our herd management
Our herd management practices will be an ever evolving process, as we learn from our experiences and make improvements. Our goal is to raise goats that are healthy with an emphasis on a natural and humane approach. For us this means keeping the herd small - under 10 total goats so that each goat gets individual attention. We know that goats can multiply pretty quickly - a Nigerian can just as soon give birth to one kid as four - so each season we breed no more than two or three of our does. Our herd consists of two or three milking does, two or three juniors, and two bucks. This allows us to monitor any changes in the habits, personality and health of the herd, and helps us to limit potential problems.
Our goats' health is very important to us and it is approached in the most holistic and natural way possible along with treating the animals with respect and love.
All of our goats have access to pasture, which we feel is essential to good health. The herd are browsed daily, weather allowing, on the 115 acres. Since our goats browse daily on clearings and forest, they don't have the worm problems found in pastured animals where parasite eggs are constantly exceted and ingested. Our goats have access to several large patches of Artemisia vulgaris, a weedy relative of wormwood. They eat it avidly, and it seems to keep them in a healthy relationship with their worms. We use the tenets of the FAMACHA system and "smart drenching" protocol of monitoring our animals so we can catch any signs of anemia that might indicate a parasite load. This means that we only use a dewormer when goats are exhibiting signs of anemia. Copper-oxide wire particles (also known as COWP or copper boluses) are our first choice for treatment. Locally grown quality orchard grass hay is fed, fresh water daily spiked with apple cidar vinegar, a limited amount of organic grain (milking does only), black oil sunflower seeds in the shell, free choice Organic Norwegian Thorvin kelp meal, Sweetlix Meat Maker Minerals, Himalayan Sea salt (fine ground), Diamond V XP-DFM, sodium bicarbonate, copper sulfate, yellow dusting sulfur (90% pure), vitamin C and dolomite. The goats eat an enormous variety of medicinal herbs, such as rose leaves, raspberry leaves, goldenrod, burdock, plantain seeds, wild mustards, and onion grass, dandelion, red clover, chickweed, yarrow, and yellow dock.
All of our kids are dam raised, and believe in the importance of the bonding process. We believe that unpasteurized nutrient rich colostrum provides the kids natural immunity and the ability to strenghen the immune system. It is also simply against our philosophy to take babies away from their mothers and raise then on a bottle, unless there is some extraordinary circumstance, such as a premature birth, hypothermia, dam rejecting baby, etc. These types of situations are truly extraordinary, as one of the things we like about Nigerians is their excellent mothering ability. We realize that some people believe goats must be bottle-fed if you want friendly goats; however, we disagree. Our herd includes both dam-raised and bottle-fed adults, and you can't tell them apart based on their personalities. If you want friendly goats, you need to spend time with them, and if you don't have time to spend with them, then you shouldn't be getting them in the first place.
We do not breed until after the age of 18 months to two years of age. We only breed each adult doe once a year. They must not have any genetic faults or conditions that would be passed on to the next generation. Our goats have never had any type of abscess.
Daily walks with the goats provides information about health status, in addition to being an enjoyable part of the day. Goats are very intelligent creatures. They have thoughts and emotions. Our farm and lives would be sadly empty if goats were not a part of it. We love and care for our goats and their best interest is always at our heart. Watch your goats - you'll learn lots more of their "language", understand them better, and have a great time!
Our goats' health is very important to us and it is approached in the most holistic and natural way possible along with treating the animals with respect and love.
All of our goats have access to pasture, which we feel is essential to good health. The herd are browsed daily, weather allowing, on the 115 acres. Since our goats browse daily on clearings and forest, they don't have the worm problems found in pastured animals where parasite eggs are constantly exceted and ingested. Our goats have access to several large patches of Artemisia vulgaris, a weedy relative of wormwood. They eat it avidly, and it seems to keep them in a healthy relationship with their worms. We use the tenets of the FAMACHA system and "smart drenching" protocol of monitoring our animals so we can catch any signs of anemia that might indicate a parasite load. This means that we only use a dewormer when goats are exhibiting signs of anemia. Copper-oxide wire particles (also known as COWP or copper boluses) are our first choice for treatment. Locally grown quality orchard grass hay is fed, fresh water daily spiked with apple cidar vinegar, a limited amount of organic grain (milking does only), black oil sunflower seeds in the shell, free choice Organic Norwegian Thorvin kelp meal, Sweetlix Meat Maker Minerals, Himalayan Sea salt (fine ground), Diamond V XP-DFM, sodium bicarbonate, copper sulfate, yellow dusting sulfur (90% pure), vitamin C and dolomite. The goats eat an enormous variety of medicinal herbs, such as rose leaves, raspberry leaves, goldenrod, burdock, plantain seeds, wild mustards, and onion grass, dandelion, red clover, chickweed, yarrow, and yellow dock.
All of our kids are dam raised, and believe in the importance of the bonding process. We believe that unpasteurized nutrient rich colostrum provides the kids natural immunity and the ability to strenghen the immune system. It is also simply against our philosophy to take babies away from their mothers and raise then on a bottle, unless there is some extraordinary circumstance, such as a premature birth, hypothermia, dam rejecting baby, etc. These types of situations are truly extraordinary, as one of the things we like about Nigerians is their excellent mothering ability. We realize that some people believe goats must be bottle-fed if you want friendly goats; however, we disagree. Our herd includes both dam-raised and bottle-fed adults, and you can't tell them apart based on their personalities. If you want friendly goats, you need to spend time with them, and if you don't have time to spend with them, then you shouldn't be getting them in the first place.
We do not breed until after the age of 18 months to two years of age. We only breed each adult doe once a year. They must not have any genetic faults or conditions that would be passed on to the next generation. Our goats have never had any type of abscess.
Daily walks with the goats provides information about health status, in addition to being an enjoyable part of the day. Goats are very intelligent creatures. They have thoughts and emotions. Our farm and lives would be sadly empty if goats were not a part of it. We love and care for our goats and their best interest is always at our heart. Watch your goats - you'll learn lots more of their "language", understand them better, and have a great time!
"Compassion and happiness are not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength."
Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
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