Jeff wrote
On the other hand, i
>think running a grazing animal through orchards is a great
>disease and pest control.
Geese work very well for this - don't keep them myself because husband had
bad experiences with them as a small child but friends have had good
experiences. Chicken tractors work well as pesticides/manure incorporaters/
surface cultivators/weed (and the rest of the vegetation) destroyers.
>
>Goat milk is great and ours tasted just like cows milk. It
>did not cause reactions the way cows milk does. Maybe it is
>the stuff they pump into cows or the lactose content, don't
>know for sure.
We found that our pet jersey on good mixed herbage didn't cause reactions
as badly as the commercial stuff but wasn't as good as goats milk.
The down side is time. Having goats takes
>time and for us could not be justified by economics.
The problem with any milking animal is you need to be there every day all
around the year as they either need milking or are getting towards
calving/kidding. You need to find time to just stand and watch livestock to
spot any health problems before they develope into serious conditions. You
have to spend time mending fences, moving tethers etc. Goats are browsers
so if they are in field with only grass they need herbage cut and brought
from elsewhere. I found that both cows and goats made economic sense -
surplus milk went to fatten turkeys and broiler fowls along with surplus
spuds (we aren't vegetarians) and we had butter, cheese, yoghurt etc - and
a lot of surplus of those to sell/barter with the cow. But it was a lot of
work.
Goats
>are more like family and a labor of love.
>
Aren't they just - they are one of the best animals to have around if you
want someone to talk to
Can I reinforce Jeff's warning that animals of any kind are a huge
commitment. The world often seems out to get them and they need you there
to take the responsibility all the time. Though the Findhorn people would
say that veggies do too. Take it slowly and carefully and don't do anything
you aren't certain you can handle. Also remember if you are a vegetarian
that female animals have male offspring and you have a responsibility
towards them as well before you take their mothers on.
kathryn
