Succeeding in our farming endeavors warrants immaculate attention to detail due to our limited funds, even on such a small scale. With a tighter-than-tight budget, we must take on projects that will benefit, not drain, our family. The bottom line is: Does it benefit or contribute to the family and home? Working the numbers with input vs. output concerning our goats, I am hopeful this endeavor will prove beneficial. Each day I have kept records of milk production for each goat. Daily, I enter these numbers into a flow chart. The numbers so far for these last 6 weeks are as follows:
* 160 lbs milk~ about one-half gallon daily
* 2 bags grain~ about $40
* 2 bales alfalfa~ about $40
* 1 bale coastal hay (not yet gone either)~ about $10
* very roughly estimated miscellaneous expenses averaged out~ $30
Current goat milk prices are at $16/ gallon, making the gross value of the milk we have gotten from our girls $320. The cost of feed and expenses were about $120. The difference there is $200, making the net value of our milk $10/ gallon . This gives me a good idea of where we stand. Only time will really tell what that number is.
We use every bit of our milk. What we don't drink, we make into cheese and ice cream. For ice cream I would spend $5-$8 per pint at the store since we cannot have cow's dairy ice cream. For non- cow milk cheese, I spend about $7- $15 per pound. Ice cream makes equal quantity for the amount of milk used, but cheese does not. For every gallon of milk used, it yields about a fourth of that as cheese. I save the whey left from making cheese and use it where I would use regular milk when cooking, as well as other uses. So these are additional factors that play into the value vs. cost of our goats.
Is it worth it? That's what this all boils down to. After we recoup the initial investment costs, we should at least break even. Upcoming projected additional costs and income are associated with breeding the goats, and other milk projects such as soap making. I hope to at least break even there as well. Again, time will tell those costs.
There is also the time factor with cost counting. I spend about 30 minutes each morning milking/ feeding/ watering the goats. Each evening I repeat it. Once a week I clean the barn, which takes about 30 minutes. I have trimmed hooves and clipped hair once. Since I was completely new, it took about 30 minutes a piece to do each task. Next time it should go much faster. There will be additional chores not yet needed, but as a whole I spend an hour a day caring for my goats. And, much of that time is spent working alongside my daughters, talking and enjoying their company. In the end, so far these girls are worth it.
Aside from the milk products, there is yet more value. The experiences our family gains is desirable to me. Working with God's creation brings experiences with the Creator. He designed it that way. Creator God, Elohim, has taught me much about patient parenting and diligent hands. Peace that comes in a quiet barn surpasses any thrill that TV has to offer me. Trusting the Spirit and trusting the instincts He gives, even in the small details of caring for my little goats, has played out repeatedly, proving the relationship between us that are created with Him that creates and the gift of prayer between us.
In 6 short weeks, there have been invaluable life lessons and delicious milk benefits with acquiring our Mattie and Lily goats. Putting a price down vs. cost is difficult to do. But at the end of the day, the verdict is a big two thumbs up.