Goat Milk and Cheese Class
 

As part of our continuing efforts to become more self-sufficient, my wife and I are enrolled in a class on goat milk, butter, and cheese, including milking goats and the precise steps to make cheese, taught by a local farmer. The class is also supposed to cover the care of goats in our local area, northern Alabama. The class is scheduled for most of October 3, and cameras are welcome. Tuition is $50 per person, something which I feel is more than reasonable for an opportunity to acquire knowledge. I will try to take a few snaps and post my experiences at the class.

We are interested in getting something from our goats besides them keeping the foliage manageable and the poison ivy/sumac down. Another source of milk, butter, cheese, and meat is always welcome.

Has anyone taken a course like this? If so, what did you think? Any suggestions?

Re: Goat Milk and Cheese Class
 

Never took a course, but started making my own soft goat cheeses earlier this year. Nothing beats it. Throw some fresh, home garden herbs in there, maybe some garlic and dried tomatoe and you've got yourself one killer cheese!

Youll definitley have to share what've you've learned, or at least a little. I've wanted to get into other cheeses for some time, harder, aged cheeses. But that requires presses and molds, so thatll have to wait.

Good luck with the class though!

Re: Goat Milk and Cheese Class
 

i like this because my wife and i are or were considering getting a goat for same reasons. i was told by someone i know that they are high maintaince, wanting alot of affection. gotta have two? only have about an acre. it is rural, but i dont want the goat climbing in the bed with us. save that for the Bildiburgers:36_1_63:

Re: Goat Milk and Cheese Class
 

Goats are fairly low maintenance, but they do need shelter with a roof. They should not get caught in the rain as some are susceptible to hypothermia. They can eat the local foliage, and we provide salt and a nutrient block.

We also have a Great Pyrenees who is the herder.

Re: Goat Milk and Cheese Class
 

There is a way to cook goat that if you have a place to
dig a hole.(pit) You can slow cook it in a way the meat
will fall off the bone and be so tender you CAN cut it with
a fork..

This works very well if you have a good supply of hard wood
for the fire..

The Biker way.

1. Buy a keg. Start trying to float it.

2. Dig a hole, 3-4' wide and about 3' deep. Drink beer.

3. Start a fire in the hole.

4. Do in the goat, skin and gut it. (Better if done day before)

5. Hang goat and wash down with water every now and then.

6. Drink more beer.

7. Keep fire going in pit several hours, until you have a good bed of coals.

8. Quarter goat and add what ever spices you like.

9. Drink more beer.

10. Wrap Quarters in tin foil (some use damp burlap)

11. Scrape out coals from the pit and place Quarters in the pit.

12. Cover with coals and then dirt.

13. Drink more beer.

14. Around edges of pit bury potato's and other vegy's that you would like to cook.
(wrap in foil )

15. Try to float keg and when done tap another one.

16. Party for about 8 hours or so (don't worry you can not over cook)

17. Dig up and enjoy....:biggrin:

18. Finger licking good. :yes:


Edit: You can do beef, pig or other critters this way!

Just a thought...

Re: Goat Milk and Cheese Class
 

Sounds worthwhile. The best goat classes I've ever attended have been the annual goat fair at Langston University, OK every year. Langston has professors from all over the world. They do research on goats year round. And every summer they invite the public to come in for a sort of round robin education day. You sign up for the different classes you want to take. You start in one class and you switch about every hour. Have a lunch that includes a lot of goat products. Then more classes in the afternoon. Somehow I missed it this summer.

It's true that goats don't like being alone. You can have a single goat with a horse but don't just have a single goat period. It depends on the size of the goat and your local vegetation but generally you can have one goat for each 1/4 to 1/2 of an acre. So you could get somewhere between 2 and 4 if you have a normal vegetation and climate.

You don't want to get them packed together too tight because they will then eat everything. And your worming problem will get out of control. By far our number one goat killer is worms. I'm always trying to figure out something new that will still work.

A Great Pyrenees is NOT a "herder." That would be a border collie or Belgian Sheepdog. A Great Pyrenees is a livestock guarding dog. Mine is laying out next to the pond keeping an eye on the herd right now.

True, goats need a shelter. They hate to get wet. In the heat of the summer my llama will wade out stomach deep in the pond. So will cattle. But the goats stand on the side and try as hard as possible not to touch the water with their feet as they get a drink.

Gregg

Re: Goat Milk and Cheese Class
 

Thanks for the correction; that is interesting. Our dog sure does act like a herder as she makes sure we have no stragglers. Interesting.

Re: Goat Milk and Cheese Class
 

I thought goat milk wasn't able to produce butter?

Re: Goat Milk and Cheese Class
 

Large diameter PVC for a mold: Free (discarded and rescued)
Wood stopper to press cheese into PVC: Free (Discarded and rescued and cut to size by yours truly)
Cheesecloth: Couple Bucks

What else do you need? A large weight to push the wood stopper onto the cheese. A glass carboy is nice because you can adjust the weight by filling or emptying it. Something to push the weight of the carboy onto the wood stopper and into the PVC mold (I used a drinking glass). Something to stabilize the whole operation so the carboy doesn't fall over (5 gallon bucket). You can probably find similar plans online somewhere....

Re: Goat Milk and Cheese Class
 

It would take little skill to make one , using these pictures
as a guide.

A trip to the hardware store and some wood work , all thread rod , wing nuts and bolts
And you are good to go...


Would make a nice simple and cheaper project.

Just a thought