After two years of begging, stomping, and full on fitties, I got my way and we went to the Snake Farm Zoo.
Despite my snake phobia (see previous post), I’m fascinated by snakes and I kinda like scaring the crap out of myself. Since Leah convinced me to buy a homestead and I knew that I would encounter snakes at some point, I talked her into taking me to the Snake Farm Zoo to work on my phobia.
Shortly after setting out on our 45 minute drive it dawned on Leah that we were heading to the exact town where one of the goat dairies she wanted to visit was located. Leah has been wanted to try out goat’s milk because she wants a source of raw milk on our land and cows are NOT an option for us.
After battling a long, mysterious stomach illness that resulting in debilitating pain Leah discovered a raw milk coop and we began making homemade keifer. Her pain lessoned considerably and she started to feel like a functional human being again. It was miraculous. So we knew we’d have to have a source of raw milk on our farm.
Plus, I like cheese and other milk products.
Leah had been going back and forth for weeks. Should we get sheep or goats?
She was in full on research mode and reaching out to goat dairies and sheep farmers all over the great state of Texas. The sheep people thought she was crazy. Apparently no one raises sheep for milk in Texas. The best dairy sheep don’t do well in our hot climate.
We didn’t want goats because they’re goats. They’re destructive, naughty creatures. Or at least that’s what we’d heard from everyone but the goat people.
The goat people loooooooved their goats!
So after our adventures at the Snake Farm Zoo we decided to take a ride over to the goat dairy and buy a gallon of raw goat milk to try out. Plus we wanted to see what the operation looked like and play with all the new baby goats.
The owner, Claudia, offered to give us a tour. She showed us her milking equipment (which we wouldn’t need) and the milking stand (which we would). And she introduced us to her herd of goats – La Manchas and Nubians. The Nubians had cute floppy ears while the La Mancha’s were totally ear less. We were told the La Mancha’s were sweet and had great personalities.
But, no ears…?!
She offered to sell us one of her dairy goats for way more than we were expecting to pay. It was “in milk” which means it’s producing right now. I couldn’t figure out why, out of the 40 or so goats there, she wanted to sell that one goat.
Was it a pain in the ass?
Was it a below average producer?
Did it tinkle in the water dish?
Why, out of all of those goats, did she want to sell that one specific goat?!?
Of course, I didn’t ask so I can’t even tell you what Claudia’s reasoning was or if I thought it was BS or not. But she was one of the ear less goats so I was a little distracted by how weird she looked and of overhearing Leah say to Claudia, “Yeah, Christine will just build one for us…”
Wait, what?
Build what?
I looked over at the milking station and the milking machine. Was Leah crazy? I can’t build a milking machine!
Still confused I heard Claudia say that I could take pictures and measurements if I wanted to and Leah agreeing that I should take a few shots right now. So I pulled out my phone and started snapping pictures when Claudia pointed to the second milking station and the wooden platform the goat was standing on.
Whew!
They were talking about the milking stand. That I can build!
But I wasn’t sold on having these kinds of goats. I wanted something smaller, cuter, and way less smelly. And I knew they could get into lots of trouble so I figure, smaller is better.
And I like ears.
Claudia showed us all the new babies next and let me hold them. At only 4 days old they were so tiny and soft. They fell asleep in my arms and drooled all over my nice shirt. I didn’t mind because they were so @#@$ cute!
We got our gallon of goats milk and thanked Claudia a million times for showing us around. Everyone was tired, goat-stinky, and ready to head home for the evening.
Later Leah tried the milk and announced that it did in fact taste “just like cow’s milk” which made her happy.
Maybe we’d be getting goats after all.
Note: If male goats and female goats are kept together or in close proximity the milk will get tainted with the male goat hormones and taste “musky.” The pasteurization process will also change the taste of the goat’s milk. If you want a cow’s milk alternative that tastes the same, get raw goats milk from female goats that are kept far away from the males.