Off a dirt road in Ten Acres are two passionate goat-milk farmers. They invited the Herald into their goat-filled world for a while.
The goats on the farm are not just any goats and are not the same goats one would use for slaughtering,” Leon Wolmerans, Giddy Goat milk farmer said. Wolmerans has Toggenburg and Saanen goats, which are dairy goats.
Six to seven months after birth, a doe (female goat) can be paired with a billy (male goat) and thereafter she will begin to lactate. Then she is ready to be milked. There are different seasons in which goats will mate and produce milk.
When the does are to be milked, they are brought into a room a few at a time where they stand in line in a stanchion – a metal framework that separate them with feeding bowls to keep them busy while they’re being milked.
A milking machine is used twice a day to vacuum the milk from the udders; in the mornings and evenings.
They produce more milk in the morning than they do at night,” Leon said.
The milk is stored in a cool room before it is poured into a pasteuriser that boils the milk at a certain temperature and cools it down. When making cheese, certain cultures are added.
After pasteurisation it is bottled and packaged on the farm. The goat milk is used as is and to make cheese. On the Wolmerans farm they produce feta as well as ricotta cheese.
The Herald asked what influences the flavour of the milk and they explained that the quality of the feed is a big factor. Leonie, Leon’s wife said, “Good feed makes good milk and cheese.”
Health benefits of goat milk:
• Assists in weight loss
• Boosts immune system
• Reduces the risk of anaemia
• Helps reduce blood pressure
• Prevents heart attacks and coronary complications
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Is an alternative to lactose-intolerant people
Giddy Goat products are available at Tony’s Meat Market for those who would like to make the change to goat’s milk or for those who are lactose intolerant.
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Also read:
The friendliest goats in Randfontein
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