Cows have always been the staple animal on Old McDonald’s farm, but lately goats have been getting more traction as the home dairy animal. It feels so confusing especially when your entire life you imagined milking a cute black and white cow like in the movies and the farms you visited on your school field trips. When did goats become a thing? More importantly, why? If this whole cow vs goat phenomenon has you wondering which one is right for you and your homestead dairy, I got you! Let’s figure this out together.
Cow vs Goat: Pros and Cons
Cows have pros and cons. So do goats. Let’s break down cow vs goat real quick and real easy then we’ll do a deeper dive into the main points you should consider when making this decision.
Cow Pros
- Produces an excess of milk
- Full dairy options: cheese, cream, butter, yogurt
- Beef from extra calves
- Revenue stream from dairy/meat with popular interest
- Easy to keep contained
Goat Pros
- Goats eat less
- Goats take up less space
- Less challenges for breeding
- Milk may be easier to digest
- Higher levels of nutrients
Cow Cons
- Greater upfront costs
- More space is needed
- Feed costs are higher
- Challenging for transport
- Greater challenges for breeding
- Milk may be more challenging to digest for some people
Goat Cons
- Goats are hard to keep contained
- Goats are mischievous
- It’s challenging to get cream from goat’s milk
- They produce less milk
Cow vs Goat Milk Difference
Milk Taste
Some say goat’s milk has a distinct flavor that is tangy or earthy, whereas cow’s milk has a milder, sweeter taste. While the flavor of goat’s milk can vary depending on factors such as breed, diet, and processing methods, from my experience, goat’s milk tastes very similar to cow’s milk.
Nutritional Composition
While both goat’s milk and cow’s milk provide essential nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, their compositions differ slightly. Goat’s milk tends to have higher levels of certain nutrients such as calcium, potassium, and vitamin A, but lower levels of other nutrients such as vitamin B12 and folate compared to cow’s milk. Additionally, goat’s milk contains smaller fat globules and more medium-chain fatty acids, which some believe may contribute to easier digestion for some individuals.
Protein Structure
The protein composition of goat’s milk differs from that of cow’s milk, with goat’s milk containing higher levels of certain types of proteins, such as alpha-s1 casein and beta-lactoglobulin. Some people who are sensitive to cow’s milk protein may find goat’s milk easier to digest due to these differences in protein structure.
Lactose Content
Goat’s milk contains slightly less lactose than cow’s milk, making it potentially more tolerable for individuals with lactose intolerance. However, both goat’s milk and cow’s milk contain lactose, so individuals with severe lactose intolerance may still experience symptoms when consuming either type of milk.
Cow vs Goat Meat Difference
While both goat meat and beef are excellent sources of protein, they differ slightly in their nutritional profiles. Goat meat is lower in fat and calories compared to beef, making it a leaner option. Additionally, goat meat contains higher levels of certain nutrients such as iron, potassium, and vitamin B12 compared to beef.
When it comes to taste, goat meat tends to have a distinct flavor that is often described as stronger or gamier compared to beef. The taste of goat meat can vary depending on factors such as the age of the goat, its diet, and how it was raised. Beef, on the other hand, typically has a milder and more neutral flavor.
Goat meat is leaner and generally has a firmer texture compared to beef. It is often described as being slightly chewier or denser than beef, especially in older goats. Beef can vary in texture depending on the cut, with some cuts being tender and others being more tough or fibrous.
Which One is Easier to Handle?
Cows are bigger. Goats are smaller. It seems obvious, but is really important to keep in mind based on your strength, abilities, knowledge and resources. Based on sheer size, a goat is probably easier to handle, but can be challenging if you don’t have the proper infrastructure.
Containment
Cows and goats present some unique challenges and considerations when it comes to keeping them contained. Goats are known for their agility and curiosity. They have a knack for escaping traditional fencing whether squeezing through narrow opening or climbing. Fencing should be sturdy with no gaps or loose wires. Vegetation near the fence is at risk for being eaten and providing additional escape routes. Cows are not prone to escaping the same way goats are, but they can be powerful creatures that could damage a fence by pushing or leaning on it.
Milking Process
The milking process for cows and goats is similar, but does have some notable differences based on udder anatomy, milking equipment, and milk production characteristics that require adjustments to accommodate the specific needs of each animal. Proper handling and milking techniques are essential for both cows and goats to ensure milk quality and animal welfare.
- Cows are much larger animals and it may be intimidating to handle/milk one if this is a new process for you.
- Cows produce more milk and may need to be milked more frequently.
- Goat teats require gentler handling during milking to prevent damage or injury.
- If using milking equipment, the size and design will differ to accommodate udder size and teat shape. Goats require smaller and more specialized equipment, but the equipment is lighter weight and more portable.
Bulls vs Bucks
Males are required for pregnancy which is necessary for milk. Whether the female is impregnated through natural mating or artificial insemination, there can be challenges.
Artificial insemination requires you to hire someone who has the skills and resources or learn yourself by going through training and buying equipment. Both of which can be time consuming, challenging, or expensive.
Renting a male is the other alternative, however the bigger the hormonal male, the more dangerous it is to work with him. People have been killed by bulls so a buck would be the safer alternative, however in either case avoid one that is bottle-fed as they are more likely to kill a human based on the lack of socialization within their herd.
Finding someone who can do AI for a cow or finding a bull to rent can be more challenging. Not to mention more dangerous.
Death
When a cow dies, it’s more costly and a greater inconvenience than a goat. For a cow, you need to have specialized equipment if you want to move or compost the cow from where they passed. Additionally, if you wanted to do a necropsy to find out how it died, you’d have to figure out a transportation method to get them to the vet. A vet visit to your homestead would be the alternative, but it’s much more costly.
Which One Fits Your Budget?
When we are looking at some rough annual averages, including purchase for these animals, a dairy goat would cost $820 and a dairy cow would cost $4,750. This does not take into consideration widely varying factors such as land, shelter, fencing, or transportation. By these numbers, a goat is cheaper, but it might be easier to make up some of the expenses for having a cow by selling milk and dairy products, offspring, or meat in your community.
Purchasing the Animal
Obviously, we have to talk about the cost of purchasing the animal in the first place. Dairy cows are more expensive hitting an average range of $1,000-$2,000. Goats are much less expensive with an average range of $200-$500.
Space for the Animal
Cows require 2-3 acres per cow which means if you don’t already have the land then there’s the cost to rent or purchase additional space. Goats require 200 to 250 square feet which is more manageable for a smaller homestead.
Not only is the actual land a consideration for cost, but fencing will be needed for both animals. Goats will require less fencing because they require less space, but they will need more durable fencing to keep them contained.
Some sort of shelter will be needed for both animals, but the size of the shelter will be greater for cows than goats.
Breeding
Whether it’s a cow or a goat, the animal will need to be impregnated naturally or artificially inseminated so that you can actually get the milk post birth. There’s the cost involved with either finding someone who is trained to artificially inseminate or rent a male to avoid inbreeding.
On average, the cost of AI for a cow or goat typically ranges from $50 to $150 per insemination attempt. This cost includes the price of the semen, the AI technician’s or veterinarian’s fee, and any additional services provided. It’s important to keep in mind that some cows may require multiple insemination attempts to achieve pregnancy.
Renting a bull or buck can range on average from $50-$200.
Cost of Feed
A rough estimate for feed annually per goat is $270 when considering hay, grain, and mineral supplements. This could be adjusted based on access to grazable land. It’s important to keep in mind that there are a lot of factors that come into play for this average.
A rough estimate for feed annually per dairy cow is $3,000 when considering hay, grain, silage and mineral/other supplements. This could be adjusted based on access to grazable lands. It’s important to keep in mind that there are a lot of factors that come into play for this average.
Veterinary Care
Average veterinary costs for a goat can range from $50-$300 and a dairy cow can range rom $100-$500 for routine check-ups, vaccinations, deworming, preventative treatments, pregnancy check, calving assistance and possible emergency care.
Transportation
A transportation container or trailer should be considered for your budget if you’re expanding your livestock to goats and cows, but it is helpful to keep in mind that the size of the trailer needed is impacted by the size of the animal and the quantity. The larger the trailer the greater the expense.
Is a dairy cow or a goat better for you?
A goat is better for You if...
- You’re just getting started with homesteading and don’t have experience with many types of livestock animals.
- You have a smaller family or are homesteading as a single person.
- You don’t have the time or the interest to utilize an excess of milk.
- You don’t have a lot of land.
- You have a smaller budget.
- You can contain the goats with adequate fencing.
A cow is better for you if...
- You’ve been homesteading for a few years or have experience with larger livestock.
- You have the land and the budget to care for a cow.
- You have a large family or community that you can share or sell the dairy with.
- You have the time and the interest to utilize the milk for other dairy products.
What has been your experience with a cow vs goat? Which one is best for you? If you already had one prior, do you feel like it was the right animal for your homestead?
At this point in our homesteading journey, my family’s needs line up closer to goats being the better home dairy option for us. We are a family of four with limited time and budget right now. While a dairy cow has always seemed like the pinnacle of farming, I have to remind myself that matching our animals to our needs is the true pinnacle. If you’re feeling like me, the good news is that our needs and options can change and there might come a time when the dairy cow is the better option for us, but it’s perfectly fine if not too. In the end, they’re both pretty cute.
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