And Then There were Five... Plus Two: Our Journey with Growing a Nubian Goat Herd

When it comes to goats, sometimes your heart just knows what it wants and you finally get the courage to try something a bit new. For me, that meant Nubians. Their long floppy ears, sweet personalities, and rich, creamy milk had been on my mind for a while.

I began my Nubian adventure with two young doelings; Tassel and Miss Molly. From the start they were sweet, playful, and affectionate. I loved their personalities and did not find them to be loud as other people and literature warned against. My retired Guernsey doe, Adora, was quite talkative in her day and I've missed that. Adora has fewer words these days so I love when my doelings would "talk" with me.

As I did more research, I realized that Nubians tend to mature a little slower than my other breeds, which meant Nubian milk was still a ways off. And if you know me, you would know I didn't want to wait that long to try Nubian milk! What other breeds do I raise? Read here.

So along came Sweet Dream. And her name couldn't be more fitting. Her milk is, in fact, dreamy, creamy, and absolutely delicious. That very first taste confirmed everything I'd hoped for...Nubian milk is something special.

While the girls settled in, I was planning for their future and welcomed two young Nubians, Thebe and Triton, into the buck herd. They're growing fast and will play an important role in shaping the future of our herd genetics. Here's hoping that will begin this fall! Grow, boys, grow! For now, they add a great deal of youthful handsome energy to the buck pen.

And, finally, this past week, two more lovely mature does joined the farm. Meet Lollipop and Helena. Lollipop came from a local farm, Texas Ridge, and Helena, also, was local from Wilcox Ranch. I'm thankful for both farms for their excellent husbandry and genetics offered to me. Lollipop has already stolen my heart with her personality, while Helena brings both beauty and promise to our growing herd.

So here I am: Five Nubian does and two bucks. Each one with their own quirks, personalities, and gifts. Together, they've added creaminess to our milk, character to our barn, and a whole lot of joy out in the pastures.

But it's not just about the milk. Nubians are endlessly endearing. I mean, seriously, who can resist their gorgeous ears that frame the sweetest faces (Yes, I like their Roman profiles, too!). Their expressive nature has filled a void in my barn life. We often carry on "conversations" back and forth. Yes, I do talk to my goats, they talk back, and you may call me the crazy goat lady! Their personalities are magnetic, and it's impossible not to smile when they're around.

Nubians are already proving to be everything I had hoped for and more; from their rich milk that is making our milk, cheese, ice cream and kefir the creamiest ever; to the way their presence adding life and laughter to the farm.

It's amazing to look back and see how quickly my Nubian journey has grown. What began with two little doelings has now become a little herd within my goat herd that feels like it's always belonged here.

It's such fun to be able to share this journey with you, and if you'd like to experience the difference Nubian milk makes, you'll find it in the soaps, lotions & cremes, and farm fresh products that are handcrafted right here on our farm.

Here's to the five (plus two) who've made Meadowlark Heritage Farm just a little creamier, a little livelier, and a lot more joy.