Sallygarden Smallholding - The Forum For Sustainable Living

Just interested to find out why goats are so popular for milk in ireland yet you never hear of any body having a house cow. Does a cow not make more sense, as easier to fence, heifer/bullock for freezer every year, larger yeild of milk etc.I have very little experience of goats and only some of cows, so if anybody can enlighten me, please feel free to do so

Hi there

I suppose the initial investment for 2 goats is far less than 2 cows. Also for those not from a farming background a relatively small goat is easier to handle than a huge cow. The goat is light on the ground and causes much less soil damage so can stay out over winter as long as suitable housing is given and regularly topped up with dry hay and mucked out. A goat is much easier to transport (even in the boot of car!) to a nearby billy goat when it comes to breeding. A goat also kids easily, rarely with complications. Goats will normally have twins so you get double the amount of return per animal, as cows normally have single calves. Also the amount of milk per body weight for goats is higher than for cows. Goats milk is also favoured by people who have difficulty digesting cows milk as goats milk fat globules are smaller and much more easily digested. Those that suffer from exczema often find goats milk doesn't cause problems.

What else can I say?! I love goats, they are lovely creatures, but I'm sure a cow could be just as loving.