Last month we discussed the advantages towards maintaining either a large or a small herd of dairy goats. This month we're going to cogitate on the disadvantages of each.

Big Herd




• It takes a lot more money to care for your herd - we're talking the national budget here.
• It takes a bunch more time to care for all the animals. There's more hay to handle, more crap to clean out, more hoof trimming, more time milking, more everything.
• One person cannot do this alone. It requires a willing family or a wad of money to hire laborers.
• You need more land, and must watch your ratio of goats/ acre much more closely.
• You need a big barn.
• If you have lots of does, you need more bucks.
• If you get a serious disease in the herd, it can spread quite rapidly.
• Your vet bills can be unworldly.
• You are awash in milk. You have to find some other enterprise to utilize the bounty.

Small Herd




• You could be considered a "hobby farm" and not be able to take expenses off your taxes.
• Its possible you might not have enough milk to get you thru the winter.
• Its harder to pick out "show" animals. You get less premium money at the shows, and it will take you a bit longer to cover your wall with ribbons and rosettes.
• Its harder to prove your buck. He's bred to fewer does, and thus has fewer kids. It could take years to figure out if he's genetically super or a real dud.

That just about covers it. Guess you can tell which side of the fence I'm on. There are folks who have huge herds and really do a good job with all their animals. Furthermore, they seem to enjoy the entire exercise. Personally, they'd haul me off to the Tennessee State Home for the Bewildered if I had many more than I have right now. I'm definitely a "Small Herd Person".

---

Write us with your comments and suggestions.