Our Commitment to Milk Testing and Quality

Quality & Integrity: Our Proactive Approach

The health of our goats and the quality of our milk are the foundation of everything we do. We have transitioned to a rigorous on-farm lab protocol designed to provide real-time data and ensure our milking practices meet the highest standards of quality and freshness.

Weekly In-House Lab Analysis

Instead of waiting for monthly reports from outside sources, we analyze samples every week in our dedicated on-farm lab. We focus on two critical indicators of milk quality:

Standard Plate Count (SPC): This measures the overall bacterial baseline, verifying that our milking equipment and cooling processes are performing optimally.
Coliform Count: A vital hygiene metric we use to ensure our sanitation practices are consistently maintained at a high level.

By performing these tests in our own lab, we get results in 24-48 hours rather than waiting a week for a state report, allowing us to ensure freshness in real-time.

Following RAWMI Protocols

We have modeled our testing and hygiene standards after the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI), an international organization dedicated to improving the quality of raw milk through producer education and rigorous standards.

Following RAWMI’s best practices means moving away from "snapshot" lab testing and toward consistent, frequent monitoring right here on the farm. By utilizing our own on-farm lab, we can identify and manage risks in real-time. This provides a level of oversight that goes far beyond traditional requirements, ensuring that every batch of milk meets our high internal benchmarks for cleanliness and freshness.

Continuous Herd Monitoring

We don't just test the milk; we monitor the goats. Our health protocol includes:

Monthly DHI Testing: We work with the Dairy Herd Improvement association for monthly milk volume and Somatic Cell Count (SCC) data, giving us a deep dive into the long-term udder health of every goat in the herd.
Daily CMT Checks: During milking, we use the California Mastitis Test (CMT) as a real-time diagnostic tool whenever a "quick check" is needed for an individual goat.

For our customers, this means you aren't just getting milk that passed a test a month ago—you are getting milk from a system that is verified for cleanliness and safety every single week.

Our commitment is simple — healthy goats, transparent testing, clean

milk, and confidence you can count on.

Happier, healthier goats produce the highest quality goat milk.

Our Milking and Handling Process

Our goat milk is raw (unpasturized) full fat goat’s milk from pasture raised ADGA registered Nigerian Dwarf and Saanen dairy goats. We believe it’s important to know where your milk comes from and how it’s being handled.

We milk our goats in a clean, low stress environment into enclosed seamless Grade-A stainless steel equipment. Udders are washed and inspected prior to each milking session. After milking, our goat milk is filtered and chilled immediately in our stainless steel milk chiller or in glass containers to maintain quality and freshness.

All milking equipment is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between every use to ensure the highest standards of safety and hygiene.

Nutrition and Pasture Management

Our goats are raised on large natural pastures free of chemicals, weed killers, or fertilizers. All of our goats have 24/7 access to natural pasture, free choice loose minerals and grass hay.

Our milking goats also receive alfalfa hay, black oil sunflower seeds, vitamins, and a high quality goat feed for protein, energy, milk production, and balanced nutrition.

Herd Testing & Health Care

In addition to daily monitoring and routine lab testing, our herd is tested each year for CAE and Johnes disease. This adds another layer of reassurance and helps us keep our herd strong, healthy, and thriving.

We follow a preventive health care plan and vaccinate our goats according to the recommendations of our farm veterinarian. This includes core vaccines like CD&T (Clostridium perfringens types C & D and tetanus) to help protect our herd and ensure the health of our goats.

Milk Quality Begins Long Before Milking Time

We believe milk quality begins long before milking time — it starts with the daily care, comfort, and nutrition of every goat. From soft bedding and gentle handling to clean barns and open pastures, our herd lives in a calm, healthy environment designed to reduce stress.

Each goat is known by name and personality, and our daily routines revolve around their well-being. We monitor body condition, feed intake, and overall behavior to ensure every animal stays comfortable, well-fed, and thriving. When goats feel safe and content, they produce cleaner, sweeter milk that naturally reflects their good health.

We believe in raising kids naturally with their dams whenever possible. Allowing mothers to raise their own babies not only supports strong maternal instincts and emotional well-being but also helps kids grow stronger and healthier. This approach fosters a peaceful herd dynamic — one that values the natural bond between mother and offspring.

Our herd enjoys plenty of space, fresh air, and access to natural forage year-round. During milking, we maintain a calm atmosphere with minimal noise and distraction, allowing our goats to relax and feel at ease. This gentle approach creates a strong bond of trust between us and our herd — and that care and respect is reflected in the milk they produce.

If you have any questions, please Contact Us - we're happy to answer any questions you have!