I bought my first goat in 2001. She is the one pictured on the right, sleeping on her friend. I still have her today!

When I first started into goats, it was with the intent to raise goats for milk in order to supplement the milk supply for the foals that were being born. 7 years later, I am raising a herd of registered, purebred Alpine dairy goats and a few Nubians.

My experience in the goat industry has had it's ups and downs. When I started buying registered breeding stock in 2003, I trusted the breeders that I purchased from to sell me goats that were of a high quality, of sound health, and were exactly what they said they were. Unfortunately, in many instances this was not the case. Rather than be bitter, I have decided to try and take my experiences and use them for teaching moments.

The biggest lesson that I learned is that the dollar amount being charged for the animal, does not always equate to quality. Pedigrees on an animal do not always equate to quality either. Some of the best goats I have raised have been unregistered, and cross bred animals. I do value good registered stock, and there is a reason to continue registering animals. Keep in mind that if you are using animals for home production, having a piece of paper on the animal isn't always necessary.

I maintain a small herd in NE Arkansas. During kidding season, I usually have a couple kids to sell. Most kids are sold before they are born, or shortly after so I don't always have much of a surplus to sell.

My goats are raised on a high quality Bermuda hay, ADM Goat Power 18% pelleted feed, ADM Goat Power loose Minerals. They have year round forage as well. My goats are vaccinated once a year with CD/T,
and are wormed 3-4 times a year on a rotating schedule.

My breeding stock are tested annually for CAE. They are CL free.