Cape FFA students get their goats

Twelve baby goats are going to class at Cape Henlopen High School.

The high school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) raise dwarf Nigerian goats, and 12 goats were born this year. Ten survived, three females and seven males, said agriculture science teacher Heather Hastings.

The FFA will keep the three females and sell the males as a fundraiser for the club, she said.

During the day, the baby goats are at the high school, so all students in agriculture classes can spend time with them, Hastings said. At night, the goats go home with appointed student foster parents, who are responsible for them, she said.

“They must make arrangements if they have things to do and can’t take care of the goats,” she said.

For the first month after the babies were born, students collect milk from the mothers, measuring volume and conducting various tests through the Department of Agriculture. “We’ll try to become a registered milking unit,” Hastings said.

That will allow the FFA to sell milk from its goats for consumption once it is licensed.

Once the testing is done, students will continue milking the goats and will use their milk to create soaps and lotions, experimenting with different scents and formulas, Hastings said.

The male goat kids can be sold neutered or not neutered.

They will be ready to go to new homes when they are about 2 months old. Goats make great pets.

For more information on the goats, contact Hastings at Cape Henlopen High School at 302-645-7711.