How we raise our herd 

How we raise the goats

 This has just been what works for us on our farm every farm is different. I'm trying to improve the herd and kids every year. As anyone who has ever kept goats for a period knows its not for the faint of heart. I am by no means an expert and I'm always learning. This spring I completed the master small ruminant course and I continue to study and take in content on raising small ruminants and regenerative farming. I think I could talk about those subjects all day.

 

For the past 5 years we have worked on adding new areas of pasture and building a herd that works for us. I spend a lot of time just observing all the animals on the farm and we did not start off with any expensive or even proven stock.It has been a slow process of finding and retaining animals that are first and foremost hardy, productive in reproducing and we are now working on breeding size into the herd. I usually add a few does every year and plan to start retaining future does of our own for replacement. I have kept what has worked and what has been productive and keeping records of it all. My expectations are animals that maintain a good bodyweight, continually produce twins, are great mothers with 1x1 teats and are level headed. I do not expect or even want pets out of the livestock but we do not keep excessively flighty or nervous animals. We've experienced with several breeds and I've raised goats on and off for years and I plan to experiment with crossing stockier bucks over the does at some point to see about a heavily built animal that may suit a meat market niche. For now the focus is on primarily kiko. They have done extremely well for us over the years with very low input or maintenance. 

 

We raise our goats on rotational grazing most of the year. Swapping them from pasture to brushy wooded areas. 

This is the best practice to keep parasites at bay. Preferably having them only grazing on brushy areas and pasture over 3 inches when possible. 

 

 

Feeding and Medicating 

They live off forage and loose minerals from spring until winter and then get hay. They usually little grain before and after kidding for extra supplement and to get them trained to come to us when we call for them. In the future I plan to rely less on hay and work on winter stockpiling pasture to rotate them through.

 

I believe in nature not nursing. I do not keep goats that need constant doctoring, whether it be repetitive de-worming or hoof issues. I usually will only de-worm-if needed- when they first come here as they adjust. Just because they have high parasite resistance on one farm doesnt automatically mean that will transfer going to another. I take that into consideration bringing anything in and when they go to a new home. De-worming is on a need be basis here. Based on famancha eye score and overall body condition. I have not had to de-worm any of my does that have been here several years. If they cannot stay healthy off fresh pasture and forage they are not for me. I aim to raise strong well built goats that thrive on low maintenance. 

 

Fencing and Housing 

We have one woven wire lot we use mostly in kidding seasoning the rest of the time they are either in a few strand of hot wire or we will use 3-4 strand polywire with temporary step in posts to move them to areas overgrown in the spring and summertime for the best grazing ( and brush control.)

They respect hot wire and as long as there is food to eat they aren't ever looking for an escape route. The key to keeping them in hot wire is a good, stout box. A couple times of getting shocked by a good hot box will keep them in, once again as long as there is food and they are not chased by anything through it.

 

I will have pictures posted of areas before and after they have grazed an area. They are mostly foragers and browsers and will go for the weeds and brush before grass. 

 

They have access to small 3 sided shelters that they seem to only use in heavy rain and snow. Even in very low temps this herd like to sleep under the stars.