Raw goat milk?

[Leiloshka]

Okay, I am hoping not to get flamed by mentioning something that isn't vegan. I did a search on the board first to see if this topic has been discussed. I saw one guy jumped by another saying this is only a board for those who want to be raw vegans. So, if you are inclined to give me that lecture, please just pass up this thread.

I have been raw almost three months now. No meats either...I had quit those a year or so before going raw and had cut out all dairy too. However, I am wanting to know how raw goat milk fits into the raw eating plan? If at all?

I live in the country and have thought of having some goats (or even sheep). I recently read about a lady making her own goat cheese and I just saw it selling in a Central Market locally for lots of money. I couldn't do the same thing as she did, because well, for one she studied a couple years in France learning the cheesemaking technique. But, I am wanting/needing to raise something again on my land and I was just wondering if raw milk could be beneficial in any way to a raw foodist. I guess if not, I can always sell it to the locals at the Saturday farmer's market. :cool:

[BDraw]

Can't answer your question about including the raw milk in your diet, but I do have some experience with goats. My daughter raised them years ago for 4-H. Some things to consider:

Are you willing to milk morning and night? Every day? If so, be sure you find a milking goat form someone experienced, so the goat is not timid and the milk is plentiful. Then are you willing to breed? Must do that in order to keep goat in milk. And then, at times, you must keep male away from female or else milk takes on a nasty smell and taste. Also certain weeds will do this. Not fun!

Another point -- goats don't eat everything, for what ever reason they did not eat my nice Bermuda grass that grew in thier pen. But they sure did fertilize it. It was beautiful. And they loved the trees and shrubs, and garden.

They were fun to watch and my daughter did most of the care, including milking, though on occasion, I milked for her. It was very homey -- comforting. Even in the very cold of winter.

Read and study before deciding. And have fun!

[Mike]

There are many vegetarian raw foodists who use
raw goat milk & cheese. It is easier to digest
than cow's milk. The best way to consume it is
to turn it into Kefir milk.

[ReneeSC]

We moved off of a farm last year. Before we decided to agree to come back to the city, I was in investigative mode for goats also. My daughter loves goat's milk soaps, and both love feta cheeses.

I got together on a list with goat raisers - and my eyes were very enlightened at the expense of such a prospect if you're going to be keeping for various different reasons; pets, walking lawn mowers, dairy, breeding farm.

Just making sure the herd is virus/bacteria free was a lesson in pharmacology all in itself. It seems there is a sheep/goat disease ( similar to mad cow ) that these animals pass between each other by fecal matter/milk(sometimes) and urine in the fields where they pasture and in the pens where the're kept to be bred and fed.

And, that's another thing .... fencing... it needs to be very strong. Not so much for them getting out - but for others getting in.
If you live in an area where there are larger wild animals or packs of roaming dogs - I really wouldn't do it. If not, and you can get a _clean_ health certificate on them, have adequate fencing and all other ecoutrements, you'll be fine.

Nubians are neat-looking animals, but my neighbor farmer found them to be weak in body - even after innoculations, ( mandatory in some places ), they still died off. He said the LaManchas and .. oh.. what's the other??.. not a long-ear'd one.. were more sturdy. I was wondering if that's because Nubians were originally from colder climates than down here.. but.. I have no idea.
I know that Nubians are known for very good milk production - lots per day!

http://www.goodbyecitylife.com/barn/goat.htm

http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/4hyd/forms/recordbookforms/dairycowanddairygoatrecordbook.pdf ( this is a pdf file on keeping records for dairy animals.. feed, labor, health.. etc )

http://www.motherearthnews.com/library/1970_March_April/The_Modern_Dairy_Goat

http://www.capcas.com/Goat_Disease.html ( yick )

http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/4am/4am01po/4am01po.pdf Four-H's Dairy Goat document

http://drinc.ucdavis.edu/goat4.htm what to do with the milk

http://www.pholiafarm.com/milk_and_milking.htm

http://goatconnection.com/articles/publish/article_115.shtml

http://www.clemson.edu/agronomy/goats/handbook/housing.html

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi Leiloshka,

You asked a valid question...does raw goat's milk fit into one's raw eating plan...that is a personal decision and many would say it does and many DO incorporate it into their diets, while others would emphatically say no. Some thrive off of it while others have complained of it producing the same mucous and other dairy-related problems that cow's milk causes/caused in them. But, it really depends on the person....you could try it and see if it works for you.

I saw one guy jumped by another saying this is only a board for those who want to be raw vegans. So, if you are inclined to give me that lecture, please just pass up this thread.
BUT...and I'm sorry but I cannot "pass up this thread" ;) ... as you mentioned that you had seen before, this IS a board dedicated to the discussion of a raw vegan diet, not necessarily saying that everyone here wants to be vegan. Is everyone here vegan? No. But this board is for discussing that aspect of it.

(see this thread: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2456 for further clarification on this matter and you can also view the mission statement)

There are other raw food boards and groups and websites that discuss eating raw goat's milk and other raw animal products.

But all-in-all, I'd like to ask of others who are so inclined to give an answer to the original question that you stick to answering the question but not turn this into a full-blown discussion about raw goat's milk.

Also, turning it into a discussion about goats and raising goats would warrant this thread to be moved to the "Other Topics" forum. So please be mindful of these things as you answer.

Thanks.

[ReneeSC]

I answered because if these animals, used for raw foods, are not properly cared for ( health wise ), it could serious problems in the animal and possibly in the person.
Be watchful for what-ever raw animal product you produce or purchase. That was my reason for answering..and that was my reason for picking out the websites as I did - letting others know the scope of this.

Which is why I've yet to eat anything raw non-vegan wise .. cuz.. I dunno what's in it... I dunno if I WANNA know what's in it... IYKWIM

[Rawkinlocs]

I answered because if these animals, used for raw foods, are not properly cared for ( health wise ), it could serious problems in the animal and possibly in the person.
Be watchful for what-ever raw animal product you produce or purchase. That was my reason for answering..and that was my reason for picking out the websites as I did - letting others know the scope of this.

Which is why I've yet to eat anything raw non-vegan wise .. cuz.. I dunno what's in it... I dunno if I WANNA know what's in it... IYKWIM

That's fine Renee and understandable (and very kind of you to look out for her or anyone else like that), but again, if this discussion turns into a goat-raising discussion rather than what the OP asked for, then it will need to be moved - that's all I'm saying. For the record, before I even posted my reply (had it typed up but not yet sent), I checked with Alissa to ask her how she'd like me to handle this and after reading off to her what I typed up, she said my response was correct and agreed.

[Leiloshka]

Okay, okay, I won't keep this thread going since it doesn't encourage veganism (is that a word?) But, thanks to those who replied. My raw goat milk question was answered. Not like I could really incorporate it in my diet anyway since the nearest farm that sells it raw that I know of is 3 hours away. I was just pondering.

Great links ReneeSC. I'll check them out further. Really, milk goats may be too much trouble. Several people around here raise meat goats and I thought about that but...uh, just don't wanna really. I had cattle for 10 years and although there were aspects I didn't like (mainly the emotional side I guess) it sure was nice to be able to sell something to pay for my major car repairs that happened, etc.

Maybe I'll check out beekeeping further. I have done some research but not enough. There is a local beekeeping association that says new people are welcome. Mmmm, we'll see.

THANKS again and I'm done with my animal questions and talk. :o

[ReneeSC]

I figured that if I gave enough information within the links to what is entailed in raising these animals ( even for pets ) - but especially for raw food, curious people wouldn't run out and get some and pen them up on the back deck and call it a dairy. ( people have done this ) I was remiss in straight out saying so - but that was my point. I mentioned fencing... cuz it's expensive, and would deter most people from doing it :) That's why I said the things I said.. You, of course, having no clue why I said what I said, may have thought I was saying "Sure! G'head!".. when really, I wasn't. I was too .. I dunno.. the word .. timid to come right out and say.. "Uhhmm.. not a good idea!"

I not arguing with anyone - just trying to defend why "I felt compelled".

Why did it come to this... ... I'm sorry I said a word.

[SamuelWilson]

Leiloshka, that was a good question. I am vegan and I think that if you cared for the goat and you didn't induce it with drugs like milk cows are to trick their bodies into believing they are pregnant 365 days a year, then I would not see anything wrong with that.

Some other vegans would disagree. I believe you can never win anyone over by judging them and having a superiority complex. A lot of people are turned off by vegans with these aggressive attitudes.

For example, I think factory farming is wrong. However, I think fighting for better conditions in factory farms is better than fighting to have them shut down completely. America is not going to shut down factory farms, it is just not going to happen. The entire planet is not going to become raw foodist either. They should and I think the world would be a better place, but it is just not realistic. I think the best we can do is live right and be a good steward.

In summary, drink the goat's milk if you want to. If it is raw, then drinking goat's milk would still qualify you as a raw foodist. A nice tall glass of cold goat's milk actually sounds pretty good right now.

[swiddweas]

Good question. i was going to ask about raw goats milk cheese because i have been a raw foodist for over 4 months, and just recently added the raw goats cheese, and it is delicious with raw cabbage. i didn't realize that this was a vegan forum, eaither because I don't see what's wrong with eating raw goats cheese, it is delicious and healthful, so go for it, I would say!

[Gosia]

http://www.aoba.sakura.ne.jp/~momoncyo/zoo_report/baby/baby_goat01.jpg
This milk is all for maaaaaa, errr, me!

[swiddweas]

OHHH!!!!!!! How cute! Thanks for posting that, LOL!! What a sweet little thing. I love animals.


swid