grain.
Housing
Shelter for 1 or 2 milking does can be fairly simple, but their sleeping quarters should be draft free and well bedded. Goats are unbothered by cold weather, but they cannot withstand drafts on their skin. Overheating is also a concern. Provide access from the barn to a fenced-in outdoor area to allow browsing and exercise. The fence should be at least 4 feet high. Tethering is also and option but should be kept as a last resort. It would be beneficial to provide an object or structure for the goats to climb on.