14 acres of pasture...

ilovehome · #1 03/20/11, 10:27 AM

Hi all. I've been enjoying reading the boards for a couple of months. Hubby and I returned to the rural life about three years ago. We have been gardening, canning, bread making etc. We added chickens a couple of years ago and rabbits last year. Most are heritage or rare breeds like buttercup, andalusian, penedesenca, speckled sussex chickens and american, giant chin and satin angora rabbits.

I have dreamed of having goats, but our property just would not support them, so I gave up. But we are in the process of buying 14 acres of pasture land across the street. Now I'm not sure what to put over there. Goat, sheep, cows?

It's just the two of us and our parents, so we don't need much. I want milk, and perhaps some wool to go with the angora, and a little meat would be good, too. If they are rare, that would be great, but not necessary. They must be easy to handle since I have not milked anything since I was a teen 30+ years ago.

The goats I thought I wanted were LaManchas, but I've read that the parasite load for goats is terrible. And is pasture really ideal for goats? Seems like sheep would do better, and provide the wool..but not great milk? Maybe a cow and sheep instead?

So with those parameters and questions in mind, do you have suggestions?

Thanks a bunch.

motdaugrnds · #2 03/20/11, 11:57 AM

Well, I'm partial to goats for milk and meat. (I raise Nubians.) There are goats that have long hair you might find useful, though I cannot remember the name of the breed; and not sure about their milk production. I can tell you goats are not a problem to raise. I worm them once or twice a year, make sure they have some "loose" minerals and Baking Soda they can get to under a good winter shelter and make sure they have some shrubs/trees they enjoy in the pasture. Milking them is easy; but then my herd is very small (total of 5), 3 of which I milk (when I can get it away from their kids each year .. lol).

One of the best things you can do "before" you decide on what animals to place on your newly acquired acreage is to send the soil off for testing. If you're considering goats, find out if the soil is low in selenium and/or copper; send the grass off for testing as well in order to find out if it is high in iron content. Then take the information from those tests and talk with your local agricultural agent. You will then have a better idea of what type of animals would do better on your place.

ilovehome · #3 03/20/11, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

One of the best things you can do "before" you decide on what animals to place on your newly acquired acreage is to send the soil off for testing. If you're considering goats, find out if the soil is low in selenium and/or copper; send the grass off for testing as well in order to find out if it is high in iron content. Then take the information from those tests and talk with your local agricultural agent. You will then have a better idea of what type of animals would do better on your place.

Thanks for this great recommendation!

I'm still leaning toward goats...

oregon woodsmok · #4 03/20/11, 02:18 PM

Do you like goat's milk? Do you prefer cow's milk?

Get the animal that produces the milk that you prefer. If you like goats milk, buy goats. If you prefer cow's milk get a Jersey.

If you want to spin, and you already have angora rabbits, then I would suggest a fine wool variety of sheep. Maybe Merino. Cashmere goats are good for fiber, but I don't think they are known as good milkers. Look around. Alpacas are being given away for free here, and that is nice fiber.

I would not raise fiber unless I had a real urge to produce cloth from the ground up. I think you will find it is much cheaper to purchase it. I always threw my wool away, so probably anyone in the area with a few sheep will give you fleeces for free, or at most, for a few pennies.

motdaugrnds · #5 03/20/11, 06:46 PM

Wow sure wish I could get 1-2 of those alpacas. Living in Virginia with no way to get across country, that is not possible.

Alpaca clothing (hats, vests, etc.) would be a nice hobby for you, ilovehome. I understand they sell well too.

In choosing the milk you prefer, you might want to remember "cow" milk will leave an "acidic" ash (not a positive for health) while "goat" milk will leave an "alkaline" ash in the body (very healthy for the human body).

I would, also, suggest you set up a little house for "many" guineas. If you get them while keets and keep them pinned up until grown, then let them out only short time in late afternoon, they will not roam far. After this training you can simply leave them out all the time as they would prefer to roost in trees. You would more than likely lose some as they enjoy roaming; however, they would do a real nice job of keeping ticks off your acreage and they serve nicely as watchdogs ... umm watchbirds.

ilovehome · #6 05/10/11, 09:00 AM

Yay!! We got our land! Now to build a small barn and get the Dexters...

Pam6 · #7 05/10/11, 11:33 AM

With just 4 people and 14 acres to work with I would do 2 Nubian milk does, 3 wool sheep, and 4 Boer does with a Boer buck. I would keep my 2 Nubians for milk and breed them with the Boer and use their kids as meat as well. I would separate off a piece and put an orchard in as well.

For my family of 8 with 14 acres I would do 5-6 Nubian milking does and double everything else, add in two beef cows, plus the orchard.

uncle Will in In. · #8 05/10/11, 01:38 PM

What type of fence does it have completly around it now? Goats are great excape artists. A good woven wire fence around it could cost about $3000.

Jennifer L. · #9 05/10/11, 03:30 PM

Dexters are a good choice for you. Good luck with them!

Jennifer

Buffy in Dallas · #10 05/10/11, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oregon woodsmok

I always threw my wool away, so probably anyone in the area with a few sheep will give you fleeces for free, or at most, for a few pennies.

Oh, Dear Goddess!!!!

You Threw Out Wool!!!!

I think my spinning wheel just fainted!

ilovehome · #11 05/10/11, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle Will in In.

What type of fence does it have completly around it now? Goats are great excape artists. A good woven wire fence around it could cost about $3000.

It has simple barbed wire. And that is exactly why hubby preferred the cows. He thought it would cost a lot to fence it adequately for goats.

Plus, I know we like beef and cow milk, but not too sure about goat meat.

Wow Pam6. I'm gonna have to give your comments some serious thought--sounds like excellent planning for all the future needs.

Rosepath · #12 05/10/11, 10:44 PM

Barbed wire won't keep coyotes or stray dogs from getting in and killing sheep or goats.
It's OK for cows though.

Pony · #13 05/10/11, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffy in Dallas

Oh, Dear Goddess!!!!

You Threw Out Wool!!!!

I think my spinning wheel just fainted!

SERIOUSLY!

Could have at least composted them...

Oh, well. No use crying over pitched fleece...

springvalley · #14 05/10/11, 11:11 PM

You could allways get a yack, then you would have milk and fiber, hehe, just saying, > Thanks Marc

Silvercreek Farmer · #15 05/13/11, 08:13 PM

If you have any trouble with the barb wire fence holding your dexters, just add a single hot wire with stand off insulators at shoulder height or slightly below. It will do wonders! I am a big fan of adding juice to any type of physical fence, it keeps animals from rubbing, pushing, ect and makes them last much longer, less repairs ect. 14 acres could support quite a few dexters, you might also want to subdivide your acreage and rotate your animals, if you stockpile grass in the fall you might be able to get away with very little hay in the winter depending on where you live (may be good to add to your personal info) Congrats on your land!