Just mulling over my options...

**mygoat** · #1 06/05/08, 04:08 PM

I'm a 2008 graduate and I've got two free years at the local Community College, so I'm taking them to get the prerequisites out of the way. Then I'm off to Michigan State to become a veterinarian. I can handle college and animals for the 2 years I'll be at the community college, but there is no way I can live at home with the 1hr commute to campus once I transfer to State. Two years ago I thought I could do that, but not with today's gas prices. And I bet it's only going to get worse.

I really DO NOT want to sell my animals. I just don't like the idea that they would have an uncertain future if I were to sell them, and that I would have no control over their health and safety.

I'm not too worried about my herd of 7-13 minitures. They don't require daily work, just keeping hay, water, minerals/baking soda out for them is enough. A daily check is all they need for the most part, and I will be home enough to administer vaccinations, BoSe, wormings, etc. The does are always bred for summer kiddings, so that's not a problem. During my school years I would leave the kids on the dams so I wouldn't have a bottle feeding schedule or anything to worry about.

BUT, I'm terribly uncertain about my herd of (now) 5 dairy does. Alpines and American Alpines, they are my dream that I've had for at least 5 of the 7 years I've had goats now. I've finally got some worthy stock to start my dairy herd with, and now in two years I'm uncertain of their place in my herd. I do NOT want to sell them, but there is NO way I could care for them while away at college.

What are your opinions on my ability to lease them? Will people be willing to lease for a few years, under contract? These are NICE does, excellent conformation, pedigrees, show quality. All should be excellent milkers (a couple are doelings and will be FF next spring). I would have a contract, and may lease at extremely low rates to good, clean homes. Any ideas with what I can do?

Sorry this is so long... my dad just happened to bring up the topic last night and it scared me to death when I realized I wouldn't be able to afford commute at today's gas prices... I had always planned to live at home through college.

Naturaldane · #2 06/05/08, 04:37 PM

Maybe you can find a pasture to lease close by? I have a friend who is wanting a dairy that would provide a great home if you deside to sell.

Minelson · #3 06/05/08, 04:51 PM

I was thinking maybe you could find a place to keep them close to school while you are there. Especially since you will be going to vet school you may have some good contacts. It would just be for the winter right? And you have 2 years to figure it out if I read you post right. A lot can happen in 2 years...but it is still good to plan ahead.

Jyllie63 · #4 06/05/08, 05:28 PM

I just read an ad on Craigslist about this very thing. She has 2 boer/cross wethers that she wants to board while she is in school for 2-3 years. My daughter hasn't thought a thing about her dog that she left behind for me to take care of LOL.

**mygoat** · #5 06/05/08, 05:42 PM

Yup, I've still got two years to get it all figured out.

The likelihood of me finding a nice country room or apartment somewhere that will be set up and allow me to keep about 5 dairy does is slim to none... and I can't just keep 'em around because I can't breed them/milk them while I'm in school, and their quality and worth will be going 'to waste' if I just hold them here.

I dunno. Hope I can get something figured out. I could MAYBE sell my two FF that are milking now. I'm not super duper attached to them. I'd rather not sell 'em, though. And in 2 more years I bet I will be super attached to 'em, lol. My three doelings out of my two butchered CAE+ does are my last little bit of connection to the two positive does who were so dear to me, I can't imagine selling any of those three. Ever.

Stupid higher education! LOL

Naturaldane · #6 06/05/08, 05:49 PM

Hey, go to UGA, you can have a room and keep your goats too! Its odd, as I thought putting an ad out for a student in a similar situation as you would get some responce, and it hasnt, granted nothing fancy here but its better than some of the places I have seen, but no private bath is the biggest conflict, but free rent in exchange for help i thought was a bonus.
Good luck to you, and your goats.

**mygoat** · #7 06/05/08, 05:59 PM

more info, naturaldane? please? LOL

Naturaldane · #8 06/05/08, 10:02 PM

we are about 20 min sw of UGA and we had thought that we could find a student that would not be going to school on parents CC's and wouldnt want to give up there horse or other pets. All we have to offer is a large room that has a private entrance, food was even offered as long as I had some help around here, not much to be done really, but running two farms i get behind easy..lol.. just basicly to live as kinda part of the family in some ways and not one responce, which really surprised me. I know i see many horses being sold because kid is going to school ect.

Not to mention, UGA kicks butt, GO DAWGS! lol

sgian · #9 06/05/08, 10:16 PM

You could also try to arrange your schedule so that you attend classes 2 or 3 days a week. That could be cheaper than renting someplace, depending on what your gas mileage is. At 30 mpg and a 120 mile round trip at $4/gal, that is about $200 a month to go 3x a week.

When I went to college that is what I usually tried to do, but for a different reason. I had to arrange my school and work schedules. Most colleges I've been to (three) have many classes that will just be M and W, or MWF, or TTh. Some were even once a week (but they were long classes).

**mygoat** · #10 06/05/08, 11:16 PM

I kinda want to take as many classes as I can as fast as I can, because I can handle it and because I want a LOT of education. I want to be a small and large animal vet, and even though I don't own horses yet I'd like to go to a school for equine sciences and learn to train them (mostly for my own use), and finally I want to go for ranch management... LOL so a LOT of school left for me to go... thankfully I like learning about stuff I love, like goats.

I suppose I might be able to work something out possibly, I could search for a situation like helping at the local farm somewhere where I could bring goats (hey, they'd be getting free milk, too! LOL)

What do you all think about the likelihood of me leasing does? Would any of you be willing to ever lease a doe? What kind of things would be involved in a contract for leasing?

sgian · #11 06/06/08, 06:58 AM

College is different than high school. Sometimes you can make a schedule to go 2 days a week (T and TH) and be a full time student, depending on when and what classes are available. Or 3 days a week (M, W, and F). They will be long days.

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #12 06/06/08, 11:07 AM

As a mom, I would tell you to sell out. Prices are excellent right now, you could sock the money away and get back into goats when you are settled. Both my daughters sold their 4H herds when your age and paid for 2 years of college. The idea you will be able to take care of them and go to school and find time to study isn't happening, and the idea you will find them a cute little place to live while you are gone that doesn't turn into a nitemare (who will pay the vet bills when their dog attacks your goats, who pays the feed bill, who keeps the kids?) those are just a few of the problems there are lots more. No matter what genetics you think you do have now, there will be better in 8 years when you are out of school....then there is finding a job, I would not want to be lugging goats around with me, only taking a job that is around an area you can find to house your goats again. You will change so much in college being around people who are not your peers right now. I would let go, have fun this next 8 years if you make it, because once in the real world of the work force, being a mom etc....you will never have this opportunity again. I would go and give it 100%, not worrying about running home to do chores. Vicki

susanne · #13 06/06/08, 11:45 AM

it will hurt a lot but i would also sell them. the only other option would be if your parents are willing to take care of your animals if you are in college.

fishhead · #14 06/06/08, 01:56 PM

I would start telling yourself that they are going to be sold and then once you get used to the idea start looking for a good farm for them to go to where you know they will get good care. You've got time to find that farm. Like the above postings you are going to go through a lot of changes in the next few years that you can't really predict.

If you still want goats when you get done and you are in a situation where you can have them maybe you could go back to the farm and buy some kids from your animals.

crazygoatgal · #15 06/07/08, 10:11 AM

Personally, I don't think I would consider selling right now because it's only going to stress you and you do still have other options to look into before you go that route. I would lease if I could, yes and I have a tested and clean herd. Quite a few people here free lease horses for 10 months a year and only take them back for June and July for show and riding season. If you put ads up or do it word of mouth now, you have time to put out the feelers and see what you get. And if you do it before the second year is up, you could be an active, hands on member of the arrangement. Just food for thought.

**mygoat** · #16 06/07/08, 09:22 PM

I'm not selling out of goats. I'll always have my favorites at the very least... Daisy, my first goat, and Boston, Cadee, Giselle, and my buck Andre. I promise I will always have those around at the VERY least. But they're not dairies and I can work breeding/raising them around college quite easily. I also cannot even bring myself to consider selling my three american alpine doelings from this spring until I get at least a couple years of production/conformation evaluation out of them.

If I only have classes 2 or 3 days per week I think I could still afford to commute. That would only be 4-6 hrs of driving per week, and probably handleable.

Right now I think the plan will be to sell as MANY as I can afford and am willing to part with, but probably not until winter '10. Then whatever is left of the dairies I will free lease with a written contract and I will call and visit on a regular basis.

Togg Lovers · #17 06/08/08, 12:00 AM

Maybe some 4-H kids in your area would be willing to take care of them in return for being able to show them. You would be able to remain the owner and just lease them to the kids. (ADGA has lease forms for this) You get to keep your goats and some kids who may not be able to afford their own get an opportunity to learn about and enjoy them.

**mygoat** · #18 06/08/08, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Togg Lovers

Maybe some 4-H kids in your area would be willing to take care of them in return for being able to show them. You would be able to remain the owner and just lease them to the kids. (ADGA has lease forms for this) You get to keep your goats and some kids who may not be able to afford their own get an opportunity to learn about and enjoy them.

I don't mind showing if they keep my herd from getting any diseases. I don't particularly like 4-H because I learned NOTHING while involved in it, and informed THE SUPERVISORS about CL/CAE/Johne's. They called CL 'absceses' and told me some bad information, and seemed surprised to learn I had a tested herd... grr. But if they wanted to do sanctioned shows and worked to keep my herd from picking up anything, that would be fine.