NZ Dairy Autumn 2022

14 | nzdairy Making the mix for the goats. DAIRY GOATS » Milkabit • from page 12 the gateways down for the same reason and putting hot wires around native plantings and wetland areas. The flock is 80% Saanen, a Swiss breed, with the remainder a mix of Toggenburg, also Swiss, British Alpine and Nubian. “They’re commercial milking goats so they’re not bred to survive without shelter” explains Hamish. “Goats don’t have lanoline in their skin and can’t shed water, and they don’t handle rapid change of temperature, intense cold or heat. “They are browsers, not grazers and never become immune to the worms which naturally live at the depths they reach when they’re forced to graze pasture. “We tried them outside for three years but they’re now fully housed, with their grass cut and brought to them several times a day, a situation they seem to enjoy. They hate the cold, they hate the sun, and they really hate the rain. If we leave the gates open and they wander outside they’ll turn around and walk straight back in again.” The family enjoys the breeding side of things and improving the stock quality, taking care to always bring in bucks from outside blood lines, especially from some of the smaller dairy goat breeding farms who have spent years carefully nurturing the sort of traits that they’re after. “They often breed them for showing as well as production so they’ve got good formation, a square udder with strong attachments, good posture, and we look for a goat with good feet that stands well over them,” says Hamish. Although the market for New Zealand goat milk around the world has been affected by Covid like almost everything, the company Milkabit supplies, New Image Group(NIG), is still taking everything they and all their other suppliers have to offer. “They pick the milk up and take it to their factory in Paerata 10 minutes down the road, it’s ideal. We’ve been with them from the very start and I really enjoy working with them,” says Hamish. The bottom line for Hamish is that goats return a lot more per hectare than cows but there are other reasons why he’s happy with the decision they made nine years ago. “They’re awesome with such beautiful personalities,” says Hamish. “They’re all your friends, they come out for scratches, you come out of milking and you’re clean, they’re just such a pleasure to work with.” Safe to say he won’t be milking cows again any time soon. “They’re awesome with such beautiful personalities,” says Hamish. “They’re all your friends, they come out for scratches, you come out of milking and you’re clean, they’re just such a pleasure to work with.” We keep you growing Proud to support Milkabit Bryan Sharp Sales 027 406 2540 Duncan Inder Sales Manager 021 960 854 Power Farming Auckland Auckland 7 Adams Drive, Pukekohe 09 239 1200

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