Mini Alpine Dairy Goats

There's Nothin' Like 'em!

...and we ship!!


~Goats - The spice of life!~

Note: We have retired from raising and owning dairy goats. 


Scroll down for:

1. General Information

 2. Goats for Sale or click HERE

 3. Goat Care

 


1. General Information

Our goats, Grace, Duchesse, Cozmo, Fancy, and Gypsy, with Pioneer Peak in the background, enjoying the day.
Our goats, Grace, Duchesse, Cozmo, Fancy, and Gypsy, with Pioneer Peak in the background, enjoying the day.

Goat show with the first two goats of our current herd, Creme & Cookie.
Goat show with the first two goats of our current herd, Creme & Cookie.

Jazzy and her kids.
Jazzy and her kids.

 

GOATS!

We have retired from woning goats; however, leave this website up for general interest.

We raise registered Alpine & Miniature Alpine dairy goats. (UPDATE: We sold the last of our Alpine goats during the summer of 2019. We miss these lovely ladies, but we are totally enjoying our herd of 100% miniature Alpine dairy goats that we currently keep.) The Alpine dairy goat is a large breed with our adult does weighing 150 plus pounds. The Alpine dairy goat holds the record in the US for the most yearly milk output of any breed. Our Alpines have been bred for great conformation, body strength, and high milk production. The Miniature Alpine is a cross between the Alpine and the Nigerian Dwarf. (Note: We have retired from owning Miniature Alpine Dairy Goats. This website is left up for general interest.) The Nigerian is the smallest breed of dairy goat with an average adult weighing around 75 pounds. The Nigerian Dwarf is a hardy breed, well suited to the Alaskan climate, and produces milk very high in butterfat and protein. The Miniature Alpine breed brings the best of both worlds together, creating a very hardy, easily handled, medium-sized goat, with good udder capacity and structure, more milk capacity than a Nigerian and more cream than an Alpine. Perfect!!!!

 

We keep our heard small, 3 to 10 goats, so that we can give them regular, individual attention and care. We use natural care as much as we can including herbs for parasite control. Our goats get lots of green grass in the summer, along with wonderful local hay all year round. They also get alfalfa and grain as needed. They are offered free-choice kelp and receive herbs for vitamin, mineral, and de-worming needs on a regular basis.  Our goats are tested yearly for all the common goat diseases and have always tested disease-free.

 


We love Pink and Poppy, our twin Mini Alpine does born in 2017.
We love Pink and Poppy, our twin Mini Alpine does born in 2017.

Tilly, our Mini Alpine doe born summer 2017. She's a hoot!
Tilly, our Mini Alpine doe born summer 2017. She's a hoot!

We currently have 7 Mini Alpine does, Pink, Poppy, Cat, Harpy, Marta, Klondy (polled), and Pearl. This represents about 5 separate sets of outstanding genetics. Four of these mini Does kidded this spring. Most our spring kids are available for sale. Click HERE for more information on goats we have for sale.

Thank you. 


Young bucks doing what they do.
Young bucks doing what they do.
Gypsy and our first Miniature Alpine kids, Fancy & Paddington.
Gypsy and our first Miniature Alpine kids, Fancy & Paddington.

 KIDS! Note: We have retired from owning goats but leave this website up for general interest.

Our kids are raised with their moms. Mama goats love their kids and kids love their mamas! We love to watch them interact together and frolic & play with the herd as a whole.  Goats are herd animals and truly enjoy being together. We bond with all newborn kids from day one by spending time with them.  As they get older, we offer them raisins as treats, which they love and come running for. Our kid goats get 100% of their mama's milk for the first two weeks of life. After that, we don't allow the kids to take milk at night. We milk in the morning and let the kids take the milk the rest of the day. This works good for our family. Our mama's naturally wean their kids around 5 months of age.  At this point, we often continue to milk once a day.


Grace & Fleming
Grace & Fleming

Grace kidded for her first time in May, 2015, with beautiful kids, a doeling (Duchesse) and a buckling (Fleming).  She has been an awesome mama and loves her kids, and now her grandkids, and allows them to frolic and play on her. Grace has nice long lactations which peaked at a little over a gallon as a first freshener, and then continued to produced 3/4 gallons a day being milked once a day until we chose to dry her up in August 2016. Grace kidded with triplet Mini Alpines in April 2017, a buckling and two dwellings. All these beautiful kids, sired by Cozmo, will be retained 


Fancy, our 1st Mini Alpine doe was sold with her kids in the summer of 2016.
Fancy, our 1st Mini Alpine doe was sold with her kids in the summer of 2016.

Torpedo and Rocket
Torpedo and Rocket

You are right!!! These are not goats. They are Kune Kune (pronounced cooney cooney) pigs, which are special grazing pigs. Kune Kune's are a smaller breed of pig, weighing 200 to 300 pounds as adults.   They are very docile and easy keepers. Goats are browsers and do not mow grass very well, so we have these pigs to help them out.  They are so much fun! These piggies were bred by Katya Johnson of Humpy Creek Farm on Kodiak Island. Find Humpy Creek Farm on Facebook or contact Katya at 907-539-2612 for more information on these piggies. Update 4/1/19: Katya is not breeding many piggies currently. Contact Jason Afrank on Facebook for KuneKune piggies in the Mat-Su Valley. Or contact us through this page and I will get you connected with Jason. 




Our Bucks

NOTE: We have retired from owning goats. 

Cozmo

Meet Summer Starr Cosmic Cozmo!!! Ten years ago, when we first got goats, we decided to not own a buck (for many good reasons). In December 2015, for many good reasons, we purchased our first buck.  Cosmic Cozmo is a 6-year-old, registered, Nigerian Dwarf. He is beautiful, sweet, and we are happy to have him on our farm. Update December 2020 - Cozmo is still on our farm but he is retired from breeding. 


Blue

Wasilla Lights St. Louis Blues is pictured in the foreground. Blue is a 1st generation Miniature Alpine buck out of our ND buck Cozmo and Alpine doe Grace. We love him with his correct dairy and strong dairy conformation, long and level milk genetics, blue eyes, and awesome personality. 

                                                                                                                Can't wait to see what he

                                                                                                                throws us!

                                               Captain 

Straw & Berries Captain pictured in the background (red collar) is our 2nd generation Miniature Alpine Buck out of Wasilla Lights Eureka! Star and our doe Pescador Harpy. With his very nice conformation and awesome milk genetics we are anxious to see what he can bring to our Mini Alpine herd. 

  



2. Goat's For Sale!

Go to our "Goat's For Sale" page by clicking HERE.

 NOTE: WE NO LONGER OWN GOATS BUT CAN CONNECT YOU TO THOSE WHO DO.

All breeding stock are registered. 

 Please contact us for more details. 

 

TO APPROVED HOMES WITH PROPER SHELTER ONLY!!!!!!

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE AS OF OCTOBER 2022

 We have retired from owning goats with our last two bucks leaving October 2022

and all our girls left in spring 2021. 

 

We are still active in and supportive of the Mini Alpine goat community in Alaska and the US.

Mini Alpines are the best!!

 

Check out our "Other Mini Alpine Breeders" page to connect with active breeders. 

 



3. GOAT CARE

~For the love of goats!~


Please note that the goat care part of the website is

currently being developed and is not yet complete.

 There is so much to learn about goats, that I think this will

always be the case....never ending learning, always more to add.  : ) 

I have many people ask about how we care for our goats. I will add information about that here. Please be aware that this is just that, how WE care for OUR goats.  It may not be the correct way or the best way, but it's what works for us. Each goat owner will develop their own unique way and what works for them and their goats and situation. It is fun to learn from others and develop your own plan of action from all the information you gain. We cannot be responsible for how your goats are cared for or the outcome of that care.  Please make your own decisions about what is best in your situation and consult a veterinarian as needed. 

 

Hay: We provide our goats with free-choice (always available) hay.

We purchase our hay from Ray and Gerald DeVillbiss in Palmer: 907-441-1017 (square bales) or round bales from Pioneer Equipment in the Butte area: 907-745-3071.

Other good hay options may be: Wayne Brost, Point Mackenzi, 907-373-7671  or

                                                     Bud Frohling, Spring Creek Ranch, Palmer, 907-746-5797.

We also feed a small amount of alfalfa purchased from Alaska Mill & Feed in Anchorage or 

M bar D Tack & Stable Supply in Wasilla. 

 

Grain: We provide grain to growing kids up to 10 or 12 months old, does in milk, and during the last 4 weeks of gestation. Our bucks get a small handful of alfalfa pellets while they are in the rut and Purina Goat Chow if needed. We currently use Purina Goat Chow, crimped Alaska Barley, Calf Manna, Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, and alfalfa pellets as needed to meet each goat's dietary requirements additionally to hay/alfalfa.  

 

Minerals: Goats need loose minerals offered free-choice. We use Manna Pro Goat Minerals which can be purchased at Branded Feed and Tack & Stable Supply at 401 S Old Meridian Circle in Wasilla, just of Seward Meridian near Distinctive Ride.  Manna Pro Goat Minerals are also available through Amazon. 

 

We offer kelp free-choice. This can be purchased in 50 lb bags at Alaska Mill and Feed in Anchorage or from Azure Standard. Smaller bags can usually be found at Branded Feed and Tack in Wasilla. 

 

Deworming & Coccidiosis Prevention:

 

Fecal Testing: We use http://www.midamericaagresearch.net

Mid America Ag Research has a chemical deworming protocol listed on their website. We have not tried this protocol. We have used herbal deworming for many years. Either way, it is very helpful, easy, and relatively inexpensive to get fecals done through this lab. Just grab fresh poop and mail it off with an ice pack and a check. Easy Peasy!

 

A deworming & coccidiosis prevention protocol is essential in caring for goats. We have used herbal dewormers & coccidiosis prevention for the past 10 years with good success. With warnings from the veterinary community that chemical dewormers are no longer working due to resistance issues, I think learning about herbal deworming is very beneficial. We currently mix our own powdered herbal dewormer. If you would like more information about our herbal dewormer including purchasing options please send us a note through our website's "contact us" option.  

 

Commercially prepared herbal deworming options: 

https://landofhavilahfarm.com/loh/product/parasite-formula/

http://www.firmeadowllc.com.  Look for DWA (Dworm A) and GI Soother.

https://www.fiascofarm.com/herbs/mollysherbals.php/categories/herbal-wormer

 

 Herbal Dose Ball Recipe

(I use this recipe for my deworming herbs)

1/2 Cup Any Herb You Want to Dose

1/4 Cup Slippery Elm Bark Powder (Slippery Elm is available for purchase at the bottom of this page.)

1/4 Cup Molasses or Honey

(Slippery elm bark powder holds it together

and is a wonderful GI soothing herb.

If you don't have Slippery Elm Bark Powder, 

you can use flax seed meal or peanut butter.)

 

Mix herbs together, add molasses or honey. Mix till it forms a ball of dough.

Add additional molasses or honey as needed.

Divide the dough into two equal parts.

Divide each of these two equal parts into 8 equal parts.

Now you will have 16 dose balls,

each containing 1 1/2 teaspoon of herb.  

 

Herbal deworming dosing and usage information can be found on the websites noted above. These three websites also have great information regarding caring for goats. They are worth checking out!

 

Garlic/Ginger Paste Recipe:  Put equal parts fresh ginger root and garlic cloves in a strong blender, like a Vitamix. Just cover with extra virgin olive oil. Blend into a paste. Offer occasionally, mixed with kelp, to supercharge herbal dewormer.  Store in refrigerator. Drench some of this if extra parasite fighting power is desired. It helps weaken the parasites and allows the herbs to work better. I only use it occasionally when I think my goats need a little extra punch. Drench this a couple days in a row then give the herbal dewormer. 

 

Water: We provide fresh water, twice daily. We often put a splash of raw apple cider vinegar in the water, which makes the pH friendly for goats' rumens. In the winter, we use heated water buckets so that water is always available to drink. 

 

Housing: Housing needs to be dry, have good air circulation without being drafty, have protection from the ground moisture with either wood floors or black rubber matting, be cleaned out more than occasionally, have dry, warm bedding free from mold and moisture, a window for light. We use a moving blanket to cover their doorway in stormy, windy weather, and have a door we can shut when weather is severe. Pneumonia and lung issues can be a serous and not so uncommon issue in goats. Proper housing is essential to maintain happy, healthy goats. Housing large enough to have hay and water 24/7 is essential. Goats love a high place to jump up, on which can serve as a warm place to sleep under in cold weather. A shop broom head on the wall helps them groom themselves. Free choice mineral feeders are essential. 

 

Bedding:  We use Alaskan wood pellets, found at Lowes, mixed with wood chips from a local wood turner and straw or hay on top.  We spot clean daily and clean out stalls regularly.  Information about the wood pellets can be found here: http://www.superiorpelletfuels.com 

 

Milk Stand Plans: 

 http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/milkstand.html

 

Sources for on-line ordering of supplies:

http://www.caprinesupply.com

https://www.valleyvet.com/?ccd=IGO027&gclid=CJrEupa7vM8CFUONfgod-

https://www.jefferspet.com

For bulk herbs I use Land of Havilah Herbals found here: http://landofhavilahfarm.com/loh/landofhavilahherbalsstore/   or 

Mountain Rose Herbs found here: https://www.mountainroseherbs.com  or 

All About Herbs on the Palmer Wasilla Highway has a lot of herbs available locally. 

 

Reference books on natural goat care:

"The Accessible Pet, Equine and Livestock Herbal" by Katherine A Drovdahl which can be found here http://www.firmeadowllc.com/store or on Amazon. 

 

"Alternative Treatments for Ruminant Animals" by Paul Dettloff can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Alternative-Treatments-Ruminant-Animals-Dettloff/dp/1601730128 

 

Another website with lots of goat information:  http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/articlesMain.html

 

A great site to look at when trying to figure out what's wrong with your goat:  www.dawog.net/Goats

 

Facebook Groups:

Alaska Miniature Alpine Dairy Goats: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3410591299056535

Alaska Goat Talk: https://www.facebook.com/groups/139405979491820

Alaskan Goat Breeders: https://www.facebook.com/groups/195042180538553/

Alaskans With Goats: https://www.facebook.com/groups/165639586798729/

Totally Natural Goats & More: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TotallyNaturalGoats/ 

Goat Vet Corner: https://www.facebook.com/groups/goatvetcorner/ 

 

Local veterinarians knowledgeable in goat health:

 

~~~Cherise Neu, DVM, Arctic Equine & Livestock Veterinary, Palmer, Ph: 907-795-5495,

      Website: arcticequine.com

~~~ Dr. Teresa Beck,North Star Animal Hospital: 907-746-7387,

      Website: northstaranimalhospital.com.

~~~Dr. Julie Stafford, 2 Tails Veterinary Services, LLC, A mobile veterinary service based in the

       Matsu Valley, Website:  2tailsvet.com, *****Dr. Stafford will launch her veterinary services in

       December 2017!!

~~~Sabrieta Holland  DVM, Not currently taking new goat clients as far as I understand, unless possibly if you want to artificially inseminate your goat.  

 

Other veterinarian possibilities: 

~~~Dr. Julie Grohs, AK Equine & Small Animal Hosp. (Chugiak):  907-688-9303

~~~Dr. Jackie Frederickson (Anchorage on the Hillside) for exotics, pigs, & chickens:

       907-290-3877.

 

Holistic Veterinary Services services Sounthcentral Alaska:

~~~Dr. Brook Wilson, Currently practicing with Dr. Neu at Arctic Equine & Livestock Veterinary Service, 907-795-5495, Website: arcticequine.com

 

 

Link to a great video on FAMACHA Scoring to monitor anemia and worm load in your goats:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15TGB3CmIJc

 

An Edible and Poisonous Plants listing is here: http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/poisonousplants.htm 

Note: Some poisonous plant listings include "fireweed" as poisonous.  I don't know what "fireweed" they are referring to, but do know that Alaska Fireweed is fine for goats. Lupine, however, is poisonous. 

 

 Milking Procedures:  More to be added....

 

Udder Wash Recipe: 1 1/2 quarts warm water, small squirt of natural dishwashing liquid or some suds from a natural soap bar, and 6 drops each of lavender, rosemary, and tea tree essential oils. This can also be used for the teat dip if you lack something else. 

 

Udder Salve Recipe:

 1 Tablespoon powdered Comfrey 

 1 Tablespoon powdered Lobelia

 1 Tablespoon powdered Pokeweed (If you have it.)

 3 Tablespoons powdered Mullein

 2 Tablespoons powdered Marshmallow root. 

 1/4 Tablespoon powdered Cayenne Pepper (40,000 Hu)

 1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

 

Mix all herbs with the EVOO. Let infuse for 12 hours to 2 weeks in a jar. Shake jar daily to stir. Strain out herb. Take a bit of oil and add 3 Tablespoons Beeswax granules, melt, add the rest of the oil into the beeswax. Add a few drops of wintergreen essential oil. (Don't add wintergreen if kids are nursing.) Pour into a container for use. 

 

Teat Dip Recipe:  (From Land of Havilah Farm)

16 oz Cayenne/Comfrey Infusion (See recipe below).

16 oz Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar (raw/unfiltered)

5 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

20 drops Lavender Essential Oil

20 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil

 

Cayenne/Comfrey Infusion, mix: (Use in Teat Dip Recipe above.)

1 T Cayenne powder (40,000 heat units)

1 T Comfrey Root Powder

1 Quart HOT water (just off boil)

Put herbs in jar, pour hot water over and put on lid. Let steep for 30 minutes. Let cool and strain. 

 

Birthing Kit Checklist: What I like to have on hand...

 

~Phone numbers to experience goat birther and vet. 

~Empy feed bags - to put down to deliver kids on. 

~Paper towels

~Baby Wipes - to wipe kid butts if mama doesn't do a good job. Keep it clean!

   You don't want to poop stopped up.

~Puppy Training Wee Wee pads - to put wet goat babies on. 

~Old bath towels - to dry off baby.  Let mom help if you are dam raising so she

   licks and bonds with baby. 

~Garbage bag - you'll need it. 

~Flashlight - use it to look at the bubble and see if kids is positioned correctly.

~Scissors - to cut umbilical cord shorter. Some use it to pop bubble, but I  

  usually use a piece of straw. I wouldn't want to cut the kid!

~Surgical Scrub/Wash - in case you have to "go in." 

~Iodine

~Warm water and soap - so you can wash up. 

~OB Lube - Squirt a bit of Betadine on it to add antiseptic qualities in case you

   have to "go in." You'll need LOTS if you have to "go in" and assist kids. Have at least two bottles       on hand. 

~Medical gloves - I also have some gloves that go to the elbows, but I haven't

  used them much. 

~7% Iodine - to sterilize knife or scissors as necessary and to dip the umbilical

  cord. Put some in a small container for dipping cord into. 

~Dental floss - I've always tied off the umbilical cord and then cut it smaller so

   mama goat doesn't mess with it. 

~Bottle and nipples - in case you need to bottle feed. You can use human

   bottles. Cut the opening bigger with an X in it with scissors. Or Prichard

   nipples which fit on plastic soda bottles. I cut an X in the Prichard nipples

   also. Prichard nipples found here: 

   https://www.jefferspet.com/products/prichard-teat-nipple)  

~Weak Kid Syringe - To feed kid if to weak to nurse on his own. Not needed to

   often.  Weak Kid Syringe found here:

    https://www.jefferspet.com/products/weak-kid-syringe

~Hair Dryer - to help get kid really dry. 

~Goat baby sweater - If it's chilly outside. Kids can't maintain their own temperature for a few days. 

~Goat baby hut - I put 1/2 of a dog kennel in barn for them to crawl under. They like cozy places. 

~Warm mollasses water - for mama after kidding. Also give her some grain.

 

Or offer Oat Water to mamma post kidding or even prior to or during kidding: 

1/2 gallon water, 1 cup oats, 1/3 cup molasses or real maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt.

Bring water to boil. Add oats, salt ,and molasses. Let cool.

Strain off oats if you want. I usually don't strain. 

 

~Cayenne Tincture - to support weak kids or cold kids, preferably apple cider vinegar based. 

~Raw Honey - to support weak kids

~Coffee - Very strong for a very weak kid - 3 to 6 cc. I may use this in the absence of cayenne tincture. 

~Colostrum - saved and frozen from a previous CAE-free doe who kidded, just in case. 

~Selenium paste - give to weak kids, just a tad. Found here: 

   https://www.jefferspet.com/products/selenium-vitamin-e-gel-for-goats

~Remember to deworm mamma post kidding.

~Give Mama fortified vitamin b with thiamin for a couple days. Make sure it fortified with

   thiamin!!  Found here:  https://www.jefferspet.com/products/vitamin-b-complex-gel-30gm 

  Fortified b paste usually works but sometimes you need the injectable Fortified b: Found here: 

  https://www.jefferspet.com/products/fortified-vitamin-b-complex-100-ml

~Collect and freeze some of doe's colostrum to be used in emergencies in future. 

~Enjoy those kids!

 

SUPPLIES TO KEEP ON HAND/GOAT MEDICAL KIT:  This list is currently being created and is not complete.

Digital rectal thermometer - The number ONE thing!!!  A goat's temp. tells so much about its condition.

Lubricant for thermometer. 

C & D Antitoxin

Tetanus Antitoxin

ByoMycin 200 (Oxytetracycline injectable antibiotic)

Procaine Penicillin G

Fortified Vitamin B Complex paste and injectible (Make sure it has thiamin in it.)

Selenium with E Gel (Kaeco brand)

Vitamin A, D, B, E gel

Terramycin Ophthalmic Ointment 
Baking Soda

Nu-Stock

Blu-Kote

Syringes - 3cc, 6cc, 12cc and a few 20 to 30 cc. 

Needles - 1/2 inch 20 gage and 1 inch 20 gage are the most common ones we use. 

Probiotics - Probios paste works great. We also use Fastrack.

Drenching Syringe:  http://www.caprinesupply.com/50-cc-drenching-syringe.html  Love these!!

Weight Tape:  http://www.caprinesupply.com/weigh-tape.html

Coccidiosis Prevention and Treatment herbs or drugs - We keep GI Soother on hand for this. https://www.firmeadowllc.com/store/p437/Herb_Mix_GI_Soother™_OG_WC_8_oz.html

Toltrazuril 5% - Coccidiosis Treatment found here: https://horseprerace.com/toltrazuril-5-200ml/

Note about coccidiosis: It is a condition mostly affecting goat kids and is a killer. If I suspect coccisiosis I treat with Toltrazuril ASAP. 

Dewormer - We use herbal deworming as noted above. 

Copasure copper rods for bolusing: http://www.caprinesupply.com/copasure-capsules.html

Balling gun: http://www.caprinesupply.com/small-balling-gun.html  We cut the wide end/tip off ours.

For kidding supplies see Birthing Kit List above^^.

 

 

HAVE FUN WITH YOUR GOATS!!!!!

 

~Kelly