Gerber Hill Farm, Jefferson County, Missouri
Christina and Tim Miller
636.937.0085
E-mail Gerber Hill
Facts about milk goats including
GREAT GOAT MILK FACTS AND INFORMATION (from ADGA site)
Milk Comparisons of different kinds of milk
-- cow, goat, etc. (from ADGA site)
Disbudding photos and how we do it
Links
Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat Information
Feeding and Care
My Milking Stall
Welcome to Gerber Hill Farms website (created 11/18/04)! I hope you find the information on this site interesting and helpful and that you enjoy the photos and content. We don't raise to sell, we only have a couple Nigerian does. Mostly we have them for a hobby and this year I hope to do two shows.
We named our farm Gerber Hill because Tim's family owned land from which our smaller piece of property came from beginning in the 1800's to about 1950. We re-purchased our piece of property in 2001. The piece of property is on the top of a LARGE hill and was referred to as "Gerber Hill" or the "Old Gerber Place" in reference to his GGrandpa's name (who lived on the place for several decades). So, that's why we named the farm Gerber Hill.
I got my first DAIRY goat in 2001 from some friends. My husband is allergic to cow's milk, they had an extra goat to get rid of, and although I grew up on a farm with just about every farm animal, we never had anything to milk and I thought it would be fun.
So, they delivered this "full-of-milk" large, white goat to me on a Sunday afternoon. I'm thinking, "how hard can this be? I've seen cows getting milked and it doesn't look so tough." HA! First, you have to have a milking stand. I thought that for now I'd just put a piece of plywood on top of two milk crates and put her food in front of her. First, she didn't like me. Second, she didn't like me touching her parts. Third, she didn't like the WAY I touched her parts since I had no idea how to turn the spigots on.
Libby, our first dairy goat
Libby (the goat) would just jump off the milking stand as soon as I touched her, usually by way of foot-in-the-milking-bowl, and dump anything I did manage to squeeze out all over me.
Since I got her on a Sunday, I had to go a whole week of trying to milk, morning and night, without a proper milking stand. Again, thinking I'm so smart, I just figured I'd tie her up so she couldn't jump off the stand. You know what a goat does when they can't get away from a milking person? THEY LAY DOWN!! ARRGGGHHH! So, I milked with her tied up, my right knee under her belly so she couldn't lay down, cussing, and getting a milk bath. It was so relaxing. I tried, really. I sang to her. I petted her. I scratched her. I spent time in the barn with her so she wouldn't feel like an object to be used.
Finally, the following weekend, I built myself a milking stand. As soon as Libby got up on it she acted like that's all she was asking for, a decent stand, and she stood there and ate her grain...patiently...while I milked. She didn't even test it. The brat. I guess she knew she couldn't get out of the stanchion so why bother? Things calmed down and we got to the business of milking...it is so natural now I can't remember not knowing how.
Alas, Libby has gone on to greener pastures and we only have a couple Nigerian does.
Photos of our goats
JVJ PTO Newton's Dot-Tee
Sire: Lost Valley Phantom of the Opera
Dam: Gay-Mor Berry's Fignewton2*D
Dottie kidded April 23, 2008, with triplets. Two bucklings and a doeling. I will be retaining both of Helga's doelings, so all three of these triplets will be available.
Black buckling with white spots, very friendly. Disbudded & 1st shots 05/14. $275.00
check out his grand-dam's
pedigree & show wins below, under the photo of Cornelius
tri-color buckling, very sweet. Disbudded & 1st shots 05/14. $275.00
check out his grand-dam's
pedigree & show wins below, under the photo of Cornelius
Chocolate doeling (this photo right after birth. Her ears straightened out when she was all the way dry.) $300.00
check out her grand-dam's
pedigree & show wins below, under the photo of Cornelius
JVJ PTO Newton's Dot-Tee
S: LOST VALLEY PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
D: GAY-MOR BERRY'S FIGNEWTON2*D
SS:MCH GOODWOOD TAHOE
SD: GOODWOOD KW ELISABET NEY2*D
DS: GOODWOOD LINGONBERRY +S
DD: BEAN'S POD MALIMAR COOKIE*D
S: IRONHORSE FARMS STRETCH LIMO
D: JVJ PTO NEWTON'S DOT-TEE
SS: LOCH LOMA BLACKBERRY
SD: LOCH LOMA BLOSSOM
DS: LOST VALLEY PHANTOM OF THE OPERA*S
DD: GAY-MOR BERRY'S FIGNEWTON2*D
Helga (AGS/NDGA), Dottie's yearling from Spring of '05. (photo taken May '06)
Helga kidded with twins April 29, 2008, and both doelings will be retained. Gerber Hill Arabelle is mostly white with black "eyeliner" and Gerber Hill Galiana is black with blue eyes.
Stretch Limo, AGS/NDGA. Sire to Helga, above.
Our buck, Cornelius (photo at 2 mos). AGS & NDGA registered. Check out his pedigree.
Links
American Goat Society
Tiny Tales Farm raising Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats in eastern Kansas (close to KC) ==>THIS IS WHERE CORNELIUS CAME FROM.
JVJ Farm raising Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats in Marthasville, MO ==>WHERE DOTTIE CAME FROM
Fias Co Farm(awesome info site!! They raise LaManchas) Piddlin' AcresNigerian Dwarf Dairy GoatsBetter Blues Farm Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats
Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association
American Dairy Goat Association
National Saanen Breeders Website
Ruminations Magazine. A Magazine for Nigerian Dwarf and other Miniature Dairy Goat Enthusiasts
Caprine Supply. “Your goat supply connection”
Hoegger Supply. Great goat supplies!
New England Cheesemaking Supply
Crowe's Country Candles AWESOME scented candles. I know a lot of places make candles and say their's is the best, and I am NOT knockin' anyone else's candles...but these guys have been my favorite since they started, I think...(I wanna say I first got them in '93?)...Their candles really do last all the way to the bottom of the jar.
Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat Information
The Nigerian Dwarf is a miniature goat of West African origin. They are popular due to their small size and colorful markings. They do not require as much space as their larger dairy goat counterparts and their gentle, friendly personalities make them good companion pets and easy to handle even for small children and the elderly. They are still considered “rare” by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
A Nigerian doe can produce a surprising amount of sweet milk for her small size – up to two quarts a day, and their milk is usually high in butterfat, 6 – 10%, and higher in protein content that most other dairy goat breeds. (I have to say, from my experience, their milk production is minimal and not worth my time in milking...I stick with my Saanens for goat milk.)
A Nigerian Dwarf goat’s conformation is similar to that of the larger dairy goat breeds. The nose is straight and the ears are upright. The coat is soft with short to medium hair. Any color or combination of colors is acceptable, though pygmy breed specific markings is considered a moderate fault.
Adult females Nigerians are 17” to 19” tall with does up to 21” allowed in the breed standard and adult male Nigerians are 19” to 20” with bucks up to 23” allowed in the breed standard. Ideal weight is around 75 lbs.
Dwarf goats are gentle and lovable. Their calm, even temperament and engaging personalities make them suitable companions for all, including children, the disabled and the elderly. Even breeding bucks are handled easily. They usually blend in with goat herds including full-size goats and do not need special quarters, just adequate fencing to contain them because of their small size.
Dwarf goats breed year round. The gestation period for a doe is 145 to 153 days. For the most part, Nigerian Dwarfs are a hearty breed with few kidding problems. New babies average about 2 lbs at birth but grow quickly. Does can be bred at 7 – 8 months of age if they have reached a good size. Some breeders prefer to wait until they are at least one year or older. Dwarf does can have several kids at a time, 3 and 4 being common and sometimes even five or six!
Feeding and Care
I do not breed my buck to outside does.
I do not weigh or measure how much I feed the goats. However, they are all in good flesh but not fat. I feed grain to my milking does WHEN they are ON the milking stand. I will give everyone grain every couple of days as a treat, except for the buck who is breeding, he gets grain every day. I give free choice hay.
I make sure they have fresh, clean water every day. (I have a heated water bucket in winter.)
I have a 4’ x 8’ platform for them to get up on to sleep, rest & chew cud, whatever, when the ground is damp. (Even if it’s not, they like to be up on something.)
We recently fenced in quite a bit more land with 3-strands (electric tape) electric fencing. This is working out very well for us. It was easy to put up and we haven't had any break-throughs. We had a storm this spring and our electric was out for eight hours and they still stayed in. The white tape is very visible and they steer clear of it.
Up by the barn we have cattle panels for fencing. I feed on the outside of the cattle panel fence so they have to put their heads through the fence to eat and can't poop in the grain pan or hay and therefore lessens the spread of parasites.
LICE: Sometimes my goats will get lice over the winter. I usually dust for them and this clears it right up. However, in the spring when their winter hair sheds out and they get a lot of sunshine, I don't have problems with it. I try to make sure my goats are never over-crowded and they have clean, dry places to sleep and loaf.
I have a three-sided shelter, filled with straw, for them to sleep in and get out of the weather.
My 3-sided goat shed
They have a lot of room to move around and are not overcrowded, so they don’t get sick.
I DO NOT practice CAE preventative because I’m a mama, too, and I love my own children and I think after going through pregnancy and childbirth they love their kids and should raise them themselves.
Most breeders feed a 12-18% protein goat feed or dairy ration. It must not contain urea at this is toxic to goats. Many breeders give less grain if good pasture and browse are available. Hay or pasture should always be available free choice.
My Milking Stall
We drink the goat milk raw. I tried to pasteurize it several different ways, and my family all boycotted the milk. They wanted it raw. Period. So, that's the way we drink it. I have tasted goat milk that I bought from the store, before I got my own goats. I was so surprised how tasty the fresh milk was once I started milking my own goats! I didn't like the store-bought goat milk; to me it definitely has an off flavor. Goat milk has an enzyme that causes it to taste "goaty" after a few days. This doesn't mean it's bad or spoiled, it just develops the flavor. We always drink our goat's milk too fast for this to happen. I guess by the time store-bought goat's milk is milked, packaged, and shipped to the store this process has already started to happen. If you've ever tasted goaty milk, DO NOT let that put you off to all goat milk. It really is good, and good for you.
This is what I see looking left when I'm milking
Another view
This is my milking stand all folded up
Little Black Banty Rooster coming in to join the eating fracus
...closer
Success...what kind of chicken feed is this?
MORE STUFF
NEW!! Some Scenic Photos of recent vacation to upstate New YorkPilot Knob 2004 Photos of the 140th Reenactment of the Battle of Pilot Knob, Missouri, September 2004National Reenacting Event Photos of the National Civil War Reenacting Event, Nashville/Springhill/Franklin, TN, October2004Corinth, Mississippi Photos of the National Reenactment at Corinth, Mississippi, October 1 - 2, 2005Huzzah Valley Photos of the reenactment at Huzzah Valley, Steelville, Missouri, October 8 - 9, 2005Woodcarvings Photos of Tim's hand-carved walking sticks...some are "beaver chewed".
Free Web Site Counter
Website created and maintained by Christina Miller