The Petković farm in the Teslić village of Čečava near Teslić has been successfully breeding Alpine goats for five years, whose milk, cheese and whey are in great demand.
The young married couple Vesna and Dejan Petković invested and are investing a lot of effort and love to provide their family with a nice life in the countryside. They are the parents of three minor children, the youngest son is only nine months old.
They started the family business by buying three goats for their own use, and then started selling milk. As demand grew, so did they expand their herd.
– Now I produce goat’s milk, various cheeses and whey. The demand is very strong. People often come to get goat’s milk for their children for health reasons because it has proven to be very useful in practice, especially when it comes to bronchitis – said Vesna Srni.
Also, cheeses are in high demand, so Vesna has a lot of work to do, but her husband is very supportive. They plan, she says, to expand the herd.
– Alpine goats are milkier, and the quality of their milk is better. Our diet consists of direct grazing, then corn, wheat and oats, there are no concentrates. On average, one goat gives about two liters of milk per day – said Vesna.
The goats are kept in a barn during the winter and grazed in the summer. Everyone in the household is involved in caring for them.
– It is not difficult to keep goats, they do not graze, but graze. They are very clean animals that won’t even drink water if the bowl they drink from is a little dirty. A goat will not lie down if there is no clean hay under it – explained Vesna.
Raising goats requires dedication. This hardworking young woman points out that she must be ready to be available to the animals as well.
– Regardless of all that, I choose the village for my family’s life. I get up early, I get my oldest son ready for school, then I devote myself to the younger ones, and then to my goats – said Vesna.
The Petković family is also involved in agricultural production, has a greenhouse, and intends to apply for another one.
– We grow babura peppers for ajvar in a greenhouse, which has proven to be profitable, and therefore we intend to apply for another greenhouse to expand that production because there is a high demand for these peppers – explained Vesna.
They also have 200 chokeberry seedlings from which they produce juice. The Petković family also produces wild apple jam, which is in high demand when it comes to domestic production.
– Dejan and I pick wild apples in the forest, and later we make jam. Sometimes we take the kids because it’s a real adventure for them – says this young and hardworking mother and wife.
Dejan is employed, but he is of great use to his wife in the household, both in raising children and in agricultural production.
– You can make a living from agriculture. It takes time, commitment, effort, it’s not easy, but with good organization everything can be achieved – Vesna pointed out.
He emphasizes that everything requires will, but also love, because you need to love it so that the work can be completed more easily.
– Life in the countryside is a real little paradise for us, especially for children. We do all this for the children. Although this job is not at all easy, I am always with my little ones – concluded Vesna Petković.
Source: ba.ekapija.com
