Update 1/31/2008: Goat shares are available right now. Don't delay contacting us, as the shares are going fast and are in limited supply.

If you have never tried fresh, raw goat’s milk, and wonder what it tastes like, there really is no comparison to store-bought cow’s milk. Goat’s milk is naturally sweeter. The health benefits have been praised by doctors, scientists, and pediatricians (see our links). Higher in calcium and lower in cholesterol than whole cow’s milk, it is prescribed worldwide for lactose intolerant individuals, the aged, the nursing mothers and their infants. But, here is the good news: it is just simply delicious!

It costs a one time charge of $18.00 to buy a milk share. We will buy this share back from you, should you no longer wish to own a share of our herd.

One share entitles you to two quarts (1/2 gallon) of milk per week or approximately two gallons per month.

Every month you pay $16.00 to board your share of the goat herd. This fee includes the cost of feed, veterinary bills and supplies. Even if your share would incur additional expenses, you will NEVER have to pay more than this agreed upon boarding fee. This works out to approximately $8.00 per gallon.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Why raw Goat’s milk?
The proteins in goat’s milk are different from cow’s milk protein, making them easier for humans to digest. Goat’s milk is also naturally homogenized. The cream stays suspended in the milk. Raw milk contains many natural enzymes that are destroyed in the pasteurization process that commercial milk undergoes. There are many reasons for wanting to drink raw goat’s milk. The best may be that it tastes good!

2. What’s legal and what’s not?
It is not legal in Colorado to sell raw (unpasteurized) milk to the public. However, Colorado law allows “The owner of a cow, goat, cow shares or goat shares shall receive raw milk directly from the farm or dairy where the cow, goat or dairy herd is located...” You may use as much raw milk as you wish from “your own” goat. Since you own a share in the Goat Head Ranch dairy goat herd, you may legally use the milk from your share of the goats in any way you see fit. In following the law, you must purchase a share of the dairy goat herd at Goat Head Ranch and then pay a monthly boarding fee for your goat share. You will be asked to sign a contract for your goat share at the time of its purchase. You will receive a Bill of Sale for your share and a copy of the written boarding agreement for your goat.

3. How does it work?
You make a one-time payment of $18 to buy a share in our dairy goat herd. You will then actually own a share of the entire Goat Head Ranch herd. You will then pay a $16 monthly boarding fee that covers your share’s part of the cost of feed, veterinary care, supplements and supplies. If you own one share and have paid your monthly boarding fee, you are entitled to ½ gallon of milk per week, or roughly two gallons per month. If you need more milk, you can purchase additional shares, and will then have the additional monthly boarding fee. If you no longer want to own a share of the Goat Head Ranch dairy herd, we will buy your share back immediately. You cannot sell your share of the herd to a family member or friend. The sales contract and boarding agreement cannot be transferred.

4. How are the goats milked?
Once our goats kid, the babies are LEFT WITH THEIR MOTHERS for two weeks. This allows ALL babies to get all the colostrums they need. After two weeks, and for six weeks, the kids sleep separately from their mothers. They are only separated at night. All the kids huddle together and are totally fine with this process. The mothers actually enjoy this “time off” from their rambunctious offspring. The does are milked in the morning. After six weeks, the babies are separated from their mothers and the does are milked twice a day.

We milk under the strict sanitation guidelines of Grade A dairies. Our milking barn is separated from the goat barn. It is thoroughly cleaned after every milking. We use teat sanitizing wipes and teat dips. All utensils are sanitized with specialized soap products. The milk is immediately filtered and quickly brought to 34-38 degrees or colder and stored in glass jars. All glass jars are steam sanitized in a high-heat commercial dishwasher. We self-test our milk for mastitis and harmful pathogens.

5. How should I handle my milk after I pick it up?
The milk you will pick up will be raw, un-pasteurized milk. We store the milk at 38 degrees or colder. You should get it from our ranch to your refrigerator quickly. If you live a distance from us, or have to make stops on your way home, you may want to bring an ice-filled cooler with you, so you can keep the milk at refrigerator temperature until you get it home. If you handle the milk as explained and refrigerate it promptly, the milk will easily keep a week with no change at all in the quality or taste. Goat’s milk is naturally homogenized, meaning the fat is suspended in the milk. However, our milk is high in butterfat and some of the cream will rise to the top of the milk. You can skim this off if you want to use the cream. For drinking or cooking with the whole milk, you can shake the container well before pouring, so that the cream is again dispersed into the milk.

6. What can I do if I have too much milk?
As mentioned above, you should keep your milk refrigerated for normal beverage and cooking use. However, if you wish to experiment with the many forms of cultured milk and farm cheeses, it is easy to do so with raw milk. You can also freeze your milk, but the butterfat from raw milk will separate out as flakes and will not blend in again when thawed. This will lead to a strange texture. It is still healthy and fine to drink, however it may not be as palatable to some people’s taste. It may be used for cooking purposes, and is fine for making cheeses and soap.

7. Can you supply pasteurized milk?
You can pasteurize your own milk if you wish. The milk can be heated to 145 degrees and held at that temperature for 30 minutes. We can pasteurize the milk for you at a cost of $2 per gallon.

8. What is your health program for the herd?
We test annually for CAE (caprine arthritis), Brucellosis and TB. Our herd is completely negative for any presence of the above mentioned diseases. All our goats are vaccinated annually and are on a rigorous worming schedule. We worm every week using a TOTALLY NATURAL, proven herbal wormer.

9. What do the goats eat?
Our goats have free access to high quality forage and pasture forage. They are fed daily a ration of alfalfa hay. Additionally, they are fed a 18% protein grain mix that is comprised of corn, calf manna, soy meal, oats and sunflowers. They have access to minerals, salt and baking soda.

10. Is milk available year around?
No, we give our girls a well-deserved rest during their pregnancy. On the average, milk is available nine months out of the year. Since you own a share of the herd, and the herd continues to eat during the dry period, boarding fees will still be due, even when no milk is available. However, you may elect to sell back your shares to us at the end of the milking season, and then re-purchase a share or two before the next season. This is perfectly acceptable. However, due to the limited availability of shares, you run the risk of not being able to repurchase shares once you decide to rejoin the team of shareholders.