Cost (and benefits) of raising dairy goats: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mbt6grF8vrTJmJc.html

To the best of my memory, we only retired 2 animals to live out their last years on the farm. My mother's last horse lived to the ripe old age of 32, was well loved and had served the family well. And my husband's 1st cow, he got as a boy. When we stopped breeding her, he couldn't bring himself to sell her and she served as a baby sitter cow (it wasn't unusual to see her out in the pasture surrounded by a dozen calves while the calves mothers were out grazing). She was struck by lightning and died where she stood. Sentimentality is allowed, but most farmers can't afford that luxury.

WOW! You held my attention that whole video! You are very well spoken. You say what is the truth that others don't know how to. I recently found your farm channel, and I'm really enjoying watching.

this is really how I view our livestock too. Thanks for sharing! my son and I were actually just crunching numbers tonight :) our layers are certainly paying their keep. But the couple OLD bantams my daughters have kept as pets will be a one time deal. I dont think we are going to be keeping animals like that in the future.

You know Heather it's really no one's business you say whether you keep a goat are not are what you buy I just like your videos and yes it is sad but life is so here is what I live for our King is coming back soon his name is Jesus Northern California that's what we all need to live for God bless thank you for your videos😅

Our plan was farm as long as we could and let the kids take over.

Excellent presentation on a difficult subject! We have to be able to "pencil things out". One of my dad's favorite sayings on making ends meet. It is never easy to make the decision to let an animal go, but to try keeping them all (or even too many) puts you in the position to ultimately lose everything. I cry over giving up plenty of my animals, but have to trust I'm doing what's best for all the rest. God bless.

Love your video’s! I always learn so much and I really appreciate your honesty! These are not easy choices for farmers to make! You can tell how attached you are to all of your animals. You are really correct when you explain all the costs in keeping animals that are taking funds away that could impact your ability to maintain a healthy herd. I’m so very impressed with your farming!

You could say? Bearly is homeschooling you and your viewers on goat midwife abilities 😊

Something that helps my kids for smaller animals that pass on the homestead is we creamate them. Some native tribes believe it releases the soul and that helps my kids be ok with them going over the rainbow bridge.

I like the idea of selling them older with a few productive years left. Two of my girls I bought that way, they are known for throwing triplets and are good milkers. It wasnt a bad buy for us and it was a good move for the seller. We will likely breed them for a few years then retire them in one of the ways you mentioned.

We've been trying to explain this exact thing to my mother-in-law. She feels responsible for every one of her animals, including the 'handicapped' ones. She hasn't done the math to see how much its costing her just to feed them all. And since you can't neuter a bird.... Or a hundred birds.... Or more.... They just keep multiplying. Then you have too many in the space, overcrowded, and dirty. Things can get out of hand and overwhelming if people don't stop and consider the cost. You did well explaining all of that. Great job!

Hi Heather! When I was growing up on a horse farm, we almost exclusively had "freeloaders" who only provided manure for the garden and entertainment for us. However, my home farm and garden now has several animals that are not as much freeloaders as producers. We had not fully thought out our "animal retirement" plan, but that is because the few animals we currently have are either pets or they are young enough for us to have the luxury of perceived time. For example, our hens are only a year old. Because of their youth and their good health, we will likely have several years of them laying eggs and "chickening" on our property. It is a planned obsolescence, and we are hatching fertilized eggs from another farm to add a couple hens to the flock each year so we always have eggs. (Roosters are forbidden by our county, so they will be kept long enough for them to grow out enough for "one bad day for them".) I believe the choice of what anyone does with their livestock/production animals should be based 100% on their situation. Because I treat my hens as my pets, I do not think I would be able to process them for the freezer once they stop laying eggs. However, I do not KNOW because we aren't there yet. If my honey and I had a bad set of hunting seasons and the hens stopped laying eggs, then that "freezer camp" or "canned chicken" option could cross our table... Keeping a business mindset is what keeps us from throwing all of our time and money at forever pets and living where we can barely keep the ceiling off the floor.

Well reasoned. I have a hard line in my head, pets are pets and livestock is well....livestock. If I go into raising an animal with the knowledge it has a purpose then that's just the way it is. My pets? Well that is a very different story. I once raised a goose for a friend, he showed up the week before Thanksgiving to pick it up to butcher it and I flipped. He didn't tell me he intended to consume said goose and well I loved on it and it was my pet. So I purchased him a fresh goose for his dinner and the goose lived out its life with us. We always had a couple pets but it was thought through. You can't keep them all and if they give back through sale or slaughter so be it.

Our plan is pretty similar to yours. If an animal is productive for many years, well into their old age, they earn the right to live out their last days in retirement, in the comfort of their own herd. We are facing this now with two of the original ewes we started our sheep flock with. Those old girls have given so much to us and the farm that I wouldn't feel right doing anything else with them. Others we will most definitely cull for meat. It just depends on the animal and our situation at the time.

Here on the Homestead I have always relied on Livestock Guardian Dogs. They give many years of faithful service. Over 30 years 3 sibling sets. I find that much easier to keep critters safe. All have died here on the farm. Last 1 was 12 years old died in front of the rabbit cages. I just got 2 more. They need to be trained and will die here as well. Chickens are used for tick eating abilities and even after egg laying days are finished they continue to do their work. Rabbits are utilized for their manure and meat. Those continue for many years. Goats can get out of hand quickly for me. I had over 30 at one time. You must be able to cull aggressively to keep your best and sell the rest. Everyone must make the best decision for their Homestead and resources.

Thank you for being a conscientious farm owner and understanding the true cost of having livestock.I appreciate and empathize with your reasoning. I am glad you don't feel necessarily the need to explain or justify your decisions or actions. I think too many people get lost in the romance of farming and can't seem to rectify that is not a realistic point of view when you are dealing with life and death decisions, especially if you are literally living on the edge of collapse trying to get your feet under you. Great job and I wish you many blessed years ahead.

Wonderful video, truly appreciate you laying out your perspective and thoughts on raising animals! I think it can get tough because people can get attached, but if you truly think it through and realize the purpose of the farm animals versus a pet and what a farm may or may not be capable of - then you have to go with options that suit that farm the best. I watched the other video you posted already for cost/benefits of raising dairy goats and thought it was awesome too. Lots of great REAL information that people can use to help make decisions. I don't have a farm right now, but that is a dream for the (hopefully) near future. I would love a few goats (small herd) so I just try to watch and absorb as much info as possible.

You seem to have it figured out with numbers and production, so as long as it makes sense to you, that’s all it matters. ❤

We haven't had to retire anybody yet, but I totally agree. We plan on either processing them or moving them on to a pet farm. Our area actually seems to support far more pet farms than meat options. We definitely don't plan on keeping anyone when they are no longer producing. I think so much of responsible farming is being willing to make the hard choices. Like when to cull sick animals instead of just letting them suffer (I'm thinking sick chickens - and we even had to dispatch a goat that couldn't stand).

I understood what you was talking about when she delivered. You said you thought😅 20:57 her cause you know her history. Everyone on the farm has a purpose. I was raised that if it’s an animal on the farm we could eat it if we were hungry.

We are the same way on our homestead. Everything has a purpose and if they can't serve that purpose they just can't stay. We will have our first retired goat I told you about after this kidding season. She'll be 9 years old. She came to us almost 3 years ago and she was one of our foundation does when we first started out. So she will be our only "pet" goat. We also have an older Olde English Bulldogge who is also our only house pet. Our pyrenees is a working dog and all our rabbits are breeders or grow outs. Even the rabbits we are attached to would be used for meat if they can't produce. It's just a way of life. The animals are loved very much and their lives are very much respected and valued and they also provide for my little family. It sounds harsh but we can't afford to just have a bunch of mouths to feed if they serve no other purpose.

Agree! 100% When it comes to our animals, we always keep in mind what we paid for them. We don't put too much extra money into them except for annual things life feed, deworming, medicating on occasion. We have put two does to freezer camp for NOT being able to be bred. We bought them for milk and if they can't provide that, then they become meat. The most expensive meat we ever ate was a beautiful doe who we paid $600 for but she was polycystic and couldn't get pregnant. The other was one of the first does we purchased. Our rule: Never exceed the value of the animal in veterinary care.

Very practical and informative. Thank you!

I was just thinking the other day. I dont know that I could butcher my laying hens bc of the attachment that has been formed, but they definitely wouldn't be able to stay, so I would probably send them to a butcher to have it done for me.

We have always made our plan for the animals on our homestead to be either to butcher for meat or sale. I’m thankful that I always have people who buy the ones we don’t butcher. It’s always a hard decision to make. I understand how you feel, but like you said you have to weigh all the prospects. When it takes away from what you are doing then that decision is made. Life on a farm. I love all my girls and it’s very hard at times to do what has to be done. But we do it.

Interesting that you bring up this subject. I agree with you, if the animal is not productive for the farm, they need to go. I have an old doe who has always been a good mother and raised her kids well. Never had to worry about her. However, this year she suffered an injury to her udder 2 weeks before she kidded. She still raised them, but I am not sure that they did as well as her past kids. I am seriously considering moving her on. She is not a friendly goat so selling her as a pet is not really an option for her. So I have 2 options left. I can either sell her to someone who needs a goat to control brush, or send her to market. Selling her for brush control means they would have to have at least one other goat. I have sold goats as pets before, if they have a personality for it.

Our herd is all 1-2 year olds and this is our first kidding season. I think when we get there I would probably only keep one of my does for her retirement. She was my first goat and we bottle raised her and just love her so much. We have one that is already more then likely being culled from the herd due to fish teats and we’ve only had her 4 months. I was unaware that was even a thing and the previous owner knew about it and didn’t tell us even though they knew our plan to breed and milk her.

I have a handful of does that will stay here for the entirety of their life. They are my first registered goats and are as much pets as they are production animals. Everyone else my plan for herd management is to sell them at 5-7 years old while they are in their prime and I have retained a daughter to move that line forward in the herd.

Hello Heather. I'm barely watching this video. I usually always get all your videos so I don't go looking to see if I missed one very often. So sorry. Good video. You're so good at speaking. ❤❤❤

Our plan will pretty much aligns with yours. They have to earn their keep. We are in year 1 of herd building so that means guidelines are still being set, and there is a lot to being learned. A prime example is our meat rabbits, now in year 2. Our focus is developing a meat rabbit butcher schedule that helps fills our freezer, while also retaining breeders for that schedule. I catch myself getting distracted by people asking for young breeders or pets. People may be surprised that standards for rabbits to eat are higher than rabbits to cuddle. Hard decisions have to be made.

Hey Heather. I just love hearing you say good morning! You're voice is so cheerful to me. When I was younger, that greeting was the most dreadful phrase to hear. I would wake up grumpy and depressed. It triggered me. Thankfully that has changed. Something that really helped me was when I got my chihuahua 10 yrs ago (at 36). Now when I wake up, she is my 1st thought. If I don't feel her laying next to me, I start looking for her immediately. She's always happy to see me and the other way around. We make bathroom trips our top priority. Then I get to watch some of my fav youtubers as I start my day. It's so different from when I was young.

I agree with you and definitely agree about Bearli. She's no rescue and since you can help her have her kids, she should live as a productive goat. It probably would be harder on her to live a life of going into heat every month without ever getting bred. An in tact animal that doesn't breed can be a very moody animal. I live in the deep south, so keeping goats isn't as expensive hay wise for me. I got my first goats in the middle of February and I didn't have to buy any hay as the weeds and hedges were growing. I will be keeping my does for their whole lives, as the ones I do keep will also be my pets as well. But even in retirement the does will still be providing fertilizer and bush/weed eating.

Fortunately I can have a retirement village, cuz I’m not able to cull 😢 I do understand not everyone is in the same position to be able to just keep them as pets.

Thank you so much for this well put together video on a very hard topic. You're doing great!!!

It definitely looks like you are going to be using your kidding stalls very soon!!! I so hope everything goes smooth and safe!! I completely understand your outlook on retiring animals and how managing your herd requires some tough decisions. I think anyone that has worked on a farm or managed a farm can relate to your way of thinking. I think many many people confuse a working farm with a sanctuary or even a hobby farm. A hobby farm is just like it sounds, it's a hobby that isn't always looking to be sustainable. I agree with your plan for Baerli, and the fact that she produces beautiful kids is another positive to her staying on farm. Thanks again for another great video!!! Stay safe!!

I love this conversation. Thank you!

I love your videos and I am new subscriber. I have 4 goats and quite a few chickens. And with my goats I have 2 weathers and 2 does. One of my does is unable to be bred due to her size and age. And my other doe is the only production goat out of all my goats. Also all my goats are related and will live on my farm tell their last years in life. But with my chickens I have 4 breeding pens and once their production slows and will someday have to go to another farm. I do have a few that are elderly and I will keep tell the end of their life.

The big problem with goats are that they have personalities. That is the problem when you cull or retire one. Some of them have such great attitudes loving hugs, etc. that culling can be tough.

You're an amazing farmer. I've learned so much from your videos. You definitely are doing what God planned for you. Your are a very wise young woman and I'm glad I found your channel!!❤❤❤

I agree completely with your decision. I would do the same.

Well said! There’s a cost benefit analysis behind every decision. I love the “say yes/say no” perspective. With money and with time.

Fascinating! Thank you.

This was a great video and you explained everything so well! There’s no size fits all when it comes to farming and it’s very open ended all the time. What you’re saying today, might not be what you’re saying next year and that’s totally okay! Everyone has different goals and needs for their farm. The thing with dairy animals in particular is this is what they are supposed to do. They’re bred to be in milk and provide milk. If they can’t perform or under perform or aren’t easy keepers than you have to evaluate if that animal is worth holding on to. I’m facing the same thing as my kidding season has just wrapped up. I have one lamancha in particular who on paper should be in her prime but she requires way more feed to keep her condition up. She’s sweet, I love her but she’s more expensive to keep them my others and at the end of the day I’m choosing to stop that line in my herd and now she’s for sale. You have to make hard decisions some times and it’s not fun but they have to be made so you can keep going on. ❤

Agreed👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾

Hi Heather, I know this is not what you are talking about just now. But I wanted you to know our rabbit we bought from you, Stella, just had her first litter. Well almost 2 weeks ago. She had 8 totally black kits. We had expected some of them to be white or have at least some white spots. But nope totally black. LOL. She's a good mamma rabbit. Just wanted you to know. Thanks again!!

another great video, it is reality! when is the video coming out on your new milking machine? I am looking at all the options now

Weather weenie! 😂😍

Hi Heather. You said something that got me thinking. So my question is what's your idea of the difference between a farm and a homestead?

Extra pets cost money. Every animals on my farm has to have a purpose. If not, they gotta go… 🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️. Had to make that distinction after week 2…. They are farm animals..

You mentioned possibly retiring calamity. Do you know what the plan is for her when you do?

I would rather eat my animals than sell them. I believe it is an honorable thing to become dinner for my family. I will try to sell my extra doelings but plan to eat the boys, and plan to eat my does when they reach retirement 💖💖

Resources of money, energy and time are limited unless you are independently wealthy. We must be realistic. It is easy to keep everything but when it depletes your resources it affects everyone in your family.

What do the cow have to sign to get his or her montgly check for retirement ?

WOW Heather. Very informative in todays video. You talk really well. I understood perfectly what you said. You have great values on your farm. So it should be. Thank you so much for sharing. Lots of Love to you all. Doris, Penrith 🇦🇺🦘 ❤❤❤❤