A Winter Description of the Farm from River's Edge Goat Dairy

We hope this note finds you warm, well-fed, and settling into the rhythm of winter.

We had an outstanding holiday season here at the farm, and January has brought some welcome fun — multiple bus cancellation days and school closures. Instead of rushing out to the bus, the kids have been spending even more time in the barn with me, one of those quiet gifts of winter.

They’ve been helping with chores by feeding hay, filling water troughs, checking on goats, and making sure everyone is cozy during these cold days. The best part is they are learning about goat husbandry. I am hopeful at least one of them will want to continue to contribute to the immense amount of work on the farm so this land can continue to produce exceptional goat dairy products for many years to come!

Together, we’ve been patching up any drafty spots in the barn using old hay and feed bags, and we even built some new tarp doors. They’re working better than our old wooden doors ever did and have made a noticeable difference keeping the barn draft-free.

And then… a few surprises.

Just before Christmas, we welcomed a kid goat from a young doe who had somehow jumped into the buck pen unnoticed. She looked the part well enough that no one noticed she wasn't a male — until she proved otherwise and delivered a healthy little kid right before the holidays.

Then, just last night, we had two more kids arrive! There's a cute video of nursing kid goats below.

Personally, I’m hoping the rest of the does (female goats) decide to wait until closer to March 1st to kid. It’s cold in the barn right now — though the goats, as usual, are taking it all in stride, I am not in favour of milking in below zero temperatures AND starting to milk now will create a long season of production for us. I really enjoy my few weeks off from milking and processing every day.

Many people wonder how goats do in winter, especially during real cold snaps. The winter goat description answer is: they do really well. As long as they have a dry, draft-free barn to live in, they’re happy and healthy. On sunny days with little wind, they love being outside — even in the snow. Some days we feed hay outdoors, and you’ll find them bouncing around, playing, and enjoying themselves.

This winter has brought a lot of snow, enough to hide dormant grass out of reach, so grazing isn’t really an option right now. Instead, they’re eating all the hay they want. Hay is simply dried grass harvested from our fields in the summer, and it’s their main winter diet.

Goats are ruminants, which means they ferment their feed in the rumen (the first compartment of their stomach) and chew their cud. That fermentation process generates heat — so as long as they’re eating well, they stay warm. They also snuggle together, which helps even more. The kid goats have a small heat lamp they can lie down under, but more often than not, they’re curled up beside the bigger goats.

Even on days like today, when it’s around –18°C, the barn stays about 10 degrees warmer than outside. Water troughs can freeze in temperatures like this, so we use floating water heaters to keep their water ice-free. Plenty of fresh water for hydration and unlimited hay go a long way in keeping everyone comfortable.

Looking ahead, we’re now waiting for the ultrasound machine to come out so we can confirm pregnancies. We bred 86 goats this fall and are hoping for around 75 confirmed pregnancies. Our goal is to have at least 50 strong milkers this season so we can better meet the demand for River's Edge goat milk, yogurt, cheeses, and kefir.

The past two years have been challenging. Milk volume was low, and it was challenging to serve everyone who wanted our products. This also made cash flow very difficult at times. This year, we’re feeling hopeful. If all goes well, there will be lots more milk so we can replenish our stockpiles of firm, aged cheeses.

Thank you, as always, for being part of this farm — for caring about how your food is raised, for cheering us on through lean years, and for sharing in the good moments too.

We have a fun project coming up that I am excited to share with you!

Stay warm,

Katie 💛🐐

Nursing kid goats