top of page

Milk Data 2022-2023

We selected the Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat for our homestead due to their incredibly rich, nutrient dense milk. Nigerians are the only dwarf dairy goat breed and they consistently provide the highest butterfat and milk solid percentages when compared to all other ADGA registered breeds. Due their small stature, they simply cannot produce the same volume that the larger breeds produce. However, here at Creosote Pastures we never wanted high pounds of milk, we were simply looking for the richest and most nutrient dense milk we could find for our family. In our household, we believe in the many health benefits of raw animal fats, especially milk fats. We have decided to celebrate our four legged friends' ability to provide extremely high butterfat and protein in their milk instead of pushing or expecting them to produce large volumes. We recognize our approach is different than most other Nigerian breeders, but it works for us and we also feel it is best for our does and their udder health as well. We select feed for our does that supports a healthy rumen and rumen pH, and in exchange they provide us with milk that contains higher butterfat percentages and less volume than other herds in our region. 

Why do we care about butterfat?

First, butterfat, protein, and milk solids are condensed to make butter and cheese. Our family only uses homemade raw goat butter, and we cherish our homemade hard and soft cheeses. Milk that contains higher milk solids produces larger quantities of butter and cheese which helps to keep our pantry full, plus we think it tastes way better with more cream! We love extra creamy milk, and when our does milk 8% butterfat a single glass of ice cold milk is filling and delicious. (To put it in perspective, whole cow's milk at the grocery store is about 3.5% butterfat) We also love that we can substitute our raw goat milk as coffee creamer on a cozy Sunday morning.

Secondly, we follow the Weston A. Price Foundation's nutritional model that animal fats are crucial to our overall health and well being. Fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) must bind with healthy fats in our diet in order for our bodies to utilize them. Animal fats such as lard, tallow, and butterfat from milk provide a perfect avenue for our bodies to consume and use these vitamins. In our home, we believe our food is the most important "health insurance policy" and we make diet decisions ever day to support our bodies.

Below you will find our monthly milk test data, as well as important notes that may have affected the does' milk records that month such as our daily temperatures (which can get quite extreme in the desert of Arizona). Our goal for our herd is that our does earn their ADGA Milk Star as a one year old first freshener, specifically in the butterfat category. As of 2022, Nigerian Dwarfs under 2 years of age must produce at least 31 pounds of butterfat within a 305 day lactation period. (see the ADGA's Milk Star Requirements chart for more details). For our own notes and celebration we have highlighted the highest butterfat producer for each test, as well as included the herd averages for butterfat and protein.

Test 1: December 18, 2022

Doe Name, Age, Days in Milk, Pounds of Milk, Butterfat %, Protein %

 

ShotintheDark, 3 years old, 47 days, 3.3 lbs., 6.6%, 4.4%

Pipe Dreamin', 2 years old, 42days, 2.2 lbs., 8.8%, 5.2%

Herd Butterfat Average: 7.7%

Herd Protein Average: 4.8%

Notes:

Temperature High- 55

Temperature Low- 41

Test 2: January 14, 2023

Doe Name, Age, Days in Milk, Pounds of Milk, Butterfat %, Protein %

 

ShotintheDark, 3 years old, 74 days, 2.8 lbs., 7.1%, 4.4%

Pipe Dreamin', 2 years old, 69 days, 2.4 lbs., 7.5%, 5.0%

Herd Butterfat Average: 7.3%

Her Protein Average: 4.7%

Notes:

Temperature High- 64

Temperature Low- 43

Test 3: February 20, 2023

Doe Name, Age, Days in Milk, Pounds of Milk, Butterfat %, Protein %

 

ShotintheDark, 3 years old, 111 days, 3.3 lbs., 7.0%, 4.4%

Pipe Dreamin', 2 years old, 106 days, 3.0 lbs., 7.9%, 4.9%

Calamity Jane, 2 years old, 25 days, 3.1 lbs., 8.2%, 4.9%

Trudy Mae, 1 year old, 21 days,1.7 lbs., 8.0%, 5.0%

Renegade, 1 year old, 16 days, 2.2lbs., 9.2%, 5.0%

Beretta, 1 year old, 15 days, 2.1 lbs., 6.8%,4.4%

Ritz, 1 year old, 39 days, 2.5 lbs., 6.5%, 4.4%

Lyra, 1 year old, 15 days, 2.5 lbs., 6.8%, 4.6%

Run Wild,1 year old, 15days, 2.0 lbs., 7.5%,4.6%

Bell Star, 1 year old, 14 days, 2.6 lbs., 8.2%, 4.6%

Herd Butterfat Average: 7.6%

Her Protein Average: 4.7%

Notes:

Temperature High- 72

Temperature Low- 52

*Ritz moved from Utah to our herd January 29. She was dam raising a single kid at time of purchase.

Test 4: March 13, 2023

Doe Name, Age, Days in Milk, Pounds of Milk, Butterfat %, Protein %

Toffee, 4 years old, 27 days, 2.3lbs., 6.1%, 4.5%

ShotintheDark, 3 years old, 132 days, 3.1 lbs., 6.5%, 4.4%

Pipe Dreamin', 2 years old, 127 days, 2.6 lbs., 6.8%, 4.9%

Calamity Jane, 2 years old, 46 days, 2.7 lbs., 8.1 %,5.0%

Trudy Mae, 1 year old, 42 days, 1.6 lbs., 7.6%, 5.0%

Renegade, 1 year old, 37 days, 2.0 lbs., 7.7%, 4.9%

Beretta, 1 year old, 36 days, 2.4 lbs., 5.8%, 3.9%

Ritz, 1 year old, 60 days, 1.7 lbs., 7.3%, 4.6%

Lyra, 1 year old, 36 days, 2.5 lbs., 6.0%, 4.2%

Run Wild,1 year old, 36 days, 2.2 lbs., 6.6%,4.3%

Bell Star, 1 year old, 35 days, 2.6lbs., 6.7%, 4.4%

Herd Butterfat Average: 6.8%

Her Protein Average: 4.6%

Notes:

Temperature High- 75

Temperature Low- 48

*2 days of rain before test day. Does stuck in calf hutches, didn't eat as much and were NOT happy!

*Sold Pipe Dreamin', Trudy Mae, Beretta, and Bell Star shortly after this test to keep our herd numbers down.

Test 5: April 5, 2023

Doe Name, Age, Days in Milk, Pounds of Milk, Butterfat %, Protein %

Toffee, 4 years old, 50 days, 2.9 lbs., 6.6%, 4.4%

ShotintheDark, 3 years old, 155 days, 2.9 lbs., 7.0%, 4.5%

Calamity Jane, 2 years old, 69 days, 2.9 lbs., 8.3 %,5.0%

Renegade, 1 year old, 60 days, 2.0 lbs., 7.9%, 5.0%

Ritz, 1 year old, 83 days, 1.5 lbs., 8.8%, 4.7%

Lyra, 1 year old, 59 days, 2.4 lbs., 6.0%, 4.2%

Run Wild,1 year old, 59 days, 2.4 lbs., 6.9%,4.3%

Herd Butterfat Average: 7.4%

Her Protein Average: 4.6%

Notes:

Temperature High- 66

Temperature Low- 34

Test 5: May 1, 2023

Doe Name, Age, Days in Milk, Pounds of Milk, Butterfat %, Protein %

Toffee, 4 years old, 76 days, 2.5 lbs., 7.1%, 4.8%

ShotintheDark, 3 years old, 181 days, 2.8 lbs., 7.0%, 4.4%

Calamity Jane, 2 years old, 95 days, 2.6 lbs., 8.3 %, 4.9%

Renegade, 1 year old, 86 days, 1.9 lbs., 7.7%, 5.0%

Lyra, 1 year old, 85 days, 2.2 lbs., 5.6%, 4.2%

Run Wild,1 year old, 85 days, 2.1 lbs., 6.6%, 4.3%

Herd Butterfat Average: 7.1%

Her Protein Average: 4.6%

Notes:

Temperature High- 93

Temperature Low- 64

Test 7: May 23, 2023

Doe Name, Age, Days in Milk, Pounds of Milk, Butterfat %, Protein %

Toffee, 4 years old, 98 days, 2.5 lbs., 7.1%, 4.8%

ShotintheDark, 3 years old, 203 days, 2.7 lbs., 7.0%, 4.4%

Calamity Jane, 2 years old, 117 days, 2.6 lbs., 8.3 %, 4.9%

Renegade, 1 year old, 108 days, 1.8 lbs., 7.7%, 5.0%

Lyra, 1 year old, 107 days, 2.3 lbs., 5.6%, 4.2%

Run Wild,1 year old, 107 days, 2.0 lbs., 6.6%, 4.3%

Herd Butterfat Average: 7.1%

Her Protein Average: 4.6%

Notes:

Temperature High- 99

Temperature Low- 68

bottom of page