Jan 29 2009
Poor Man’s Cow
Goats were probably domesticated in Persia in about 3000 B.C., making them one of the oldest domesticated species, long before cows. It’s kind of a shame that the label of “poor man’s cow” has been slapped upon such a versatile animal, making it seem less desirable than a bovine. Goats have many advantages over cows for a vest pocket farmer; they are smaller than a cow, and don’t have the high quality grazing needs of a cow, yet produce not only marvelous milk , but in quantities that a single person or small family can use before it spoils—particularly in the heat if you have no refrigeration. Historically, goat tending has been relegated to children which has multiple benefits; gives the little blighters something useful to do which they can excel at, teaches them an early appreciation of animals, and keeps the goats moving to fresh pastures without having to be penned. Besides…in my experience, there’s a reason that baby goats are called “kids” and it seems quite logical to send all the kids out together.
An average well-cared for full sized goat will give about a gallon of milk a day…day…after day…after day…. Seriously, how much milk do you go through? How about if you count all the yogurt and soft cheeses you use in, say, a week? Choice of breed is an important factor here; an average Kinder goat will give you about three quarts, while a Saanen could bury you in two gallons of milk a day. That translates to ten gallons of milk a week. I suppose that would be all right for a large family, or if you’re raising pigs, but honestly if that quantity of milk sounds overwhelming what on earth would you do with five gallons or more of cow milk every day? I
n addition to the fact that you’d have to have properly planted acreage for her to graze, and housing and transportation to fit her. I’ve moved a Kinder buck and his two does in the back of a Subaru station wagon, with the back seat folded down, to and from brushing jobs commonly. Try that with a cow!
While keeping a cow may seem like a romantic, appropriate self reliance choice that might not actually be the case. There’s a reason that more people in the world drink goat milk than cow milk!
