I read, years ago, that goat milk is closest in composition to human milk of all animals, which is why it’s so easy for us to digest.
Goats are relatively disease resistant and can eat about anything.
And they are a manageable size.
“Goats are relatively disease resistant and can eat about anything.”
That statement is not true. Goats get and do die from worms, it’s a real problem in late spring early summer until the heat comes on. They don’t eat everything.
They mostly eat tree browse and vines, briars. They graze on grass, mostly prefer the weeds. You can always feed pellets, and they will eat all you offer!!
My sister was born premature during WWII and she could not tolerate milk. Doctors told my parents they could do nothing and she could not thrive, sent her home not expecting her to live. Told my parents to just love her until she passed.
My dad and grandfather were raising sheep and had Basque herders working for them. One of the older Basque men told my dad to feed her fresh goat milk right out of the goat and not add anything. It worked! My dad or mom had to literally milk the goat for each feeding for her but she not only survived she thrived on it. She did have some respiratory and other issues from being a preemie but the feeding issue was solved.
My mother said the doctors were amazed and called her a miracle baby, yet did not start recommending goat milk for other babies. My mother never understood why goats milk was not promoted here especially for children.
Goats are incredibly susceptible to GI parasites and sometimes require monthly deworming. They are far more labor intensive to raise then cattle and the constant need to deworm them is not without expense.