Anything about goats, how much milk they make aday, food they need,legal requirements to sell milk to friends?

Question

We might be able to get a goat. how much milk does a goat make a day? Can you sell it to friends (I'm in California)? What does a goat need to eat and how much? How much space and attention does the goat need? How about keeping the milk clean? Is it easy to transport the goat to other people when we go on vacation? Does it get attached to people ,places or is it a loner?How long does it produce milk? how long is pregnancy of goat? Don't the little goats need the milk of the mom or is the milk produaction by demand? How is milk production of goats different to humans?

Answer 1

It depends on the goat you get. Boers, pygmies, kikos, fainting goats, and I forget the name for the goat that is hairy. They are not good milkers.

Dairy goats are nubians, alpines, lamanchas, saanens, etc...

The smallest is the nigerian dwarf who is like a pygmy, but is truley a milk goats. Better for smaller demands.

You can sell milk and you can pastuerize it, most people prefer it, but if it is sold between friends and you KNOW what the goat eats and everything and is proven a healthy milker (a vet can best tell you that) then no one should have a problem with it.

Alfalfa is what they need. It is the best feed for them. You can give it to them free choice which is you pile it in and they eat all and when they want. That's the best.

You must vaccinate them. And the kids when they come. You need to do research before you get any goats. The website listed below is a good one.

They can produce milk as long as you want, but you should let them dry up before their next kidding to give them a break. They must be milked 2 times a day at the same times everyday.

If you have a single goat then transporting it while on vacation should be fine, but they don't normally take to being moved all the time, it stresses them. They very much get attached to people and place and are very much like a dog, but they are livestock and must be treated as such. I mean they are like a dog in their personalities. They are a herd animal. You'll need at least 2. Bucks are not for beginners. Just look at the sites I added.

Pregnancy lasts for 5 months and 2 weeks.

The kids will need momma's milk unless you get milk replacers. The mother will only give as much as the kids need unless you milk her everyday and keep the kids on bottles, meaning you regulate the kids' feed.

The sites will tell you more. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I'm not sure about the milk part of it but my mums goats eat the same as the horses. Sugar beet, chop, bran, coarse mix and plenty of mixed fruit and veg thrown in for good measure (ask your local green grocer for the old stuff) and a nice green field.

My mums goats are very friendly, they bleat at you to get your attention, enjoy playing with you and each other so i don't think they would like it on their own and really enjoy being brushed and stroked.

You can transport goats in mini horse trailers you just have to get them used to it before you transport them any distance.

Answer 3

Way too many questions! Goats feed is more expensive than you will want to pay.
They are not friendly with people.
Goat milk sold to the public carries health responcibilities, and yes the babies need Momma's milk.
You will also find it hard to pawn it off on anyone to care for.
I'd say forget it.............