Goats

Everybody Needs A Couple of Goats

Through the winter I had a hard time storing milk for my coffee. You’d think that it would keep well stored in a snowbank but, no. Milk needs to stay at less than -5°C to stay frozen for the months that we wouldn’t be going to town. Surprisingly on a sunny day, the ambient air is often warmer than that. We learned the hard way.

Milk

I was looking for a solution. Cows produce too much milk and need a LOT of food and water. Goats are smaller and thus more manageable. They are also known to do double-duty clearing underbrush. Goats made a lot of sense. There was one problem though. I didn’t like goats.

Most people think they’re funny and cute. Not me. I think they smell weird. They’re pushy and mischievous. Some aren’t friendly at all. I decided that they made sense - for milk, even though I’m not a fan of goat milk. To be honest I was secretly dreading it. When I found two ‘adorable’ goats for sale, I sent Curt who knows nothing about goats to check them out.

He said ‘they look like goats to me!’ and sent photos of the wrong goats (he’s learning, it’s SO cute). So, when I picked up Dash and Feta I did it hesitantly. Tensely watching them in the rearview mirror as they rode in the back of the truck. I was nervous. They nonchalantly chomped on hay.

Dash

Too snowy to drive all the way up, we parked the truck on the road. We were going to have to walk a couple of kilometres with our new goats. I clipped on their new collars and leashes. They obviously had no idea what we were planning to do, and acted nervous as we offloaded them from the truck.

‘This is going to be a disaster’ I thought.

Away we went, through the deep snow in the woods. Surprisingly, the goats were thrilled! Hopping along in the snow and jumping over fallen trees. Instead of trying to escape, they seemed to see us as their guides. They would try to walk ahead, although they didn’t know where we were going. I was certain I was going to lose my new goats, but they never left.

Feta

These guys were chomping on everything as they walked by. These are farm goats, do they have any idea what they can’t eat? I hoped so. I watched Dash chomp on a leaf and spit it out. Maybe they do..

Now, after having these two for well over a year - I’m convinced. More than convinced, I’ve fully converted. Not only is the milk creamy and delicious in my coffee, but they have wonderful personalities and make great pets. I would go as far as to say, goats before dogs.

Goats Before Dogs

Hear me out. In town we’re allowed to have canine companions, but not goats. My neighbours on both sides had dogs. Almost every house in the neighbourhood had one. They smell, poop, make noise, and occasionally bite people - all things that goats do too! However, a dog’s only real purpose is to give us companionship, which goats are great at as well.

Picture a neighbourhood with dwarf goats instead of dogs. People walking their happy little nannies, like they do their dogs but with one big difference. Goats give you milk. When was the last time your dog gave you anything you can put in the fridge? Fresh milk daily? Yes, please.

Goats will eat your yard. They’re likely to eat everything in their reach, however, they’ll also keep it tidy. If you have a blackberry problem the goats are there to help. Mine chomp away on prickly rose bushes very happily. Dogs burn the grass with their pee, dig for fun, and come with their own laundry list of pesky behaviour.

As I’m writing this, another reason everyone needs a goat presents itself. Dog food is expensive and you really can’t make it yourself. Goats happily eat yard trimmings, kitchen scraps, leaves, etc., saving lots on food. Your little cloven-hoofed companion could be giving you milk, and emptying the green waste bin. On top of that, dog poop goes where? Goat droppings can be made into compost and added to your yard or garden.

Above is a very technical chart comparing the benefits of goats vs dogs. I gave the dog poop a .5 for compostable poop. You CAN put it in the compost, but I wouldn’t.

To summarize, goats have entirely won me over. They’re classified as livestock, which makes them prohibited in most cities and towns. But really, what’s the difference? I know that it’s a bit far-fetched - little cervids living amongst us. But compared to our wolfish friends, is it really THAT ridiculous?