Why LaClare's Goat Milk?
LOCAL GOAT MILK MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
A FRESH CLEAN FLAVOR STARTS WITH FRESH, CLEAN MILK
Right in our backyard, we have the highest concentration of dairy goat farming in the nation. All milk is sourced from patron farms that are a short distance from the creamery. This means fresher milk, reduced travel agitation and minimal points of quality disruption.
Learn about the difference between goat cheese and cow cheese.
BENEFITS OF GOAT MILK
Goat milk is easy to digest
Goat milk has the protein Alpha S2 casein which is not an allergen
Goat milk is a rich source of vitamin A
Goat milk may enhance the body’s ability to absorb important nutrients from other foods
OUR GOATS
LaClare Creamery works exclusively with a number of northeast Wisconsin, family-owned goat farms that are just a short trip from the creamery.
For the goats land time and free grazing, each dairy has its own policies based on herd size, land availability, and pasture quality, etc. This also reflects the use of non-GMO feeds, which is determined by each dairy.
Goats are considered browsers versus grazers. Grazing species, for example, are cattle, sheep, and horses. It is not recommended for goats to eat a diet of entirely grass. One of our larger goat farm producers feeds the goats a mix of corn silage, hay silage, cracked corn, soy hulls, molasses, premixed concentrates, and premixed minerals. These ingredients create a very consistent delivery of nutrients to meet all of their daily requirements.
The close proximity of our goat farms also ensures a very fresh and clean tasting product. When goat milk has to travel from a far distance and is not picked up within two days, it gets more agitated and develops the goaty flavor many people experience with a bad goat milk. One reflection in how our approach is working is the fact that we were honored in 2019 with a “1st place - Best Milk” title at the Wisconsin State Fair. This category included both cow and goat milk.
Other categories of animal care that we prioritize:
No growth hormones are used in any of the goat milk we receive.
There is no “one size fits all” diet for our goats. Their meals vary depending on lactation stage, size and age. Goat meals consist of hay, silage, corn, vitamins, minerals and pellets, with each ingredient formulated to meet the goats’ needs in consultation with qualified herd nutritionists.
Our goats are never fed antibiotics as part of their diet. We do, however, believe in the humane care of the animals on our farm and will use antibiotics in the treatment of sick animals. Those are administered via strict protocols developed in conjunction with our veterinarian. All treatments are recorded in a digital tracking system, treated goats are segregated from the herd for closer observation, and their milk is diverted from the consumer supply.
Depending on their home farms, our goats are housed inside free-roam pens and have outdoor access when the weather is favorable. These provide ample space for our goats to move about, socialize, eat, drink and sleep as they wish.