moonstone5879 said:
Hello, I am looking into owning a pair of Nigerian Dwarfs for pets and milk. I am wondering how much milk is needed for making soap and other body products? Would I have enough milk to start selling soaps and other body products with one doe? Does anyone have experience on making and selling these products and does it pay to at least cover the costs of caring for the goats? Thanks!
P.S. My hope is to find a first freshener and doeling.
I own a soap and lotion business.
It takes 12 oz of milk to make 48 ounces of soap, or about 12 bars. I freeze my milk in 12 oz batches so it is always ready. There are many different ways to make soap but a basic recipe uses olive, palm, and coconut oil plus the milk and lye. I made my first batch out of olive oil, coconut oil, and lard and used a cardboard box for a mold, it turned out fine. I have since moved away from lard or tallow but it was easy to find and a good jumping off point.
It doesn't take as much milk as one might think. I also make goat milk lotion and it takes even less. I substitute about 7-10% of the water with milk so very very little. I can't justify even owning the goat for making lotion. But then again, I own Alpines and Toggs and more than just one of them so I have alot of milk.
IMO soap making isn't hard if you pay attention to detail. Don't cut corners and find a good recipe to start with and use a soap calculator to get the lye right. There are test strips you can get to test for the alkalintiy of the final product or just use your tongue. I don't test and have never had a problem, but I pay strict attention to the weight of my oils and the lye.
If you lived near Anderson CA I would give you a private lesson. I am getting ready to start teaching classes in making soap and lotions. If you have any questions ask away and I will try to help you.
Always wear eye protection when making soap, that is a MUST...never never forget and not just eye glasses, get a good pair of googles.
