Instructions
Welcome, Little Goatherd! Follow these steps to learn all about the animals that give us delicious goat cheese.
- Read the instructions carefully for each section before starting.
- Use the provided Word Bank when instructed.
- Complete the matching, fill-in-the-blank, and drawing activities.
- If you get stuck, look for clues in the neighboring questions.
Section 1: Goat Vocabulary and Basics
Task A: Match the Goat Name
Draw a line connecting the goat name on the left to its definition on the right. (Hint: Does are female, Bucks are male!)
| Goat Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1. Doe | A. A grown-up male goat |
| 2. Kid | B. A grown-up female goat |
| 3. Buck | C. A baby goat |
Task B: What Do Goats Eat?
Goats are herbivores, which means they eat plants. Fill in the blanks using the words in the box.
WORD BANK: | Hay | Browse | Clean Water | Grain |
- The most important food for a goat is dry grass called ____.
- Goats like to nibble on bushes and tree leaves, which is called ____.
- To help produce lots of rich milk, many dairy goats also eat a small amount of ____.
- Every animal needs fresh, cool ____ to stay healthy.
Section 2: Life on the Dairy Farm
Task A: True or False (Circle the correct answer)
- Goats like to live alone and do not need friends. True / False
- Dairy goats must be milked at least once or twice every day. True / False
- Goats prefer dirty, muddy places to sleep. True / False
- A happy goat gives the best tasting milk. True / False
Task B: Goatherd Duties
What are two things a farmer (or goatherd) must do every day to keep the goats healthy and happy? (Think about food, shelter, and safety.)
Section 3: From Milk to Cheese
Goat cheese, often called Chèvre, is made by turning liquid goat milk into a solid food. Here are the steps.
Task A: Complete the Cheese Sequence
Fill in the missing step in the chart below using the provided steps. (Hint: Curds and Whey are the result of adding culture.)
Missing Steps: | Drain the Curds | Cool the Milk |
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Farmer milks the goat. |
| 2 | Example: Heat and Pasteurize the milk |
| 3 | Add special culture and rennet (a helpful enzyme). |
| 4 | The milk separates into thick lumps (Curds) and watery liquid (Whey). |
| 5 | ____ |
| 6 | Add salt, shape, and package the fresh cheese! |
Task B: Curds and Whey
Describe the difference between Curds and Whey based on the cheese-making process above.
| Term | Description (Thick/Watery?) |
|---|---|
| Example: Curds | Thick lumps, used to make the cheese. |
| Whey | |
| Curds |
Section 4: The Perfect Chèvre (Challenge Question)
Imagine you are a goat farmer. You want your goat cheese to be the best in the county.
Question: Why is the quality of the food you give your goats (like clean hay and fresh water) so important for the final taste and texture of the cheese?
Hint: If the goat is sick or eats bad food, how might that change the milk?
Answer Key
Section 1: Goat Vocabulary and Basics
Task A: Match the Goat Name
- Doe --> B. A grown-up female goat
- Kid --> C. A baby goat
- Buck --> A. A grown-up male goat
Task B: What Do Goats Eat?
- Hay
- Browse
- Grain
- Clean Water
Section 2: Life on the Dairy Farm
Task A: True or False
- False (Goats are herd animals)
- True
- False (They need clean, dry bedding)
- True (Stress can affect milk flavor)
Task B: Goatherd Duties (Acceptable answers include, but are not limited to):
- Provide fresh food (Hay/Grain/Water).
- Keep the barn/shelter clean and dry.
- Check fences to keep goats safe.
- Milk the goats regularly.
Section 3: From Milk to Cheese
Task A: Complete the Cheese Sequence
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 5 | Drain the Curds |
Task B: Curds and Whey
| Term | Description (Thick/Watery?) |
|---|---|
| Whey | Watery liquid, usually discarded (or fed to pigs/used in baking). |
| Curds | Thick lumps, used to make the cheese. |
Section 4: The Perfect Chèvre (Challenge Question)
Answer: The food a goat eats directly affects the quality and flavor of the milk. If the goat eats high-quality, clean hay and fresh food, the milk will taste better, making the cheese taste better, too! Bad food can lead to bad-tasting or 'off-flavor' milk. Healthy, happy goats make the best milk.