We have raised Toggenburg Dairy Goats for over twenty years. Like many families, a milk allergy in one of our children led us to search for an alternative to pasteurized cows' milk. We found a source for goat milk at a ranch out in the country, but the taste was so bad that no one wanted to drink it! After much research, we learned that "taste" in both cow and goat milk had more to do with handling practices (sanitary milking procedures and then quickly chilling the milk and keeping it COLD!) and butterfat levels than the particular species or individual animal. Thus, we decided that the only way we would be able to have sweet, good-tasting milk for our family would be to milk our own carefully selected goats!
Although we have bred and milked almost every breed of dairy goat, the Toggenburg breed is the one we have stayed with over the years. We love their friendly, docile personality, their good production, their generally good health, and their "easy-keeping" qualities. Being on the smaller side, they do not eat as much as goats of the larger breeds, or need as much space, yet they give as much milk as the larger breeds (our girls give one to one and a half gallons each day).
Let us know if we can answer any questions about our Toggenburgs (or any other breeds), or about milking and raising goats in general! If you come to the farm we usually have a few four-legged kids waiting to be played with or a goat to try out your hand milking on :)
And, our farm field trips not only teach students about the various aspects of dairy goats, but also offer milking and bottle-feeding hands-on opportunities!!
Since we try to keep our herd at a reasonable size, Toggenburg young stock and an occasional milker are often available - just call or email if you would like more information!
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