Meet our girls! Our dairy herd is comprised of Anglo Nubian and a few Anglo Nubian/Nigerian Dwarf crosses. We currently have 5 bucks, 2 wethers, and 27 does. Besides being ridiculously adorable, we chose them for their milk properties, a rich butterfat content which creates a creamy bar of soap. Our bucks are chosen for their friendly nature and their genetics. Did you know that milking genes are passed onto kids through their father? The boys spend their days relaxing and eating until it is their time to work in January-February and again in September. The does kid just before winter, when rich grassy feed is plentiful. The does have a huge barn and kidding stalls for safety, warmth and comfort. We rotate breeding the does yearly to ensure each doe is able to dry off and have her time just being a goat. Does are retired when they are 8 years old or if they have a difficult pregnancy. Then they serve the herd as matriarchs, supporting kid rearing and keeping a balanced herd.
Is dairy farming cruel? Not for our herd. We employ what we call "Kind Farming Practices." When a doe goes into labour, we put her in a kidding stall, laden with soft bedding and her own food and water. We are on standby in the barn for assistance if needed. Does are not left alone when kidding. If a doe wants comfort, we will sit in the stall with her, no matter the time of day or night. After she gives birth, we do a full check on each kid and clip and treat their umbilical cord to prevent joint ill. We help Mum get the kids warm and dry and wait until she passes the after birth. Then we let them bond in quiet warmth. We allow full mother-kid bonding for 48 hours to ensure kids are securely bonded to their mum. If Mum rejects a kid or the kid starts to falter, we intervene. But otherwise, they stay in their stall with Mum. After 2 days, we introduce the kids to other kids in the herd and begin milk "sharing." Our does can produce a volume of milk surplus to the nutritional requirements of her kids. It is only if there is surplus, do we use the milk. And if a first-time mum has a struggle producing enough, we will use milk from other does to supplement. All kids spend the days with their mum in the herd, but are bottle fed to ensure each kid receives their optimal milk allowance (crucial in twins and triplet births). Mums watch over their kids spending the day together in the barn and venture out into the paddocks as Mums allow. At night the kids are sorted into their play groups and sleep with their play group in a safe and secure warm stall. In the morning, Mums are milked and kids bottle fed. The remainder of the day is spent frolicking as a herd. This allows Mums to teach the kids appropriate herd behaviours.
