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Here at Branru Farm, we obviously love goats. We especially love producing lotions, and soaps using the milk from our dairy goats. They are also just a lot of fun to be around. Each one has its own distinct personality. If you are looking to get into farming or add to your existing farm, we can’t recommend goats enough. Here are some specific reasons why.

Goats Love to Eat

A big benefit of raising goats is that they love to eat, and they’ll eat just about anything. That’s why they’re great at helping keep land clear. In fact, some people also use goats as pack animals to help them carry items in mountainous regions because they don’t have to worry about feeding them. The goats just eat the grass and shrubbery along the trails. They’re also agile, and depending on the type of goat and certain other factors, can
usually carry about 30 percent of their body weights. Additionally, since goats are browsers who like to eat things like woody bushes and brush and general opportune eaters, they don’t tend to cost a lot to feed compared to certain other farm animals.

Some Goats Produce Useful Fibers

Although not our specialty here at Branru Farm, many farmers keep certain types of goats for the fiber (hair) they can produce. Goat fiber is commonly used in various types of textile and crafting work. For example, cashmere is produced by the goat type of the same name. Meanwhile, mohair is produced by Pygora and Angora goats. As a side note, angora comes from the Angora rabbit. If you decide to keep those types of goats on your goat farm, you can sell the fibers or use them yourself to create your own clothing and textiles.

Goats Can be Raised for Their Meat

Our goats are dairy goats, but it is possible to raise certain types of goats for their meat. Meat goats can help you provide for your family’s food needs. Since you can also sell them or their meat, they can also be a source of income for your household. There are several breeds of goats raised as meat goats. Click here for a list, in case that aspect of goat farming interests you.

Goat Milk is Great to Drink

Goat milk is tasty. There are also several ways drinking goat milk can be good for your health, too. For starters, it can help support your bone health. Also:

 It’s less likely to cause upset stomachs for most people than cow milk.
 It is closer to human milk than to cow milk, making it easier for humans to process and absorb nutrients from, in general.
 It may provide a metabolism boost.
 It is full of beneficial fatty acids that may be especially good for heart health.
 It’s a great protein source.
 It can be useful in some cases to help people lose weight due to its low concentration of bad fats.

Goat Milk Makes Great Soap

One of our favorite reasons to keep dairy goats is that their milk makes great soap. Goat milk soap is wonderfully mild and gentle on the skin. It’s also full of nutrients and a great exfoliant. That’s why many people with skin problems like to use it. It can potentially improve their skin health. We also like it because it can easily be scented with various scents that are great for aromatherapy, such as lavender. 

It’s Amazing in Lotions

Another great use for goat milk is in lotion. On our goat farm we produce several wonderful, scented body lotions in scents like spring mint and green apple. Goat milk lotion can soften rough hands and feet. The anti-inflammatory properties of goat milk also help it reduce skin irritations. So, if you struggle with dry skin essentially, it can be a wonderfully hydrating skincare solution.

Goats Can Provide an Off-the-Grid Fuel Source

It may sound odd, but you can use goat dung as fuel for fires. People all over the world do it all the time. Therefore, goat farming is a great solution if you want a way to be almost entirely off-the-grid and self-sufficient. At the very least, raising goats can certainly help you cut down on your traditional energy and fuel consumption.

Goats Make Good Pets

Goats aren’t just good for providing meat or milk, and they’re not just good for clearing land or fostering healthy skin. They also make fantastic pets. They are friendly pack animals who love to be with each other and their human companions, usually. They’re also relatively small, which makes them wonderful pets for families with kids. If you are trying to teach your children about pet care and general responsibilities, getting a goat or
two might be a good way to start.

We at Branru Farm certainly love ours. They’re cherished members of our family.

At Branru Farm, we love our dairy goats. Goat milk is a great product, whether you drink it or use it to make items like our goat milk soaps. However, keeping goats can be an expensive undertaking. The same is true of keeping cows or other farm animals. Producers of raw milk and certain other products derived from farm animals, such as meat, often enter into herd share agreements as a way to earn an extra income. For consumers, there are multiple potential benefits to herd shares. Here is a bit more information about the
herd share process.

What is a Herd share Exactly?

The term “herd share” (sometimes written as “herdshare”) as it applies to a cow or goat farm is similar to the term “boarding” as it applies to a horse stable. When a person boards a horse, it gives him or her the chance to own one without personally having the land on which to keep it or the time to care for it around the clock. In a cow or goat farm herd share situation, a consumer doesn’t actually own the animal as in the case of horse boarding. However, they essentially rent the rights to some or all of the products produced by that animal for a period of time. The producer (farmer) then cares for the animal on the consumer’s behalf throughout the year.

Agreements may vary slightly, but typically the farmer accepts either yearly or monthly fees in exchange for caring for the animal. In some situations, depending on state laws, multiple individuals can purchase a share in the same animal. Although, that most often occurs when dealing with large animals like beef cattle. In such cases, renting parties help pay for the care of the animals until they go to slaughter. Then families collect portions of the meat based on shares owned.

Why We Are Now Offering a Herd share Option at Branru Farm

At Branru Farm, we are now producing more goat milk than we need to create the products like Lilac Soap and Honeysuckle Lotion that we sell. We don’t want that extra milk to go to waste, so we have decided to start offering herd shares as of 2024. Many farms of all sizes all over the country offer similar programs, especially in certain states where raw milk sales are prohibited by old laws. Selling herd share options allows farmers in those areas to help pay for the costs of keeping their goats, as well as make sure the milk is utilized by those who need it.

How Does a Herd share Help a Consumer

There are several ways a herd share agreement can help a consumer. Here they are:

 It can eliminate the time factor involved in caring for one’s own animal.

 It allows a consumer who might not have a lot of land to still access products produced by farm animals. 

 In particular, it can provide a raw milk-loving consumer with access to raw milk, even in states where sale of raw milk is not allowed. Thus, consumers can reap the health benefits of raw milk.

There are also group benefits when consumers participate in herd shares. Successful herd share operations sometimes help sustain struggling communities. Individuals can pool their resources to invest in herds together, making it easier to supply milk and other farm products to everyone in the area.

Words of Caution Regarding Herd shares

A herd share agreement can be great for all parties, but it isn’t without risks entirely, especially if you are a consumer. It is always possible that the animal(s) in which you invest can become ill or pass away. Also, as a consumer, you need to understand that you may pay for an animal’s upkeep all year, but there may be a short time when the goat is not producing milk due to being pregnant and you may not reap any benefit from the investment other than guaranteed milk when it is available again. Still, it can be a great option if you want access to fresh, raw milk.

Regardless of whether you are a consumer or producer, another important thing to note before becoming involved in herd share is that laws vary widely between states and may change at any point. Some states have statewide laws. Others allow individual towns to establish their own guidelines. It is vital to familiarize yourself with the laws in your geographic area before you enter into a herd share agreement. As long as you do that, a herd share can be beneficial for everyone involved.

You may have heard of Shea butter before. That is because it’s widely used in natural health and beauty circles as are other related products, such as Shea oils. While Shea oils are often used to improve hair health, Shea butter’s emphasis tends to be more on skin health. That’s why we at Branru Farm like to use it in our lotions. Here’s a bit more about Shea butter and how it can help you get healthier and softer skin.

What is Shea Butter?

Vitellaria paradoxa is also known as a Shea tree. Originally, it hails from central Africa, where it is revered by the indigenous people. However, they aren’t the only ones who value it. Today, it is grown in many parts of the world and utilized by those who swear by natural skincare techniques. Shea butter is extracted from the nut of the African Shea tree and mixed into various skin health products. There are many reasons for that. Some of them are listed below.

Shea Butter Contains Antioxidants and Vitamins for Skin Health

One of the biggest benefits of Shea butter is its high vitamin content. It is particularly rich in vitamins E and A, which are both great for skin health. Such vitamins have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are sort of like a body’s internal soldiers. They fight off invading free radicals, which are foreign materials. Often, free radicals come in contact with the skin via airborne pollutants. Having those extra antioxidants prevents skin from becoming dull. It can also help reduce wrinkle development. Shea butter also contains other useful elements like:

• Stearic, Linoleic, Palmitic, and Oleic Fatty Acids
• Vitamin F
• Triglycerides
• Cetyl Esters

Shea Butter Creates Softer Skin

Creating softer skin is one of the biggest benefits of Shea butter and one of the reasons we use it in our lotions here at Branru Farm. Sometimes skin has a dull appearance. It can also be dry at times. You might have dry skin in the winter if you live in an area with cold or snowy winters, for example. Shea butter functions as a moisturizing agent for skin hydration. It helps provide moisture to the skin, and it can also help hold moisture in the skin cells longer. Shinier, softer skin is often achieved when products containing Shea butter are applied regularly.

Shea Butter Promotes New Skin Cell Growth

Another useful thing about Shea butter is that it can increase collagen production and help strengthen existing collagen in skin cells. Collagen is a type of protein . It’s also known for being the connective tissue that helps keep skin cells together. When collagen starts to break down, skin becomes loose and loses its elasticity. That is what leads to the development of fine lines and wrinkles. Since Shea butter helps keep collagen healthy and helps encourage the body to make more, it helps preserve the structural integrity of the skin. It is often used in skincare products because it can help skin stay tight and smooth.

Shea Butter May Help Reduce the Appearance of Scars

For similar reasons to those in the above paragraph, using products like our lotions that contain Shea butter is also potentially helpful for scar treatment. The increase in collagen production helps cellular turnover, which is the rate at which dead cells are eliminated and new ones grow in their place. It also helps skin maintain elasticity, which can assist with the healing process. Its ability to create softer skin also can help Shea butter treat acne scarring and certain other scars. It doesn’t eliminate them entirely, but in many instances it can make scars look less prominent.

Shea Butter May Reduce Skin Inflammation

When it comes to skin health and general skincare concerns, inflammation is a big one. Inflammation can occur for many reasons. It often happens when skin is exposed to the elements. Dry, cold conditions can cause it, as well as exposure to windy conditions. There are also plenty of airborne and applied environmental chemicals that may contribute to inflamed skin. Shea butter contains esters and other components known to help reduce
or prevent that inflammation. In fact, it is also thought to be useful for treating inflammation-based skin conditions like eczema.

More Reasons We Put Shea Butter in Our Lotions

Those are only some of the many reasons our Branru Farm lotions contain Shea butter. It’s not just good for skin hydration and reducing inflammation. We also consider it essential because it has anti-bacterial and anti- fungal properties. It can even help treat sunburns. So, don’t wait. Give one of our scented or unscented lotions with Shea butter a try!

Here at Branru Farm, we use oils in several of our products. The types of oils vary. For example, our lotions often contain either essential oils or fragrance oils. You may be wondering what the difference is between each oil type. Let’s explore those differences, beginning with definitions of each.

What is Essential Oil?

Essential oil is concentrated oil extracted from a plant that retains the essence (scent and flavor) of that plant. They have several potential benefits like:

• Helping People Sleep Better
• Reducing Stress
• Improving Concentration and Focus
• Reducing Headaches
• Treating Nausea

For those reasons and others, essential oils are commonly used for aromatherapy purposes. Often, they are used in candle making because they have strong odors that diffuse well into a room as candles burn. Lavender is a particularly popular choice, which is why we offer several lavender-scented products here at the farm. Other popular aromatherapy essential oils commonly used by natural remedy enthusiasts include:

• Eucalyptus
• Peppermint
• Lemon
• Rose

What is Herbal-Infused Oil?

When an herb is placed in a base oil (more commonly called a carrier oil ) the properties of that herb slowly permeate the oil over time. The process creates an herbal-infused oil, which can then be used for various purposes. The two most common purposes are cooking and creating herbal remedies or skincare treatments. In the case of an herbal-infused oil, the base oils are not the same as the common plant-extracted essential oils. Instead, carrier oils like grapeseed, coconut, almond, or olive oil are used. herbal-infused oils are often used by herbalists in products like body lotions.

What is Fragrance Oil?

Fragrance oils are typically completely synthetic, or man-made. However, some users do refer to diluted essential oils as fragrance oils as well. Synthetic fragrance oils often offer a wider range of available scents because they can produce scents or scent combinations that do not originate from a single plant. Skincare products with names like “pumpkin spice latte” are most likely produced using fragrance oils. At Branru Farm, we use fragrance oils to bring you stunning scent creations like Black Dragon.

Reasons to Use Different Oils

The three oil types above each have their uses. The first two are particularly attractive if you are looking to avoid synthetics. One reason you might wish to do so is if you suffer from allergies. Often, natural products are more soothing to skin prone to allergic reactions. Although, it is possible to also be allergic to certain natural products. Additionally, it is important to choose fragrance oils carefully because many fragrance oils do contain potentially harmful chemicals.

Although we love all-natural products here on the farm, we do recognize that there are valid uses for the right types of synthetic fragrance oils. They allow us to provide you with scented products that would not otherwise exist. In addition to unique scent blends, certain specific fruit scents are only achievable using fragrance oils because essential oils with those scents do not exist. Apples, peaches, and cherries are good examples of fruits that do not produce essential oils with the scents we all know and love. That’s why the limitless aroma options of fragrance oils can be quite attractive.

Another reason we use different oils for different purposes here at Branru Farm is practicality. For instance, undiluted essential oils are quite strong. Some can even be harmful when they come in direct contact with skin. When we use them in products like our goat milk soaps we have to dilute them. We also sometimes use gentler alternatives like herbal-infused oils or fragrance oils in some of our products.

The three oils also differ in a few more important ways. Fragrance oils are often less expensive, but they also don’t keep as long. They have a shelf life measured in months, while the shelf life of essential oils is measured in years. Some essential oils, when stored properly, can keep for more than a decade. Essential oils and herbal-infused oils can also have potential medicinal benefits, while fragrance oils only provide great scents.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is we like to keep all three oil types at our disposal. We use them in varied products and for varied purposes. As you can see from the information above, there are good reasons for that. If you ever have a question as to which oils are used in our products, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for clarification. We will be happy to assist you!

At Branru Farm , essential oils are among our favorite ingredients to use in our products. Essential oils are natural plant extracts . Many of them have multiple medicinal uses. For example, some of their scents can be calming and soothing. Reducing stress also means some can help you sleep better. Quite a few essential oils also have physical health benefits ranging from settling the stomach to improving skin health. Today, we want to talk specifically about the many benefits of sweet almond oil. 

What is Sweet Almond Oil?

To understand sweet almond oil, you must first understand the difference between sweet and bitter almonds. Bitter almonds are not directly consumed by people as snacks. However, after a good deal of processing, oil from bitter almonds is used to create almond flavored extracts . Sweet almonds are the almonds you are likely to see on a day-to-day basis on store shelves. They are commonly eaten as snacks or used as cooking ingredients. Sweet almond oil is extracted from the plants from which those snack nuts are grown. It is also sometimes referred to as just “almond oil.” The oil has several potential benefits, many of which are described below.

Sweet Almond Oil and Hair Health

Sweet almond oil has multiple potential hair benefits. Most are due to its emollient properties. Emollients assist with hydration by filling in gaps and providing barriers to keep moisture in. Thus, over time use of emollients can make hair look more healthy and shiny. Almond oil and other emollients can also give hair a softer texture and make it feel better. However, those effects can take a while to show themselves, so regular use is required.

Sweet Almond Oil for Skin Hydration

The same emollient properties that make sweet almond essential oil great for hair health also make it great for skin health. It provides fortification at the cellular level. Creating a barrier to prevent escaping moisture helps skin stay hydrated. That is one of many reasons we are proud to include it in our Branru Farm lotions.

Soothing and Repairing Skin With Sweet Almond Oil

When it comes to skincare, sweet almond oil has a multitude of uses. Locking in moisture is only one. Some others are:

• Reduction of Irritations Like Sunburns
• Lessening the Appearance of Wrinkles (Due to Vitamin E and Fatty Acid Content)
• Lessening the Appearance of Certain Types of Skin Blemishes.

When using lotion or other products containing sweet almond oil or any other essential oil for skin health, the key is consistency. You won’t see any of those results after a few hours or a day. You have to give the essential oil enough of an opportunity to do its job. That’s why it needs to become a regular, integral part of your daily skincare routine.

Direct Applications for Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet almond oil is typically incorporated into lotion or other products. However, there are times when it can be effectively used on its own. For instance, many people find sweet almond oil on its own is a great natural lip balm. It provides a lot of hydration directly to the lips, which is perfect in a hot, dry climate or on a cold, blustery winter day when moisture is in short supply. Some users also swear by the use of sweet almond oil to reduce dark circles and under-eye bags. However, it’s worth noting that you have to be careful not to get any of the oil in your eyes when using it for that purpose. It also takes time for the oil to really soak into your skin. It is best applied before bed so it can work while you are sleeping.

Your hair and skin are not the only parts of your body that may benefit from sweet almond oil. It can also be directly applied to your toenails and fingernails. The same properties that make it good for skin and hair make it excellent for nails. Applying it regularly can help keep your nails from cracking. It can also help prevent fungal infections, which often pop up under and around nails.

Relaxing With Sweet Almond Oil

A final reason to give sweet almond oil a try is it can be great for your mental and emotional health. Consuming it in food and beverages can boost your memory, according to some studies. At Branru Farm, we are particularly fond of its aromatherapy benefits. It works well when mixed with lavender or other essential oils, as in our Calm Me Down lotion. So give one a try, and let your worries start to slip away.

As you probably know, essential oils are concentrated oils. They are taken from various natural plants. There are many types of popular essential oils you might hear about often, such as tea tree oil or lavender oil. However, there are also a lot of potentially beneficial essential oils that are lesser-known. One that is not talked about as much in mainstream society but should be is plantain oil. Here at Branru Farm, we use plantain essential oil in our Derma Balm because of its many potential skin benefits. Here’s a little more about what plantain oil has to offer.

Plantain the Plant Versus Plantain the Fruit Tree

Plantain (also called plantain weed) is a certain type of plant. However, is not the same as the tropical tree that grows the plantain fruits known for closely resembling bananas. Plantain weed is a plant that grows almost anywhere. That’s one reason it is called plantain weed. It can pop up any place from a backyard garden to a school playground.
Plantain essential oil is simply an essential oil that is extracted from the leaves of that plant, which is technically an herb. Some people consider it to be an annoying plant similar to dandelion. However, both dandelion and plantain weed have a lot of great uses. Plantain weed has many medicinal purposes, in fact.

Plantain Extract for Internal Health

There have been several studies on the effects of plantain extract on internal health. Specifically, its effects relating to cancer and liver health have been looked at extensively. Indications are that it can lower cancer risks and reduce liver inflammation. However, it is not a valid stand-alone treatment for such ailments.

Plantain Weed and Digestion

Another potential benefit of plantain weed itself is better digestive health. Both the seeds and the leaves of the plantain weed plant are rich in a certain type of fiber. That fiber helps to regulate digestion. One study also found that plantain extract could improve digestion by treating stomach ulcers. Although, that study was conducted on rats, not people.

Plantain Essential Oil for Skincare

One reason we include plantain extract in our Derma Balm skin lotion here at Branru Farm is that it is rich in vitamins. Many vitamins help to promote skin health. In the case of Plantago major, which is also called broadleaf plantain. The top vitamins are:

• Vitamin B
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K

Plantain oil can also be beneficial for skin health because it has components that assist with healing small wounds. That’s one reason many people use natural tinctures containing plantain oil to treat minor skin cuts. It can also be used to help minor sores on the inside of the mouth to heal faster.

Plantain Oil for Treatment of Insect Stings and Bites

Another way plantain oil is commonly used is in the treatment of insect stings and bites. In fact, plantain poultices were used for several centuries for that purpose. Today, a lot of people prefer such natural insect bite treatments instead of man-made, chemical-filled alternatives. In fact, there are many multi-oil recipes for treatment of bug bites available online. Of course, our Derma Balm and other lotions here at Branru farm are primarily designed to help keep your skin feeling fantastic whether you have bug bites to soothe or not.

Plantain Weed for a Healthier Immune System

Several studies have shown that plantain weed has the power to boost a person’s immune system and help stave off certain types of infections. One of the best ways to use plantain weed for that purpose is not the application of a lotion or balm externally, though. Instead, it’s to chop leaves from the plant and boil them in water. That creates an immune system-boosting tea you can drink. Many people add honey to plantain weed tea, both for flavor and because the honey itself has a lot of great medicinal benefits .

Benefits of Plantain Weed Don’t Stop There

From its potential to lower cholesterol to its potential to reduce the risk of kidney stones, the possible benefits just keep coming. There have even been studies that showed it promotes better dental health by reducing bacteria growth in the mouth. So, we at Branru Farm hope you’ll take the time to better understand and appreciate this often overlooked “weed” that is really an amazingly versatile herb.

One of the products we are most proud of here at Branru Farm is our Derma Balm Salve, a healing salve for the skin. This natural balm contains several ingredients that can help your skin stay healthy and soothe it. One of them is comfrey. If you haven’t heard of comfrey, you aren’t alone. It’s certainly not as well-known as some other herbs and plants, like lavender. That’s a shame, since it can be so useful. Read on to learn about some of comfrey’s many potential uses.

What is Comfrey?

First, you probably want to know what comfrey is. As mentioned above, it’s an herb. It is originally native to portions of Asia and most of Europe. These days, it is grown in many other suitable climates, though. That includes parts of the United States. In fact, in many areas it now grows wild in the United States with no human intervention.

A Brief History of Comfrey

Comfrey has been used for healing purposes since 400 B.C., if not earlier. However, it wasn’t until the 1600s that it was first brought to North America. Its primary early use was helping to heal wounds. Herbalists discovered early on that it rapidly increased wound healing. It has been used for that purpose ever since. Although, using it was not without its ups and downs.

Early comfrey users discovered one minor problem with the herb. It sometimes worked too well for proper wound healing. In order to heal, wounds often need exposure to open air. That allows infection and pus to escape. That’s why doctors and veterinarians frequently install small drains in the open wounds of their patients. Early comfrey users didn’t realize that using too much of the herb sometimes caused the skin to heal
rapidly over the top of unresolved infections. Luckily, modern herbalists have determined how much use of the comfrey herb is helpful versus how much is detrimental. Here are some other uses for comfrey.

Comfrey for Pain Reduction

Comfrey is an herbal remedy commonly used for pain reduction. Applying a salve containing comfrey is a great way to reduce joint aches. In fact, comfrey-based creams and salves are commonly used to treat osteoarthritis. They can also help eliminate other minor discomfort, such as from over-exertion during exercise.

Comfrey for Bone and Muscle Healing

Although definitely not meant as a stand-alone treatment, comfrey proponents have long used it to improve bone health as well. In fact, a nickname for the comfrey plant is “knitbone” because it speeds up bone healing. That is due to a key component of comfrey called allantoin. Allantoin can not only speed up broken bone healing, but also assist with healing muscle strains and sprains.

Comfrey for General Skin Health Improvement

The same allantoin that makes comfrey useful for bone and muscle healing also makes it excellent for skin health. That’s because allantoin has anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, it is often used to make facial masks and other products that help heal and hydrate skin. It is proven to cut back on skin sensitivity and irritation. As such, it often helps to:

• Reduce the Appearance of Eczema
• Lessen the Appearance of Scars
• Reduce Acne Outbreaks
• Generally Soothe Irritated Skin

Comfrey For Internal Use

Comfrey is not always applied externally to the body in the form of salves or lotions like ours. Some people choose to take it internally in supplement pill form. That is because the herb has been shown in studies to assist with digestive and urinary tract health.

Another way comfrey is often taken internally is in the form of a tea. Comfrey tea is what is known as an expectorant. Another name for an expectorant is a mucolytic. It basically means that comfrey can help break up mucus in the throat and lungs. That means comfrey tea may help make it easier for patients with certain upper respiratory infections and colds to breathe.

A third common internal use for comfrey-based liquid solutions is as drops delivered directly into the eyes. Comfrey is said to reduce eye strain and eliminate irritation. However, you should never apply it directly to your eyes without expert medical supervision.

Comfrey and Our Derma Balm

At Branru Farm , we pride ourselves on producing natural, safe, helpful, and soothing products. That’s why comfrey is just one of several potentially beneficial ingredients in our Derma Balm skincare salve. Whenever you apply it, it is sure to leave the area soothed and refreshed.

We hope you enjoy it, along with our other great natural products .

Exploring the Benefits of Tea Tree Oil

If you have ever used any essential oils at all, or even certain body care products, you have probably heard of tea tree oil. It’s often used in products like shampoos and conditioners. You might wonder why. It’s because tea tree oil has a lot of potential benefits. Read on to learn exactly what it is, what those benefits are, and why we use tea tree oil in a some of our Branru Farm products.

What is Essential Oil, and What is Tea Tree Oil?

To understand what tea tree oil is, you must first understand what essential oils are. Essential oils are plant oils which are distilled from various plants. They typically have strong odors, and a few drops go a long way for use in aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is one main use for many essential oils. In fact, aromatherapy with essential oils is a big part of the treatment plan for many recovering cancer patients. Although, essential oils have many other uses as well.

Tea tree oil is also called melaleuca oil. It is derived from a tea tree native to Australia. The tree’s leaves are boiled to extract the essential oil from them. Tea tree oil has a strong mint-like scent. It is often described as being akin to a peppermint or eucalyptus-like aroma. Due to its strong scent, many people like to use a few drops of it in the bottoms of trash cans or other areas where odors need masking. It also has many other uses like those outlined below.

Tea Tree Oil to Sanitize

Tea tree oil is an excellent natural disinfectant and sanitizing agent. It is often used in homemade hand sanitizer production. Bacteria like E. coli are easily killed by it. It can also help eliminate common types cold and flu-causing bacteria.

Tea Tree Oil to Keep Insects Away

Another great use for tea tree oil is to repel insects. Many types of insects do not like its scent. Even those that can tolerate that have trouble because the oil gets inside their exoskeletons and kills them naturally without the need for pesticides. In fact, many farmers like to use tea tree oil to keep insects like ants away. Here at Branru Farm, we especially like it for repelling mosquitoes. That’s why it’s a key component in our natural Skoot-It-Skeeter bug repellent blend.

Skincare With Tea Tree Oil

Besides Skoot-It-Skeeter, another of our products here at Branru Farm we are most proud of is our Derma Balm salve. It contains several natural ingredients designed to support skin health. One of them is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil has several potential skin benefits.
Besides killing skin bacteria, several studies have indicated tea tree oil is good for treating fungal infections, especially nail fungus. Natural Athlete’s Foot remedies often contain tea tree oil for that reason. It has also been shown in studies to help treat minor skin inflammation issues and allergies. For instance, people who get minor rashes from exposure to nickel may benefit from using skincare products that contain tea tree oil.
The jury is still out regarding exactly how effective tea tree oil is for treating specific skin conditions like rosacea and acne. Although, study results are promising. Most experts agree that it has the potential to help, and it certainly cannot hurt.

Minor Wound Care With Tea Tree Oil

Another great way to use tea tree oil is for minor wound care. That’s for the same reason that it is good in hand sanitizer, which is that it kills bacteria. Cleaning a small brand new cut with water and soap initially and then treating it with tea tree oil can help it heal quickly. Although, any large cuts or older cuts that look infected may require medical intervention.

Tea Tree Oil and Oral Care

One more unusual but effective use of tea tree oil is as an oral care treatment. Many people opt to add a drop or two to a cup of water and rinse with it, rather than using chemical-filled mouthwashes. In fact, a 2020 study found that tea tree oil can help treat gingivitis.

More Potential Uses for Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil uses don’t stop at bug repellent and the other uses listed above. Here are some more ways it is commonly used.

• Treating Dandruff and Refreshing the Scalp
• Masking Body Odor
• Protecting and Hydrating Nail Cuticles
• Treating or Preventing a Sore Throat
• Treating Sunburns

Using Your Newfound Tea Tree Oil Knowledge

Now that you know more about tea tree oil and essential oils in general, it’s easy to see why such natural products are much more appealing than man-made, chemical-filled alternatives. We hope you’ll try our Skoot-It-Skeeter and Derma Balm. While you’re at it, check out some of our other great natural products. You’ll be glad you did!

At Branru Farm , we take protecting our dairy goats quite seriously. They are our babies, so goat health is a top priority. Particularly if you are starting out as a brand new goat owner, you may not know all of the ins and outs of keeping healthy goats. The most important thing is to stay proactive and familiarize yourself with diseases they can get and general goat health maintenance requirements.

Essential Vaccinations

Although there are some variations between breeds, keeping goats healthy is fairly universal when it comes to vaccination requirements. For example, goats all need the CDT (Clostridium perfringens type C and D and tetanus) vaccine. It is also important for does to get a CDT booster before giving birth. That way the colostrum (first milk) the kids drink can protect them also. As far as ongoing goat health with regards to CDT vaccination, there are general guidelines below, but it’s a good idea to speak to your veterinarian for instructions specific to your area.

• Kids typically start CDT vaccinations after five or six weeks and get a booster three to four weeks later.
• If the doe is not properly vaccinated before the birth of the kid or its vaccination history is unknown, kids usually need a first vaccination at seven to twenty-one days old and a booster three to four weeks later.
• Adult goats need annual CDT boosters, usually. Typically, those boosters are administered 30 days before breeding season starts. Although, depending on herd size and individual goat history, it may be more convenient to do it whenever other herd members are also getting boosters.
• If an adult goat is new to your herd and you don’t know its vaccination history, it should receive two initial doses spaced three to six weeks apart. Then administer boosters annually. 

Again, these are general guidelines. We recommend speaking to your veterinarian to establish the right vaccination schedule for your goats.

Optional Vaccinations

Whether you have dairy goats and use their milk to make products like our vanilla rose goat milk body lotion or you have goats as pets or for other purposes, you also need to make decisions about optional vaccines for them.

Here are some optional vaccines to consider:

• Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL)
• Sore Mouth (Contagious Ecthyma or Orf)
• Rabies
• Selenium/Vitamin E to Prevent White Muscle Disease

Some of the above vaccines are not necessary under some circumstances or in specific geographic areas. The can also sometimes have side effects. Therefore, you should speak to a local vet about the best vaccines for your herd.

Managing Internal Parasites

Goat health includes more than just vaccines. Parasites can also be major problems for a herd. We always want our goats to remain parasite-free so they can stay healthy and help us make the products our customers love, such as our Aged Leather scented goat milk soap . Without proper parasite treatment, they can face a wide range of problems, including impeded growth and, under the worst circumstances, death.

Often keeping goats parasite-free requires regular deworming. Deworming schedules are often based on the environment in which the herd lives. For example, yearly deworming is often done in hot, dry areas. If you live in a more humid climate, you might need to do more frequent deworming for successful goat keeping.

Types of Anthelmintics (Dewormers)

There are multiple anthelmintics (deworming agents) available for goats. Some examples include moxidectin (Cydectin), albendazole (Valbazen), and Ivermectin (Ivomec). If you want to keep healthy goats, you can’t always use the same dewormer for all of them. For example, Valbazen is not for use when does are pregnant because it can harm the unborn kids. You might also opt to use an herbal dewormer, I recommend Molly’s Herbals! 

Deworming Through Pasture Management

Using actual deworming medication will help you keep healthy goats, but you can also help the situation with proper pasture management. Rotational grazing can help prevent the possibility of high parasite counts. One good option is to rotate goats with chickens because the chickens will eat many of the larvae and parasites left behind by the goats. The larger your herd, the more important regular rotational grazing may become. We have a small herd here that we use to produce our goat milk soap and body lotion, but we still strive to maintain healthy grazing environments for our goats.

Managing External Parasites

A final bit of goat keeping advice, when it comes to health maintenance, is you may need to treat your herd for lice, ticks, and other external parasites. They can cause goat health to go downhill quickly when untreated.

There are several topical parasite treatments you can use, but some shouldn’t be used in certain situations. For instance, topical permethrin-based products are not good to use on dairy goats, but those containing zeta-cypermethrin are typically fine to use on a dairy herd.

Nevertheless, the final say should always be the veterinarian’s. It is also worth noting that many parasites like only certain animal species or only live in particular climates. Depending on your location and the other types of animals you may be keeping, you might need more or fewer external parasite treatments.

One of the most important parts of life here at Branru Farm is keeping milk production up. That’s because we make our own goat milk soap and goat milk lotion. Whether you want to drink goat milk or make goat milk soap or other products as we do, you need to start by getting at least one female goat of the breed of your choosing. Although, a pair is a much better plan because goats are herd animals and do not tend to do well alone. Then you need to know the basics of goat breeding and milk production, which are outlined below.

When Goats Produce Milk

Many people don’t fully understand when goats produce milk or how much milk to expect. Well, we can’t answer that last part here because there is a lot of variation between breeds and individual goats. Some goats produce next to no milk, and others can produce a gallon per day or more. Some also produce for months,
while others might continue producing milk for most or all of the year, but keep in mind you must milk them regularly. If you do not, milk production may stop or the goats may develop udder infections known as mastitis.

What we can tell you is that all female goats produce some amount of milk after kidding (having baby goats). The amount of milk produced changes as the kids grow. Production drops off as the kids are weaned. Therefore, there’s no set consistent amount. Also, since milk is the food source for the kids, we only use a small portion of our herd’s milk to make products like our lavender goat milk soap and sandalwood goat milk lotion when the kids are little. The rest is for the
babies to help them grow up healthy and strong. However, as they get bigger and transition to other foods like hay, we begin taking more milk for those purposes. Doing so helps keep milk production up longer. 

Breeds and Average Milk Production Rates

All goats are individuals, but, like other animals, they do have certain breed-specific standards. Before you raise your own dairy goats, you need to select a breed you think works well for you. You should also base your herd size on your milk production needs. Those needs will be different if you just want goat milk for you and your family to drink versus if you want to make goat milk lotion or other products for sale. Larger goats typically produce more milk than smaller goats, so that can help you narrow down your breed options. 

There is no way to know for sure how much milk you’ll get after any kidding. However, breed averages do exist and can help you estimate. One good resource is this chart from the Pennsylvania State University. Use its recommendation as a guideline when deciding on the breed that might fit your needs best or just ask the farm owner that you buy your goat from. A reputable owner will know what their bloodlines are capable of producing.

What Ratio of Male to Female Goats Do You Need?

When it comes to goat husbandry, this question has a few different answers. It all depends on your needs, how much work you want to put into the process, what your intentions are, and how much space you have.

Standard options are these:

• Keep zero bucks yourself but rent the services of a buck from a local farmer to help you impregnate your does.
• Keep one buck, which is all you need for up to 20 females or so. Some experts even say you can breed as many as 30 females to one buck. However, this option is not recommended because a lone buck has to be isolated when breeding time is over and may get depressed.
• Keep at least two bucks. This is best if you want to keep any of the kids and then breed them later. That way you can avoid inbreeding initially. Although, you will need to purchase or rent the services of more bucks later to continue preventing inbreeding long-term.
• Keep a buck and a wether (the term for a castrated male goat). Wethers are typically cheaper to purchase than breeding bucks, and a wether can be a companion for your sole buck for a while when you’re just starting out and on a budget.

Regardless of which goat husbandry option you choose, having a way to separate bucks from does is vital. Bucks have strong scents that can contaminate the milk when they are let in with producing does or allowed to even get close to where they are kept. Keeping bucks several hundreds of feet away from does when they are not in the act of breeding is necessary. It’s even better if they have completely separate pens on different parts of your property. On the other hand, if you keep one or more wethers they do not have those strong odors that can contaminate the milk, so you can opt to let them in with the does. 

An example of a good time to do that would be if you start with a buck and a wether and then later purchase a second buck. A wether can act as a goat reproduction alarm of sorts when put in with the does. It can alert you when females are in heat. That can help you make your goat breeding more efficient so you can either increase milk production and/or grow your herd, as desired.