Some goats are raised for their hair, such as the Angora breed or cashmere breed to make cozy sweaters, while others such as the Boer goat are raised for meat that tastes similar to lamb. Goats like those raised in the East Mountains and Estancia Valley are raised for their milk to make delectable cheese, butter, yogurt and even soap.

Grade A goat dairies in the area include the South Mountain Dairy in Edgewood, Sunsong Dairy of Estancia and Old Windmill Dairy, also in Estancia.

The South Mountain Dairy produces award-winning goat milk feta cheese, drinkable yogurt and flavored chevre.

The seasonal dairy, owned and operated by Donna Lockridge and Marge Petersen produces cheese from early April through November. They also sell fresh milk and yogurt. They started the dairy in 2004 and received Grade A Dairy license in 2005.

They also sell marinated feta in flavors such as Tuscany Gold and Garlic with Lemon. A local favorite is a New Mexico style squeaky curd with green chile.

Here's how a goat dairy works:

The mother goats go through a five-month gestation period. When kidding begins in mid-March, the newborn babies are hand-raised, meaning they don't drink from their mother, they are fed from a milk bucket with several nipples attached. It makes them more tame. The dairy produces about 52 gallons of milk per day.

The does are milked twice a day and are kept in separate pens from the bucks and babies. At the South Mountain Dairy, the milk goes into a bulk cooling tank, which is emptied every day. The milk that will stay liquid goes into a pasteurizer next, as does the milk for cheese, but in a different machine. After that, depending on the type of cheese, it is aged for at least 24 hours. Then the cheeses are mixed and packaged then delivered to La Montanita Coop at the Nob Hill, Rio Grande, and Santa Fe locations, Triangle Grocery on N.M. 14, B Street Market in Mountainair, and directly on the farm. They also sell every weekend at various New Mexico farmers markets.

"I think there is a big push in the United States to buy locally," Lockridge said.

She buys feed for the goats locally, including alfalfa from area farms.

The dairy is open in April for tours of the farm, but if you call ahead of time, tours and products are available directly at the dairy.

Linda Calhoun's farm south of Manzano, Silver Spur Dairy Goats, produces milk for other dairies to buy to feed their baby goats. She also sells milk to farmers with orphan animals.

"Goat's milk is the universal milk," Calhoun said.

It's good for any animal, including humans.

She sells milk to Wildlife West Nature Park and the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque. Her goat milk fed an orphan giraffe three years ago.

Silver Spur has been certified accredited since 1983, meaning it's held up to the same health standards as the Grade A dairies even though it doesn't have that distinction because her milk is not for human consumption. Calhoun bought her first goat in 1980 to provide milk for her teenage stepson.

South Mountain Dairy primarily raises Oberhasli goats, while Silver Spur mainly raises the LaMancha breed.

The Oberhasli goats have long ears, whereas LaManchas are born with short little nub-looking ears called gopher ears. Lockridge said goats are as smart as dogs, if not smarter.

Both owners said they love working with the goats, even with the hot weather and hard work.

"So much love goes into this. Trust me, none of us are rich," Lockridge said.

Calhoun agreed. She said her goats are like children to her.

"They are spoiled rotten," she said. "I don't mind the hard work. I'd rather be doing this than any thing else in the world."