What I Learned About Health from Keeping Goats (And Why It Changed My Practice)

When people ask why I keep goats, I often get puzzled looks. We don't milk them anymore, we don't breed them, and we certainly don't eat them. So what's the point of these four-legged comedians who've taken up residence in our Noosa Hinterland property?

The truth is, my goats have been some of my most valuable teachers about health—both theirs and ours.

A Lesson in Vulnerability

Goats are actually incredibly vulnerable creatures, particularly when we remove them from their natural browsing environment and confine them to paddocks. Their digestive systems are surprisingly delicate, they're prone to parasites, and their gut microbiomes can shift dramatically with the slightest change in diet, stress, or environment. Sound familiar?

When I first started keeping goats eight years ago, I was struck by how quickly things could go wrong. A sudden change in weather, a new type of feed, or even the stress of a neighbour's dog barking could throw their entire system off balance. One day they'd be bouncing around happily, the next they could be seriously unwell.

This vulnerability forced me to become acutely aware of prevention rather than treatment. With goats, by the time you see obvious symptoms, you're often dealing with a much bigger problem than if you'd caught the subtle early signs.

The Gut Connection That Changed Everything

Perhaps the most profound lesson came from understanding just how central gut health is to everything else. In goats, gut health isn't just about digestion—it affects their immunity, their ability to absorb nutrients, their behaviour, and even their resilience to stress.

I learned to read the subtle signs: changes in their droppings (yes, I became a poo expert!), shifts in appetite, alterations in their social behaviour, or that slightly "off" look in their eyes that appears days before any obvious illness.

This daily observation of gut health in action revolutionised how I approach human health in my practice. The parallels are remarkable—and often uncomfortable to acknowledge.

Why Optimal Beats Normal

Veterinary medicine, like human medicine, often focuses on treating disease rather than maintaining optimal health. But with goats, the margin for error is so small that "normal" simply isn't good enough. They need to be thriving, not just surviving.

This shifted my entire perspective on health markers. When I review blood tests now, I'm not just looking for values that fall within the "normal" range—I'm looking for patterns that support vibrant health. The difference between surviving and thriving became crystal clear through daily life with these animals.

The Stress-Health Connection

Goats are incredibly social animals with complex emotional lives. I've watched how separation from their herd, changes in routine, or even tension between goats can manifest in physical symptoms—digestive upset, increased parasite loads, or decreased immunity.

This daily observation of the mind-body connection has made me a better practitioner. When clients come to me with persistent health issues, I now automatically consider: What's happening in their "herd"? What stress patterns might be undermining their physical health?

Seasonal Rhythms and Natural Cycles

Living with goats has reconnected me to natural rhythms in ways that my previous city life never could. Goats respond to seasonal changes, weather patterns, and lunar cycles in ways that constantly remind me how disconnected most of us have become from these natural influences.

Watching them naturally adjust their eating patterns, activity levels, and even sleep according to seasonal changes has reinforced my understanding of how important it is for humans to honour these same cycles.

Prevention Over Intervention

The most valuable lesson? Prevention is everything. With goats, you can't wait for problems to develop—you have to stay ahead of them. This means:

• Daily observation of subtle changes

• Understanding individual differences and needs

• Maintaining optimal conditions rather than just adequate ones

• Building resilience before challenges arise

• Recognising that small imbalances can cascade into bigger problems

These principles now form the foundation of how I practice naturopathy.

Bringing Ancient Wisdom to Modern Practice

Keeping goats has grounded me in a way that feels ancient yet completely relevant to modern health challenges. They've taught me patience, observation skills, and the importance of working with natural systems rather than against them.

They've also kept my feet firmly planted in practical reality. While I love diving deep into the latest research on gut microbiomes, genetic testing, and functional medicine, my goats remind me daily that health is ultimately about the basics: good food, clean water, fresh air, social connection, appropriate shelter, and respect for natural rhythms.

The Unexpected Teachers

So why do I keep goats? Because they've made me a better naturopath. They've taught me to see health as a dynamic, interconnected system where everything affects everything else. They've shown me the importance of addressing root causes rather than symptoms, and they've reinforced that optimal health requires daily attention to the fundamentals.

Plus, they make me laugh every single day—and I'm convinced that laughter might just be the most underrated medicine of all.

Every morning when I head out to check on them, I'm not just caring for my animals—I'm continuing my education in what it really means to thrive.

What unexpected teachers have shaped your understanding of health? I'd love to hear your stories.

Sarah Luck is a naturopath, herbalist, and nutritionist practicing in Pomona, in the heart of the Noosa Hinterland. When she's not helping clients optimise their health, you'll find her learning from her goats, tending her bees, or developing her toxin-free skincare line Nubeean Noosa, Healthy Skin[care].