Select here for a virtual tour of Redwood Hill Farm
2005 and 2007 ADGA Alpine National Champion! GCH Redwood Hill's RememberJambalya 2*M.
The 2007 ADGA Alpine Reserve National Champion, SGCH Redwood Hill's Ember Amicale 8*M
Herd Manager Scott Bice with his beautiful LaMancha doe, Mighty Mouse.
A couple of Saanen kids, the newest additions to our Humane Certified dairy goat herd.
Nubian twin yearling does.
Does in the field at Redwood Hill Farm.
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Our Goats
Although we have over 300 goats, each has a name and we appreciate their distinctive personalities. As dairy goat judges and breeders we strive to produce dairy goats that can live comfortably into old age while producing a large amount of delicious milk. We breed for good milk flavor you can taste the difference. Our herd consists of four of the six major breeds of dairy goats in the United States: Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, and Saanen. Our goats excel both in their conformation and milk production, and we furnish breeding stock to breeders across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Our prize-winning goats are exhibited at fairs throughout California, and we have had National Champion in four breeds.
An average mature dairy goat female weighs 150 pounds, and produces a gallon of milk per day. Top producers can average two gallons.
Four of the breeds have erect ears. First imported into this country from France via Cuba in 1922, the Alpine is a popular breed, coming in a variety of color patterns. This breed is noted for its excellence in conformation, high production, and disease resistance.
The Saanen and Toggenburg breeds both originated in Switzerland, and also have erect ears. Saanens, the largest of the dairy goat breeds, are pure white and are known as the Holstein of the dairy goat breeds. Toggenburgs can be any shade of chocolate brown, and must have white stockings and facial stripes. They tend to grow longer hair than the other breeds, but when clipped for shows their coat of hair looks like brown velvet.
The Oberhasli breed, while smaller in numbers, is rapidly growing in popularity. They are a beautiful bay-red color with black dorsal stripe and black stockings. Some does are born solid black.
The LaMancha breed, developed here in California, is characterized by lack of an external ear. The most common question posed by visitors to the fair is "What happened to their ears?" Of course they are born this way. LaManchas can be any color, and tend to carry a bit more fleshing than the four European breeds. Their milk is high in solids and butterfat content.
The most popular breed in the United States is the Nubian. They can be any color, and are characterized by their long, pendulous ears and roman noses. They have the highest butterfat and milk solids of the six dairy goat breeds.
Mythology
The goat was a common character in ancient mythology. Like many mortals, the Greek gods were nourished on goat milk. Zeus, born in a Cretin cave, was raised by the doe Amalthea. Dionysius, the god of wine, was also suckled on goat milk. The god of nature, Pan, had goat horns and feet, as did satyrs.
Personality
Goats are curious, friendly and affectionate. "For some wonderful reason, goats not only aren't afraid of but actually live for fun. Anyone who has seen a goat race headlong across a field then leap sideway into the air for the sheer joy of it knows what kicking up your heels really means," says writer Bill O'Halloren. "Because [goats] are almost totally fearless, they are splendid companions for the modern neurotic. There is something inherently soothing about watching goats whether they are simply chewing their cuds or playing king of the mountain. Goats often seem to take immense delight in putting on a show for visitors, kicking, butting, running, jumping and generally raising h__ll."
"Goats are always testing you," says a character in Tom Robbins' novel, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. "They can tell instantly if you're faking your feelings. So they play games with you to keep you true. People should go to goats instead of psychiatrists." While some people might consider this to be a bit farfetched, many goat owners would agree.
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