Striving to produce a high output, low input goat.
Striving to produce a high output, low input goat.
Herd Maintenance
PastureWe have 160 acres of native grasses, including lots of rye. Because of the short growing season here, we must insure pasture growth during the spring to maintain the heard through the rest of the year. The herd goes out to pasture in April or May, depending on the growth. As summer comes, the pastures dry out, with no new growth . The mature does maintain them selves well on the dry grass. After weaning in June and July, kids have pasture access as well as good hay. As breeding season approaches, the does are provided with alfalfa hay for 1- 2 weeks prior to breeding. Then they go back out to pasture with access to grass hay, as needed. During the winter, the mature does are fed a mixture of rye and other grass and cereal grain hay fed free choice in large bale feeders. As kidding approaches, we transition the herd to alfalfa hay. The alfalfa continues until the herd goes out to pasture in the spring. Doelings and yearlings are fed an alfalfa- grass mix. We feed little if any concentrates. The only grain is offered to feeder kids during the fall and winter. |
KiddingWe breed in Early October, striving to kid out in early March. We try to have the does kid out in the pasture, using the barn as needed depending on the weather. Depending on the doe and the weather, the new family may be isolated for 24-36 hours. The does are wormed and feet trimmed at this time, as needed, on a case by case basis. For the majority of the herd this is the only time they are wormed. Does must be good mothers, with good milk production. Buck kids are weaned in June, finished on pasture and good hay, no grain. We market the buck kids beginning in July, they finished out at 4-6 months old, weighing 65-75 lbs average. Doelings and smaller bucklings are weaned in July. We breed our doelings are bred at 10-11 months old, kidding about 15 months. These April & May kids are weaned in August. Kids recieve no wormer unless needed on an individual basis. Worming, ect.Of our herd, about 75% of the mature does are wormed once a year, 15 % are not wormed and the remaining 10% are wormed twice. Any doe who needs repeated worming, doesn't stay in our program.
Eye membranes are checked, using the FAMACHA score, as the does kid in the early spring. This is when the majority of the herd is wormed. Outside of kidding, the does are only wormed rarely, as needed. Kids are wormed only if necessary. Most young does are wormed for the first time as they kid as two year olds. A good loose mineral is very important in our area, and we use copper boluses as needed. Our goats have very good feet, 5-10% of the herd have their feet trimmed in the early spring. Most of these are the older does, whom we have purchased from other breeders. The young does we raised, rarely need any thing done with their feet. This has a lot to do with the fact that our goats travel a lot on dry ground, this keeps their feet in good shape. |
See what we have available on our for sale page
Contact us 435-253-1551 or 435-253-0106
Contact us 435-253-1551 or 435-253-0106