Only my goat friends will understand...

**mygoat** · #1 07/06/12, 04:44 PM

Around Xmas time and my birthday, our family was strapped for cash so we are just now getting belated 'big' xmas gifts. I *usually* ask for goats or goat related stuff for my birthday/xmas, lol.

This year I'm getting a super fancy AI kit from biogenetics.

I got the 185.95 kit here: BIO-Genics, LTD Goat AI, Artificial Insemination Kits

I think that's a steal for all the stuff. I also ordered some other accessories.

Separately, I bought an AI tank with a friend of mine a few years ago. She has it at her house but she and I couldn't scrape up funds in the past, and she can't manage it this year to put semen in and help me keep LN2 in there, so I asked her to sell me her 'half' of the tank so I could just bring it home. I'm now sole owner, and told her she's welcome to rent space dirt cheap in the future.

I'm so super de duper excited. Placed the order for the kit yesterday. Can't wait to order semen in the following months!

Now I just gotta pick out some bucks!

farmmom · #2 07/06/12, 04:50 PM

Very cool!!!!

KnowOneSpecial · #3 07/06/12, 04:54 PM

COOL!!!

I would LOVE to have someone ask you, "So what are you saving up for?" and you answer, "Goat semen."

nzw tom · #4 07/06/12, 05:26 PM

Good for you. My wife left me home and went on a quilt retreat. When she came home, she was driving down our road and spotted me walking up the road leading my new goat.That will teach her leaving me unsupervised!

Minelson · #5 07/06/12, 05:34 PM

That is GREAT! And something I have an interest in because "IF" I ever wanted to breed AI is the only way I would go. I'm way tooo uninformed on the subject now but have an interest for sure. I am HAPPY for you!! woo-hoo! Celebrate...and it's Friday too!

Backfourty,MI. · #6 07/06/12, 08:49 PM

What a Great Gift! That sounds like it was well worth the wait! I can hardly wait to see what bucks you use too & what kids your going to have next spring.

andabigmac · #7 07/06/12, 09:24 PM

You have the world at your fingertips. Jealous!

Cannon_Farms · #8 07/07/12, 05:41 AM

for your meaty boys go to boer goat, boer goats, Boer goat semen for sale, Meat Goat semen For Sale, boer goat semen sales, Luke Vickrey, Vickery

**mygoat** · #9 07/07/12, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon_Farms

for your meaty boys go to boer goat, boer goats, Boer goat semen for sale, Meat Goat semen For Sale, boer goat semen sales, Luke Vickrey, Vickery

*drools*

noeskimo · #10 07/07/12, 02:39 PM

I would like to AI, but don't know where to learn. Congrats

Oat Bucket Farm · #11 07/07/12, 02:45 PM

Very cool!

Ford Zoo · #12 07/07/12, 03:41 PM

Dona, you always amaze me. How do you find the time to do all this while in school? Good luck on your new venture!

**mygoat** · #13 07/07/12, 04:18 PM

Well currently, no school. This is my first time I haven't taken summer classes since graduating highschool. Which means I can 'goof off' on the farm, as well as work more hours for some extra money. The 'extra money' should probably go towards groceries during the school year when money gets tight as I pay all my own bills - but hey, I can mooch many of my groceries off the farm - meat, eggs, milk - even some veggies if the garden doesn't just burn up in the heat and lack of rain.

The school semesters are when it gets crazy. I think I've decided to stop doing DHI with my tiny dairy herd - not really worth it and hard to get with my tester regularly. Maybe I'll try again when I have some young stock that need to earn their stars - my older girls have their stars. Making sure hooves get trimmed, vaccinations/Bose/Copper boluses are done on schedule is interesting. Thank goodness it's not an exact science, lol. Breeding season last year was troublesome. I can spot a doe in heat a mile away, but not many others have my eye, lol. Breeding season lasted much too long for my taste. This year I hope to do mass AI Oct 6 +/-, as well as live cover breedings to does who are synced using CIDR/PG600, putting them due around 3/5 (during my spring break), then throw appropriate bucks in with appropriate does as 'clean up' a couple months later to have any stragglers kid in May after I get done with classes for the year.

But to be honest, It's my father who keeps it all going. He is kind enough to take care of all the critters while I'm gone during the weekdays I work or am in class. I do the specialized stuff like disbudding, tattooing, trimming hooves, vaccinating - but he keeps 'em alive, feeds babies, pasteurizes for milk share customers, and milks the dairy ladies 2x per day. I make sure to tell him several times a year that if it's too much, I can downsize. He is amazing and I couldn't do ANYTHING without him - and I'm not just talking about the farm.

Backfourty,MI. · #14 07/07/12, 05:10 PM

Sounds like you & your father are both really lucky to have each other