What's a Dairy Goat Herd Share?
Dairy goat herd shares allow community members to invest in a share of our goat herd. As a shareholder, you enter a contractual relationship with Little Sprig Farm and pay us a monthly fee to board, feed, milk, and care for your share of the dairy goat herd. In return, you receive (amount dependent on shareholder level and time of year) goat milk once per week.
Why Become a Herd Shareholder?
Other than receiving delicious raw goat milk on a weekly basis, by committing to a herdshare, you are helping to support small agriculture in your own community. With every dollar you spend on your food you are casting a vote on the type of food system, land management, and animal care you want. By keeping your food dollars local, you are ensuring that small producers have a chance to provide highly nutritious, quality food and products for your family.
2024 Herd Share Program
Registration
Registration for our 2024 herd share program is open.
Shares available are limited, but we do keep a waitlist once all shares are sold.
Important Note
As stewards of our beloved goats and champions of high-quality milk, we do not milk year round. We firmly believe that a critical part of providing exceptional herd share experiences lies in ensuring the well-being of the herd. Just as nature follows a cycle, so too do our goats benefit from a period of rest. This seasonal pause helps maintain their vitality and overall health, which in turn supports the production of superior milk in the next milking season.
Typically, the milking season runs from February or March (when kidding happens) until October (when breeding occurs). It is important to note that even though our goats will not be producing milk during breeding season, they will still require the same level of care and attention. Their well-being remains our top priority, and our team will continue to provide them with the utmost care, including feeding, shelter, and veterinary attention as needed. As such, the boarding fees associated with our herd share program will still be due during the off-milking season.
We do guarantee to work extremely hard year-round to ensure that the herd stays happy, healthy, and safe, for the greatest possible production of delicious raw milk.
2024 Program Fees
One-Time Program Buy-In
This is a one-time share purchase due at the time of registration. If you choose to leave the program Little Sprig Farm will buy your share back for 5$.
50$ each share.
Monthly Boarding Fees
This is the fee due for care and boarding of your share(s) in the herd. If paying monthly, it is due the first Saturday of each month. If paying quarterly, it is due the first Saturday of January, April, July, and October.
40$ monthly
105$ quarterly
Pickup of Goods
Pickup: Every Saturday from 10-2 at our booth at the Wolfforth Farmer's Market.
Delivery: We offer doorstep delivery on Saturday's after the Farmer's Market to shareholders in the Wolfforth/Lubbock area for an additional 10$ a week.
Herd Management at Little Sprig Farm
When you buy into the herd you can expect the following:
- Your goat will live a life of farm luxury with shielded pens, open pasture, and recreational climbing structures (and love).
- All Little Sprig Farm products, including milk, will be unprocessed and raw in its most natural, nutritious form.
- Your goat will be hand or machine milked to maintain the best hygienic practices and maintain an intimacy and familiarity with the goats, which they then thrive on.
- As appropriate, your goat will always be able to be mothers first and will be able to milk share with their babies and kids until appropriate weaning times.
How to Join Our Herd Share Program
Step 1: Connect
Connect with us here, DM on social media, or send us a message to check for open shares and receive a copy of our herd share info booklet and contract.
Step 2: Sign Contract
Read, re-read, sign, and return our herd share contract. We require a signed paper copy of our contract.
Step 3: Pay Fees
Pay your herd share fees. Check our herd share contract for payment options and due dates.
Step 4: Pickup Goods
Stop by the Wolfforth Farmer's Market on Saturday's from 10-2 to get your goat milk.
Herd Share FAQs
How much milk will I get?
In a herd share program you are buying a share in an animal that is part of a larger herd, and you will receive the product of this share. A full share is 1/7th of a doe in the Little Sprig Farm herd. This means, you should receive roughly 1/2 gallon of milk weekly. Since milk production changes throughout a doe's lactation cycle received milk might fluctuate.
Will milk be available year round?
Each year there will be a time when milk will not be available. This period coincides with the breeding and kidding seasons (usually October to February or March). In the time of low production or dry months, the monthly care fee is still due. However, if you would like to terminate your share during these times, we can let you know when more milk is available and you can repurchase your share. This does run the risk of losing your shares if none are available once milk is available again.
Am I buying Raw Goat Milk?
In Texas it is illegal to consume raw milk from an animal you do not own. You are NOT buying raw milk. You are buying a share in a goat herd which entitles you to the product (goat milk) of the goat you partially own.
How does Little Sprig Farm handle my milk?
We wash the udders of the goat, discard the first stripping of milk from each teat, and milk by hand into clean stainless steel pails. We strain the milk through a filter to remove hair, and other impurities and then cool it in the refrigerator. We thoroughly wash the buckets after each milking and let them air-dry to avoid picking up bacteria from a towel. Our family drinks our own milk raw and therefore we make sure that our production practices are very clean.
How should I handle my raw milk?
Raw milk has to be cold. The share of milk that you receive from the herd is raw, and unpasteurized. We store milk at 38 degrees or colder, and when you pick up your share(s) make sure to pack an ice pack and refrigerate as soon as possible.
Do I need to bring my own jars?
No, your milk will be provided in Quart sized Deli containers that are recyclable.
What happens if I can't pick up my share on a certain week/day?
If you are unable to pick up your share at the designated time/place then you may either designate someone to pick it up for you, or you can forfeit that weeks milk. Since milk has a shelf life, we will not hold milk for a shareholder from the previous week to be picked up at a later date.