Kaluga goat breeding: development prospects and revival of the industry

Goat farming has a long history in rural areas, where goats have long been common. Goats have proven to be hardier and easier to feed than cows, which explains their strong presence on farms. However, over time, pastoral paintings with goats became rare. But the 2014 sanctions changed the situation.

Currently, goat breeding in the Kaluga region is developing mainly at the level of personal subsidiary plots (LPH). However, there are already several large goat farms that produce milk in industrial quantities and supply it for processing. The head of the livestock and breeding department of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kaluga Region, Inna Fetisova, notes that such development of the industry was impossible to imagine 10 years ago. With the introduction of sanctions, a demand for domestic cheeses appeared in the country , requiring high-quality milk, including goat milk. This stimulated the development of goat farming and the creation of new farms.

Goat farming is also of interest as an alternative livestock farming option due to outbreaks of African swine fever ( ASF ). The Regional Ministry of Agriculture recommends that private household plots and small farmers who find it difficult to ensure sanitary safety switch to alternative types of livestock farming, such as goat breeding and sheep breeding.

Interest in goat milk is growing not only among cheese producers, but also among baby food manufacturers. The demand for this product opens up new opportunities for the development of goat farming in the region.

To revive the industry, Kaluga farmers are resorting to importing animals. For example, goats of the Saanen breed were brought from Austria to the Klimovskaya eco-farm in the Yukhnovsky district.

Goat's milk: optimal milk yield and excellent taste

Olga claims that each of her goats produces a little more than three liters of milk per day, and this is the optimal amount. According to her, if the milk yield is less, then keeping a goat becomes unprofitable, and if it is more, feeding problems arise. She emphasizes that such milk yield can be obtained from Russian goats, which are in no way inferior to foreign breeds. The difference lies only in taste preferences: goats of Russian breeds do not provide such richness of taste, which is necessary for the production of high-quality cheese.

Cheese making: Olga's art and passion Olga

not only raises goats and produces milk, but also has a passion for cheese making. Every week she produces about 1.5 kilograms of different types of cheese. To make cheese, Olga pasteurizes milk and processes it twice a week. The result of her work is delicious and high-quality cheeses that fully cover the cost of hay and various additives.

Family business: helping children and caring for health

In Olga's family there is always an atmosphere of cooperation and caring for each other. Her eldest daughter, a 16-year-old assistant, is actively involved in caring for the animals. The younger children , nine and five years old, help herd the animals. This family support allows Olga to focus on producing quality milk and cheese.

Produced with love and care from the hand milking of goats, goat milk is a natural product that has a unique taste and health benefits. Olga, who is passionate about cheese making, produces a variety of cheeses that fully satisfy the taste preferences of her customers. Her story is an example of how family business, health care and a passion for producing natural products can coexist and bring joy and benefit.