OK...so I already gave away the secret...it's Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats.
Nigerians produce the most wonderful and nutritious milk and our families are big consumers. Goat milk is extremely nutritious and very digestible. Individuals who cannot drink cow's milk can often drink goat's milk without digestive difficulties. While many people have an idea that goat's milk tastes "goaty"...we can assure you that our milk is absolutely delicious with no hint of "goatiness". We maintain strict standards for milk processing, goat nutrition and housing.
We are constantly impressed with the performance of these little dairy goats..not only are they beautiful, easy to handle and totally entertaining...they can put the milk in the pail...and milk that is high in butterfat which makes for great cheese! Our milk, and therefore our cheese, experiences subtle changes throughout the seasons because it is based on the natural environment of our farm. Different weeds, grasses, wildflowers all make up the daily diet of our goats and all are seasonal. We think that adds to the quality and uniqueness of our cheeses. Our milk is truly a product of the land.
We know the quality of the milk on the table begins with the quality of nutrition we provide to the goats. Our herd is managed organically....with their utmost health and well being foremost in everything we do. In the summer they graze on pasture filled with grasses and wildflowers. They are also provided with a top quality mix of oats and other grains, supplemented with black oil sunflower seeds, beet pulp and alfalfa pellets. In addition, they have clean loose minerals, sea kelp and baking soda available to them at all times along with fresh clear water from our deep artesian well. While we do not have forest readily available for them to browse, we do provide them with fresh cut willow in the summer along with other garden, tree and brush trimmings, vegetables from the garden and free weeds which they love!!!
In the winter, when snow covers the pasture, they have the most beautiful, second cut, mixed grass hay available. In the winter, we are able to provide them with occasional fresh cut greens and always a Christimas tree or two which never lasts very long.....and every morning and afternoon they get their "hot tea", fresh warm water with a little natural Vermont, apple cider vinegar. They particularly enjoy it when the temperatures sink below zero..which is fairly often here in the north country.
Milking time is a pleasant time and they all line up for their turn on the stand. We monitor udder health very closely and each doe is thoroughly cleaned and examined twice a day, each time they are milked. This, along with our monthly DHIA milk test, is key to anticipating potential issues and preventing problems. They are entertained with music throughout milking time with everything from classical to classic rock and country. (They've expressed mixed opinions as to which is their favorite.)
We love our milk and use it to make cheese, butter, yogurt, kefir, ice cream, fudge and soap some of which will be available directly from our farm store and through our "virtual farm store" here on our website. As of February 2011, our farm store will be open seven days a week from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Our customers love to visit our goats and know many of them by name.They tell us the milk is great because the goats are healthy and happy. We know that is important..but while we would like to take full credit.. it is mostly great because of the breed.
AGS-Lifetime member (American Goat Society), ADGA (American Dairy Goat Association), VTDHIA (Vermont Dairy Herd Improvement Association) American Cheese Society All website content is the sole property of Sharon Peck, unless stated otherwise, and is not to be copied/duplicated in any form without express permission from Sharon Peck.
