We do not free feed our goats pellet type feed because where
we live has very high humidity and heavy dew most of the time. The high
humidity and heavy dew will soak the pellets over night. We do supplement
feed with pellet type feed but only when forage is low in the winter months.
(once or twice a day depending on the
amount of forage in our pastures). Because of our warm climate, our pastures
stay green about 9-10 months of the year. We also put out mineral tubs to
make sure they get ample amount of nutrients.
We also feed high quality hay year around.
HOOF TRIMMING:
When we say we trim hooves on a regular basis, this means when needed.
Again with our high humidity and heavy dew, we probably have to keep a
closer watch on this than other breeders that live in a drier climate. Some
of our goats need trimming bi-monthly and some less often. We have to make sure
they don't get too soft and pliable where they might split. We have noticed
the older our goats get the less trimming that is needed.
We do not trim hooves on pregnant does that are less than 4 weeks from
kidding. We wait until after they have kidded if they need it.
VACCINATIONS:
We give CD/T vaccinations once a year. Our kids are vaccinated 30
days before weaning with a booster at weaning, then once a year.
We vaccinate for pneumonia on the animals we think are at risk.
We Do Not vaccinate for sore mouth. So far we have not had this
problem and don't want to introduce the virus to our herd by vaccine.
We want our herd to be able to build up immunities from diseases on their
own as much as possible.
We try to give CD/T vaccinations 4 weeks before a doe kids.
We also vaccinate for CL with an Autogenous Vaccine derived from other
ranches from Texas that would be close to our vicinity.
WORMING:
Once again, when we say on a regular basis, we mean when it is needed. We
check our goats mouth pigment and eye pigment weekly . When the
pigment shows that worming is needed, we de-worm those in need.
Because of our climate we will use a "liver fluke" wormer in the
Spring and again in the Fall.
We make sure that pregnant does are wormed 30 days or so before kidding.
We have to make sure that the type of worming meds will not cause
abortions in pregnant does.
We rotate our goats in 5 different pastures.
There is a lot of controversy on the subject of worming in the Goat
Industry. We are trying to weigh all the facts and see what would be best
for us.
OTHER:
We currently have two Herd Sires so we can have a longer time frame before we
have to change blood lines. One Herd Sire could easily handle 20 or so does.
This way we can keep a few of our doe offspring if needed.
We usually wait until our does are about 1 year old or around 90 lbs. before we breed them.
All of our goats have a price tag on them. If you are interested in some
that are not on our FOR SALE PAGE, give
us a call or e-mail.
We are trying to eventually get to the point where all of our stock is
Full Blood. But we feel quality and moderate maintenance is also important.
OUR GOALS: ( 2008 THRU 2012)
Breed and raise High Quality Boer Goats with emphasis on Health and
Hardiness --- Trying to reduce maintenance.
Breed for Quality Show Wethers for area Youth Fairs.
Raise High Quality Breeding Stock for other breeders.
Sell at reasonable prices so that customers get a "good deal"
and we can still make a small profit.
Establish Good Customer Relations so that customers will return for future
purchases.
Beginning in 2010 we will start to improve our Breeding Does by keeping
some of Wandering Soul's doelings and start looking for a new Herd Sire.