We have had several customers ask us about sponsoring a goat. We have had several customers ask us about sponsoring a goat. There are several reasons why this may interest you!  Maybe you always wanted to own a goat, but the time was never right, or it just didn't work out for you. Or you are unable to have your own barn and fencing where you live, but would still like to be connected to goats in some way.  Perhaps  you love our farm and find sponsoring a goat as a fun way to support us.  Maybe you really value the fact that we are an Animal Welfare Approved goat dairy, and you would like to contribute to the costs associated with making goat health and happiness priorities of our business. Whatever the reason, we are glad you're interested!

We started the Program in 2020, and began with retired goats. For a myriad of reasons, we have had to retire a few goats well before a typical goat retirement age. Most dairies would cull (put down, or sell for meat)  these goats if they were not contributing financially to the farm. We don't feel right doing this, especially with girls who have worked hard here for us throughout their lives. We feel that we owe it to these girls to let them retire here, among their daughters, sisters, and mothers. 

We calculated how much it costs us to keep these retired goats, and to not cull them. We took our total goat related costs from 2019 and divided them by the number of goats we had. On average, costs for one non-milking goat include: $315 hay, $25 minerals and medicine, $10 vet bills, $30 shavings, $40 miscellaneous items (hoof trimmers, Livestock Guardian Dog costs, shelter repairs, etc.), with a grand total of $420 per year, or $35 per month.

In 2021, we decided to expand our Sponsor a Goat Program. We are excited to offer 4 different Sponsorship Opportunities:

$400/year: Sponsor a Retired Goat ($34/month)

$300/year: Sponsor a Milker ($26/month)

$200/year: Sponsor a Teenager ($17/month)

$100/3 months: Sponsor a Baby Goat ($34/month)

$400/year: Sponsor a Retired Goat ($34/month)

These goats no longer produce for our farm, and get to live out the rest of their days with the herd they love, surrounded by their family members. This level of sponsorship also includes girls that are taking a year off for health reasons.

$300/year: Sponsor a Milker ($26/month)

These goats are actively producing for our farm. The money from sponsorship for these ladies goes to cover the costs of dam raising. Most goat dairies take the babies away from their mamas right when they are born. The babies are then bottle fed (sometimes not even with goat milk), so the farmer can keep all of the milk from the mama. We let our babies stay with their mamas- they stay together forever if we keep the babies, and until they are weaned if we sell the babies. This means less milk for us farmers, but we believe it is better for the health and happiness of both mamas and babies.

$200/year: Sponsor a Teenager ($17/month)

These goats are between 1-3 years old. In most goat dairies,  babies are born in the spring and bred in the fall, often before their bodies are ready. We never breed our goats this young. We wait until the following fall to breed, when the goats are 1.5 years old. Sometimes, we even wait an additional year, when the goats are 2.5 years old. We consider body condition and weight when we make these decisions. That means we often have to raise a goat for a long time before it starts contributing financially to the farm.

$100/3 months: Sponsor a Baby Goat

These are the baby goats! We keep all goats born on the farm for about 3 months. At that point they are either sold to loving homes, or retained here on the farm.  You can sponsor a baby goat before they leave our farm. If we happen to keep them, you can choose to upgrade your sponsorship to the Teenager level. You are welcome to name the baby goat as part of the sponsorship.

We are offering monthly or annual sponsorship opportunities.  The following outlines what is included with your Goat Sponsorship...

If you choose to sponsor a goat for one month, you will get:

•  A digital photo of your goat with any updates about your goat from the month 

 If you choose to sponsor a goat  annually*, you will get:

• A Welcome Packet in your own specially designed Copper Tail Farm folder

• A certificate of Sponsorship for your goat

• A digital photo of your goat with any updates from the month 

• An invitation for a Farm Event solely for Goat Sponsors

*Please note- if you Sponsor a goat for the full year, you may still choose to pay monthly and receive the benefits of an annual sponsorship