we are DONE!!
 

No more bottles to make/feed.. no more does to milk.. (dried everyone up early.. weaned all the kids and moved them out of the kid barn into indoor/outdoor pens). Needed to lighten the workload ...Jessica (my daughter) is our main milkmaid.. she is having a baby of her own in sept.. my sister has retired and is moving here to the farm in a couple weeks.. (built a house next to mine).. with so much HUMAN activity going on next month.. decided it was time to back off on GOAT activity a bit LOL.. don't have my breeding schedule up yet.. but have at least decided which bucks I'm using.. which does I'm breeding.. (which ones I'm leaving dry)....

I keep telling folks if you ever thought about buying from us.. 2015 might be a great year (if you like to get to pick & choose).. I don't plan on keeping many/if any of my own keepers next time... (knowing that is how I allowed myself to keep 8 this year :nanner: )... as to not tempt myself..I'm not using my new saada buckling.. my new goldthwaite buckling.. or my 1/2 six-m galaxy 1/2 goldthwaite guy.. nor am I using Walker (I always love his kids and want to keep them LOL)... I am however letting Edge, Giles, Eli and Dusk sire babies.. (I don't think I'm breeding any of the 2014 girls.. unless I become fearful of someone putting on to much weight by holding her over)..BUT.. that still leaves 20 or more does to breed.. all kids will be Cae neg/Cl free .. G6S Normal.. adga purebred.. reasonably priced from $200 to $500 (price depends on kid.. sire/dam/bloodlines..milk etc)


jess took a couple pictures today.. the smaller picture is of the just weaned doelings (I keep my jr doelings & bucklings in pens away from the adults until they are 1 1/2 years or so.. don't like them to have to compete with older goats for feed/hay etc)..

the black with lots of white spots is Eli (he's 1/2 saada).. behind him is Giles (again 1/2 saada..different dam/sire line).. they both turned 1 this spring..

red marbled/moonspotted boy is Dusk (he's my breeding.. his dam is Luna the little girl I c-sectioned out of Sunny, my Copper-Hill doe when her uterus tore and she was bleeding out).. Dusk was born this spring.. standing with him is my 2014 Goldthwaite boy Mocha Moose.. (I'm not using him until next year)

susie, mo ozarks

Wow...there's a lot going on at your place!

I love that you know what you're doing...do all of that testing, have beautiful, well-cared-for goats, and that you charge a decent, respectable price for kids.

Got Goats or did Goats get your goat
 

Thank you for the update and congratulations on the upcoming addition to your human family. Two Q's for you, one goat related and the other not at all goat related. I have an 8 year old Son who is so driven to become a farmer :banana: that hardly a day goes by that he doesn't mention helping me get the fences back up and or getting his goats so he can start milking and raising them. He and I attended the/our first Goat association meeting in Carroll County Georgia just last week and while it was a kick off meeting or a meet n greet if you will, he had a blast.

I was raised on working for profit farm and I seemed to have a knack for it and was successful with it. Dad on the other hand was not so much and wound up losing the farm when Uncle Sam's Navy made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Through good fortune, we re-acquired the farm some years ago now but I got seriously hurt at my job and have not been able to get back in the saddle. But my 8 year old is ready to take the reins and pick up where his dad left off.

What would you recommend as a first milking goat for a young tike? We had cattle, swine and commercial chickens when I was working the farm and had, what we called field goats. The goats were here to clean up the brush and such that the cows wouldn't and when dad sold the last of our herd, he included the goats. I want my Son to have the best possible experience with his first and hopefully successive Goats and I want to be able to help him in every way I can. But, I am just not familiar enough with which goats to consider as a first for him. We have a family of 8 now but only four at home full time. Older Children and Grandchild live close by so, I think from what little I do know about dairy Goats is, one should be plenty to keep us supplied with all the milk and related that we can consume. Can

Can goat milk be used to make butter and or buttermilk?

Second question, I am familiar somewhat with the geography of where you are as I had a Sister who lived in West Plains Mo and was planning on moving out that way from Georgia but those plans sort of got dashed. How are things concerning the areas around St. Louis? Are you insulated from and far enough away to remain safe?

For Tomthearcher:

I live North of West Plains. Very fortunately, the violence around the St. Louis area has not trickled down this way!

As far as which breed of dairy goat, I highly recommend the LaMancha, known for their sweet personalities and good milk production. Of course, individual characteristics depend on which breeder/dairy line you buy from - NEVER from a sale barn, please! And, you *do* know that goats are herd animals. One alone is not a good idea. At least two, please!

Yarrow: it is a good thing you are so far away from me, or I would be in BIG TROUBLE. I have the serious wants for a goat from your herd, they are gorgeous. :) I love that you keep your prices so reasonable - good quality goats around here are insanely expensive!

Tomthearcher: Yes you can use goats' milk to make buttermilk and butter. Butter is a little tricky though, because goats' milk does not separate as much as cow's milk does. You need a cream separator, or be content to skim a LOT of milk to get enough for butter making to be worth it. We have been using soft cheese in place of butter, and nobody is complaining. XD Also, the best breed of dairy goat is one that doesn't drive you batty. :) I don't care for La Manchas. They are just too dang up in my face for me (they are like the cats of the goat world!). I really like my Saanens, but can't keep my own buck right now and the nearest Saanen buck is two hours away. My Nubian doe cracks me up (and is my best milker to boot), and there are many nearby Nubian bucks, so Nubians it is for us. Your situation will be different, so you may prefer a different goat. But my favorite are Nubians right now. :)

Very Pretty goats as usual from Ages Ago Acres!
Hope things settle down soon for you & I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Jess has a little girl this time!

I do need a buck.. I may have to hold out until next year! :)

first milk goat for an 8 year old... I don't think breed of goat will be as important as WHICH goat you start off with.. First you will need an alreaday broke to milk .. been there/done that kind of doe.. one that ENJOYS being milked.. (the kind of gal who runs to the milkstands.. jumps up and is ready to milk.. You'll want a gentle soul, who will wants hugs & kisses).. she'll need teats that will fit his hands well and nice large orifices, that give a nice flow of milk..(so his hands won't wear out before the milk is all milked out).. you will want more then just one goat.. you'll be surprised at home much yummy goat milk a family can go thru LOL.. (two does that like each other.. both in milk.. or one in milk .. one pregnant, so he can be there from the beginning of his new herd!.. they'll keep each other company (a single goat.. is a bored lonely goat .. that will get herself into trouble).. they'll keep each other warm.. being herd animals.. one is a very lonely number....

we are about 40 or so miles east of west plains..(oregon county).. I'm not a good one to ask about St. Louis.. we moved here 11 years ago from oklahoma (via PA).. I just realized I've not been up by or thru St. Louis in all that time.. we do go to Springfield quite a bit.. or over to OkC.. down to Dallas or Austin.. just never St. Louis way.. Our area here in the Ozarks is almost like one of those areas that time has forgotten.. while we do had Dish tv.. DSL for the internet and such.. in many ways it's still the 50 or more years ago.. pace of life is nice and slow.. folks are still very friendly and most are hard working.. our home is on top of the tallest hill in our area.. it faces west and we get wonderful sunsets and can see the hilltops for miles upon miles.. this is our forever home.. (it's also I think, one of the most perfect areas of the country for raising goats!) .... good luck on your move to Mo.. we are a multi generational family here on our land.. My husband & myself.. my adult daughter.. her husband.. their 2 year old son.. (the new baby next month).. my adult son (my daughter is my goat business partner..she does most of the milking/making of bottles etc.. helps me with all the births.. my son does all the building, the fencing.. the feeding.. hubby is gone much of the time, as he is a trucker.. owner operator who drives for allied van lines..my sister while, she doesn't have an *assigned* goat job yet.. I know she will find her own nitch in the goat business.. many hands make for light work.. and a whole lot of laughter around the bonfire!


susie, mo ozarks

No little girl this time either.. sigh.. LOL.. BUT.. that's okay.. Zade needs a best friend living way out here in the boondocks.. so Jess is *growing* him one.. they are naming the new baby Gage Avery.. I just hope it's not another 100mph dash to the hospital with a baby crowing...:huh:

susie

Beautiful animals, Yarrow! Quality always stands out!

I Love the name they picked out! Maybe a baby sister for the boys next time!

she wanted another somewhat uncommon (but not TOO weird 4 letter first name).. and the second name to begin with A

so we'll Zade Alexander & Gage Avery.. (I keep teasing her that Gage will get his yaya's red hair.. she hopes NOT!!! lol).. if truth be told.. I wouldn't mind a little red headed girl in a few years..

susie

Agreed. When it comes to a milk goat that will be handled mostly by a child, breed doesn't matter nearly as much as her personality and training.

I have also discovered that does that have their kids pulled at birth are much more patient. My girl Toast was pretty good on the stand last year. I got her after her kids were weaned. I had a baby shortly after she freshened this year so she is raising her kids again this year (I separate at night) and isn't currently as well-behaved. She lets my 6 year old milk her but she fidgets.

And then I got Polly less than a week ago...she has never raised her own kids and I have decided she might be bomb-proof.

My son is 2. She didn't even move

Yarrow...in case you are out of the loop and haven't been informed, red-haired little boys are the best!

The kid from LaMancha
 

Thank you for the advice and update on the problems there in MO. I did know that about Goats being herd animals but had totally forgotten about it. Thank you for mentioning that. I will now be on the hunt for a pair of LaManchas. Thank you again.

Nubile Nubians
 

Thank you for your advice and insight, I will be giving it a lot of thought now...

Susie we where DESTINED to meet :happy:. You live in Oregon County and I live in Oregon Country :D.

Justine

Yarrow, your MoonSpots are SO GORGEOUS!!!! =D

Congrats on another (soon-to-arrive) Grandbaby too!!

Beautiful goats, Susie! Wonderful news about the new baby and his darling name, too!
We live about an hour outside of the St. Louis area and my doctor is in St. Louis. We visited the area on Thursday of this past week. No problem at all. Ferguson is in the very far north county and the riots, looting, burning are at this time anyway totally confined to that area. The rest of St. Louis appeared to be business as usual.

Susie
I don't see an end in every day feedings. I have June kids that will be fed until November. I have kids being born in November. At that time I will begin breeding some yearlings. They will be kidding once the November kids are weaning. Next year I will only keep a few kids to replace the milkers I sell. I'm done buying unless Becky sells me more of her champions.


http://www.spottednubian.com/index.html

Nothing wrong with red hair, I Love it!

Yarrow please put me and mom down for two doelings from you this upcoming year. Also I love love love love the name Gage. I always said if I had a son it would be Gage Hunter.

Donna.. if you get the chance Pm me your contact info .. as in phone email etc.. Justine & I did most of our back and forth to get her girl to her via Pm's here.. but if the forum goes down for some reason.. I'll still be able to get in touch with you..

susie