Gotta love those Neubians!
Brittany and Wendy (the one with the horns, a Nubian-Alpine mix) of Horny Goats Farm in Rogue River, Oregon, are as you can see, both incredibly adorable! I love Nubian goats, I love how friendly they are, they are great milkers and the cheese, Feta, Chevre and Mozzarella that Brittany makes is superb! I was introduced to Brittany when I was looking for some Nubians to purchase a few years ago. Brittany and her goats came highly recommended, she is held in high regard both as a delightful woman to work with as well as the love and care she shows to all of her animals. As it was time for a delivery of essential oils, I thought it would be fun to share a photo of the girls and Brittany was willing to share some of her essential oil recipes that she uses in the teat care of her goats after each milking.
Instead of using Iodine or Bleach to clean the teats after each milking Brittany recommends the following:
Teat Oil & Spray (for after milking to prevent mastitis): In an 8 oz. spray bottle fill with organic olive oil, water, add a couple of drops of biodegradable liquid soap and Vitamin E, then add 5-12 drops each of the following essential oils: Eucalyptus Globulus, Lavender, Rosemary, Peppermint and Tea Tree. Apply after each milking.
Fly Spray for Barn & Goats: In an 8 oz. spray bottle, fill almost to the top with water, add a few drops of biodegradable liquid soap, a couple of drops of organic olive oil and 5-12 drops each of Cedarwood, Citronella, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Geranium and Lavender.
Flaky Skin Oil: In a container fill with Olive oil, a few drops of Vitamin E and Neem oil, add 5-12 drops each of Lavender, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus. Use as needed.
Thanks Brittany, Wendy and the rest of the girls on the farm…This is Emma, of course Brittany’s most eager assistant.
I was looking for ways to use my essential oils with my Nubians and came across this site. I have a question about the ingredients in your teat oil and spray. I have read that peppermint is an anti-galactogogue (decreases milk supply), so I was wondering if this is true with animals, or just with human use.
Thanks,
OmaLinda
Linda,
Thanks so much for your great question. We checked in with Brittany, our goat expert, and here is her response:
I cross referenced a few herbals on my bookshelf and I have not come across any of them saying that peppermint is an anti-galactagogue. I am not doubting that the person who made a comment on the blog read that about peppermint somewhere. I just was trying to double check on my end. All I can add is my direct experience with herbs and using them on my goats. I have used peppermint in teat sprays and udder oils for many years. I have never noticed it having any effect on milk supply/production. In the teat spray the peppermint is just one of the essential oils in the formula. Overall the goat is getting a very small dose of peppermint per spraying after milking only on the external teats. Now, I have used some very strong peppermint udder oils on goats that either had mastitis or a congested udder. In this case the carrier oil is infused with a good amount of peppermint essential oil and others such as eucalyptus. For the case of really treating an udder with mastitis, edema, or congestion, the peppermint is key. It truly helps cool things down and softens up the udder as well as performing as an antimicrobial. Even in these situations I have not observed a decrease in milk supply.
There are some herbs that immediately and significantly decrease a goats milk supply. These are some true anti-galactagogues: garden sage, goldenseal, too much tree bark and too many apples.