Proper Introduction and question

WagleFarm · #1 07/20/10, 12:19 PM

I have been a long time lurker and just recently met a member that has talked me into posting.

I enjoy reading the forum and have learned a lot from it. I have had goats for about 10 years and am still learning.

My family started with pygmy/nigerian type goats, which we enjoyed for a very long time. My DH talked me into getting Boer goats a few years ago. I found them to be fairly high maintenance. My three DD's are interested in showing and love the dairy goats, so we now have Nubians, Nigerians and a few unregistered grade does. We hope to start showing next spring.

Ok, now for the question. When you go to a show, what do you do with your goats at home? Do you take all of your goats to the show with you? I am not sure how I can be gone all weekend and have does to milk twice a day. Any suggestions?

wintrrwolf · #2 07/20/10, 12:37 PM

Unless you could have someone stop in and milk? A doe would be in pain especially if you milked her twice a day as most dairy goats I am told should be. To me I guess if there was no one to step in you would have to make a choice, milk for the table or showing. Hmm allot would be based on scenario ...showing season starts when? when is the earliest you could dry your does off? More than one doe milking I would seriously hire someone for the weekend, if you are serious about showing.

WagleFarm · #3 07/20/10, 01:17 PM

I have thought about asking a friend of mine to come over and milk, but she lives 30 minutes away. I am afraid it might be too much to ask.

My DH might be able to stay behind and do chores. We have a buck only show that we would like to go to this fall and we are just trying to figure a way to work it all out.

KimM · #4 07/20/10, 01:25 PM

Hi WF and welcome! Some people do take all their goats to the show so they can milk on schedule. But if you're only showing one buck, couldn't you go just for that day? That's what I do. My kids are dam raised and I separate them at night and milk in the morning. On days I show and leave very early, I don't separate the night before, just leave the kids with them so I don't have to milk but I don't go for the entire weekend for other reasons at this time.

Natural Beauty Farm · #5 07/20/10, 01:37 PM

Most shows will not allow you to keep non show animals on a trailer. During the summer it would mean death to them since our trailers are on blacktop in the sun all day. Some shows have non show pens, but then you are paying extra, stressing out animals that could be home, loosing milk production, etc....

Best bet is to pay someone to do chores, even if it means they spend a night or two.
Here we do morning chores, leave for show..... farm sitter comes in afternoon, does night and morning chores and then we do evening chores when we get home.

CaliannG · #6 07/20/10, 02:09 PM

First off, if you are only showing ONE buck, depending on how the show is scheduled, you will likely only have to be there for one day. If you are showing a goat in the 2 year old buck class, you don't actually have to BE there for the 5 year old doe class showing, the less than one year doeling showing, the 4 year old buck showing, etc., etc., etc., you only actually have to be there for the registration (which if you cannot register the day of your show and have to register before ALL showing, and if YOUR show is the next day, either you or your DH can do the drive WITHOUT the goat, register, and come home.) and for the classes your animal is showing in.

I would NOT take my entire herd to a show. Too stressful on them, and truthfully, how could I do the showing, take care of the herd, and also make sure someone is there to watch them all the time? EEEeeeek!

Another option if you do have to be there ALL weekend, is for you and your DH to trade off. You are at the show with your DD and show buck on Saturday, and he is home taking care of the chores. On Sunday, he is at the show with your DD and buck, and you are at home taking care of chores.

Or, if driving distance is a problem, trade off shows. First weekend show, you go with DD and he stays home; second weekend show, he goes with DD and you stay home.

That is IF you can't find someone good to milk for you and do chores while you are gone.

WagleFarm · #7 07/20/10, 10:18 PM

I want to thank everyone for the suggestions. I hadn't even thought about the milk production drop on the does. I couldn't imagine taking my whole herd to the show, but I am only milking 5 at this time and wasn't sure about taking them.

The show is the end of October, so we still have time to make some kind of arrangements.

Thank you all again. This is a great forum.

Pony · #8 07/20/10, 10:23 PM

Finding someone to chore can be a challenge, that's for sure. I have a neighbor with whom I trade chores, but I'd really prefer to hire someone as my neighbor feels bad asking me b/c she goes out of town more often than I. <shrug> I really don't mind, but there ya go.

I wonder if any of the members here who live close to you would be willing to trade chores with you. It's a thought, anyway.

p.s. Glad you decided to come out and post.

WagleFarm · #9 07/20/10, 10:49 PM

Hi Pony. Sure wish I had a neighbor like you.

I don't know of anyone nearby that would do any milking. I will probably have a cow fresh by then too. Wow, that is really going to be asking a lot.

Laverne · #10 07/21/10, 01:01 AM

Welcome to the forum!

Pony · #11 07/21/10, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WagleFarm

Hi Pony. Sure wish I had a neighbor like you.

I don't know of anyone nearby that would do any milking. I will probably have a cow fresh by then too. Wow, that is really going to be asking a lot.

I would love to live closer to more goat-y neighbors, too.

It's not asking a lot if you're switching off with folks. That's what "neighborin'" is all about.

(I never heard the term "neighborin'" until we moved here. One of my favorite people in Worth County told me what it means - she grew up here - and we decided it was a practice that needs to be revived.)