Welcome to Thorcrest Farm about page! My name is Zoë Thorbergson and I am passionate about advocating for continuing education to promote animal health and welfare and plant and soil health! Along with my academic background in animal management I have raised and cared for goats, pigs, chickens, cows, and horses since early childhood. It is not enough to just do the same thing year after year without knowing why, knowledge is key to progressing your herd and ensuring animal welfare. Taking education seriously this is a short list of university level courses completed:
Master of Animal Science
Diploma of Agriculture
Diploma of Equine Studies
Diploma of Equitation Science
Certificate of Equine Science
Certificate of Animal Care
Certificate Animal Care Program
Accredited Animal Health Certificate
Certificate of Management for Sustainable Soils
Feed Formulation
Feed Technology
Feed: Government Regulation
Dairy Goat production
I have volunteered most of my life in varies organizations: Volunteers are what make things happen and help others! Ensuring ethical management practices are a key goal. Examples: Our chickens, we only hatch our own, we never purchase chicks from factory hatcheries that dispose of male chicks. And we only have breeds of chickens that are sustainable. Our pigs enjoy pasture, wallows and lots of clean fresh air and sunshine. Our goats are dam raised we only supplement with bottle if needed. Many people ask if our dam raised kids are wild? Yes they are “wild” for attention!
We have always had a veggie garden and my family had goats long before I purchased my first registered Nubian in 1986. Decades of showing, milk test, classification and raising calves and pigs on goat milk fostered an appreciation for having effective management protocols in place.
Vanilla goat milk Ice Cream with our home grown peaches
Our homemade dark chocolate goat milk
ice Cream (only milk no cream!) .