Organic Goat Food

Raising Organic Goats

Are you considering raising organic goats?  There are a number of serious considerations that need to enter your thought process before you decide to raise these animals, or any other organic livestock, as organic livestock production is very tricky.

One of the many things you’ll need to consider is the availability of organic goat food.  In order to certify that your milk, cheese or meat is organic, everything the goats eat has to be organic goat food. Remember that organic goat food cannot contain hormones, antibiotics or other restricted materials.  If the goats are pastured, the pasture has to meet the same guidelines as pelleted organic goat food. Organic goat food is more expensive than non-organic food, and it may not be as available so purchasing this kind of food can be very difficult, and in some cases, very costly to you as the owner.. One of the problems with raising organic goats is that antibiotics, coccidiostats and antihelmetics are prohibited from organic goat food.  Does cannot be given any medications for intestinal parasites while they are producing milk or during the last part of pregnancy. This can make it a difficult process.

The most difficult thing about raising organic goats is controlling intestinal parasites.  Because you can’t use medications in organic goat food, you can’t crowd the animals at all.  The need more space to keep the parasites under control, so you have lower yields.  Even then, it may not be possible to control parasites.  Sick animals may, of course, be treated for intestinal parasites.  After being treated, however, neither they nor their milk can be sold as organic. This whole process can get quite expensive.

Raising organic goats, or producing organic goat milk or cheese, is a costly enterprise.  Each farmer needs to determine if the extra cost is worth it.

More Resources for organic goat food:

 Biona Organic Fresh Goats Cheese: Organic fresh goats cheese 90g.Organic goodness...

Wisconsin artisan cheese:  Cheeseforager is your gateway to Wisconsin's prize-winning artisan cheeses...