Ethical Dairy Farming: How Happy Goats Make Better Cheese | The Salty Goat

At The Salty Goat, we don’t consider ourselves ranchers or even goat farmers in the traditional sense. We are caretakers, deeply invested in the lives and well-being of every animal on our farm. Our goats are not just part of our business—they are the heartbeat of everything we do.

Animal welfare is not an afterthought; it is the foundation of our entire operation. Before milk, before cheese, before markets and sales, comes the care and happiness of our herd. Their health, their comfort, and their trust in us mean more than anything else. This is what makes dairy farming special—unlike other forms of agriculture, we are given the opportunity to develop long-lasting relationships with the animals we work with every day. Our goats know us, and we know them. Each one has a name, a personality, and a story. They are raised with love, respect, and the understanding that their well-being directly reflects in the milk they produce.

The Role of Terroir in Our Dairy

In cheesemaking, terroir—the unique characteristics of a place that influence the flavor of its products—is everything. It’s not just the pasture or the feed that makes our milk unique. It’s the entire environment, including the stress-free and enriched lives our goats lead. Happy, well-cared-for animals produce better milk, and that difference can be tasted in every drop.

When you enjoy a cheese from The Salty Goat, you’re tasting more than just the milk—it’s the result of a deep bond between us and our herd. It’s the trust built through years of care, it’s the time spent scratching behind their ears, knowing which ones love attention and which ones prefer to just be near us in quiet companionship.

Our dairy is a reflection of our goats, and our goats are a reflection of us. This is why their care is, and always will be, our number one priority.

Always Growing, Always Learning

While our dedication to our animals will never change, we are always striving to grow and improve as cheesemakers. Every batch of milk is an opportunity to learn, to experiment, and to refine our craft. Just as we nurture our goats, we are nurturing our skills, pushing ourselves to become the best cheesemakers we can be.

In our next post, we’ll share more about our journey in cheesemaking—our commitment to learning, our experiments with new styles, and how we’re shaping the future of The Salty Goat one cheese at a time. Stay tuned!