The share of U.S. farms operated by women nearly tripled over the past three decades, according to a report by the United State Department of Agriculture (from 121,600 to 306,200) and so it is perhaps not that unusual for Colleen Grawe to single-handedly be raising 100 goats on her 20 acre Goat Hill Ranch located off of Prairie Avenue just east of Gallatin.
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She has two herds of goats. One is purebred Nubian. The other is a crossbreed of 50% Nubian kids. The crossbreeds are a mix of Boer, Alpine, Sannen and Nigerian. In two years, she hopes to have culled the herds to all purebred Nubian.
Nubians have long, droopy ears and are very playful; they love doing half-twirls. They are personable and seldom butt people. The goats graze in the pasture and also get a feed ration, 18% protein mineral block, and especially love to eat the leaves from the trees.
Ms. Grawe has lived on the farm for 25 years and has raised cattle in the past. This is her first year raising goats. She made the switch from cattle to goats because goats are easier for her to handle. They also have a shorter gestation period and can have two or three goats per kidding. She started with eight goats and now has about 100, thanks to Goliath, her Nubian PureBred Buck.
The Nubian breed are called “the aristocrats of Goats.” They are ranked third in milk and fifth in meat among goat herds. Originating from Europe, they are a larger, more versatile goat.
“They are called aristocrats because they carry themselves gracefully and very proudly,” Ms. Grawe said. “They have long ears, a Roman nose and a glossy coat. They stick together and are incredibly social.”
She tells the story of a mother with two white-faced newborns that she had isolated in a pen.
“Each one of the other goats in the barn, one at a time, stuck their heads through the pen and gave the mama goat a kiss on her lips,” she said. “It was like they were all congratulating her.”
Ms. Grawe hopes to get a commercial kitchen going and make cheese and soap in the near future.
“There are so many ways you can use goat products, it’s just unbelievable,” she said. “People who are allergic to regular milk can often drink goat’s milk.”
She has one purebred guard dog, trained to protect goats, called — Misty. Under Misty’s watch, there have been no losses to coyotes, fox or eagles, all who especially like to kill baby goats.
“Misty barks all night,” Ms. Grawe said. “And sleeps all day.”
Ms. Grawe wants to make sure the OATS bus keeps running and that’s why she volunteered to donate a live goat for auction at this year’s Chautauqua. The buckling is still on his mother’s milk but will be weaned by September. He was born June 24, 2015. He is a Nubian cross. Be sure to stop at the OATS booth on the courthouse square during Chautauqua.