Our goats
Can there be anything better than baby goats? It's no wonder "kids" leaked into the everyday lexicon as a way to describe young ones of any species -- particularly given the antics of the caprine variety. They so resemble toddlers in their curiosity, their affection, and their antics. Here are the six young ones (see "New Kids on the Block," below) our does Zazz and Simone brought forth in late March 2012:
Where it all started...
Simone and Esther (left) arrived in March of 2011, straight from our goat mentor, David Moore. Over his long career, David has raised some prize-winning dairy goats, one of which is the reigning champion for milk production in California. He also shows his goats regularly in competitions throughout Northern California, and we are proud to be his students and fellow goat herders (on however small a scale).
Simone, the black kid, is a purebred Oberhasli, a Swiss Alpine variety known for its docile nature, hardy constitution, and high quality of milk. Simone's all-black coat confuses some people, because most Oberhaslis are cinnamon-colored with black markings on their face, tail, lower legs, along their spine, and on their haunches and underside Simone is special: Her all-black coloring is the sign of a rare (and, we think, magical) recessive gene that expresses itself only once in great while. She also has little wattles under her cheeks, adding to her prized looks. She is, typical of the breed, sweet-tempered and affectionate, and like most babies uses her tongue as a means of exploration, tasting everything she encounters, from your fingers to the tip of your nose to whatever garment or shoe you happen to be wearing. Though she did not adapt to bottle feeding, she took to the "bowl method" -- slurping (gulping, really, showing an impressive sucking ability) her ration from a bowl.
Simone, the black kid, is a purebred Oberhasli, a Swiss Alpine variety known for its docile nature, hardy constitution, and high quality of milk. Simone's all-black coat confuses some people, because most Oberhaslis are cinnamon-colored with black markings on their face, tail, lower legs, along their spine, and on their haunches and underside Simone is special: Her all-black coloring is the sign of a rare (and, we think, magical) recessive gene that expresses itself only once in great while. She also has little wattles under her cheeks, adding to her prized looks. She is, typical of the breed, sweet-tempered and affectionate, and like most babies uses her tongue as a means of exploration, tasting everything she encounters, from your fingers to the tip of your nose to whatever garment or shoe you happen to be wearing. Though she did not adapt to bottle feeding, she took to the "bowl method" -- slurping (gulping, really, showing an impressive sucking ability) her ration from a bowl.
Esther, unlike Simone, is a crossbreed, a mix of Oberhasli and Nigerian dwarf, though she expresses the predominant Oberhasli coloring (rust-brown coat, with black legs, tail, belly, and ridge along her back). She is considered officially a mini-Oberhasli, and although not particularly prized as a "show goat" (how's that for a pun, all you Broadway mavens?), makes up in personality what she lacks in pedigree. She's an independent spirit, curious and almost cat-like in her whimsical nature, which means she can bolt from your lap and out of the barn to sprint across the pasture for a couple of laps, then end up back beside you, nibbling your earlobe. She is also fond of jumping on your back when you bend over (photo, right), interpreting any hunched posture as an invitation to climb and play "Queen of the Hill." An enthusiastic bottle-feeder, Esther can polish off a bottle faster than a thirsty tradesman can down a pint on hot day.
Zazz (left, in a flattering closeup) is Esther's mom. She is a fine specimen of the Oberhasli breed, with a bronze coat and elegant black markings. From a distance, her lean profile and tapered ears might trick the unknowing eye into mistaking her for a deer (perhaps that's why the female of both species is called a doe). But as you get closer, that unmistakable forehead and those large, round eyes coupled with the elongated jaw and fine, pursed lips and streamlined nose reveal her true being.
An extraordinary sweetness matches her classic lines and coloring. Joe says she is easy to milk and a big milk producer, yielding about a gallon a day. She is totally at ease with people, walking up to sniff you from the other side of the gate or nibbling raisins (a favorite goat treat) from your outstretched hand.
Though she is Esther's mom, the original idea was that she would be "on loan" to us from David's herd. Instead of shuttling back and forth with fresh milk for the unweaned kids, David had the brilliant idea of simply bringing the mountain to Mohammed, as it were. Because of the separation of more than three days, mommy goat and kids forgot who was who, and the "maternal spell" was broken; hence, bottle feeding continued. Esther seemed to know that Zazz is her mother, and it was funny to watch her sneak up behind Zazz and sneak a sip before Zazz lightly kicked her off. Joe calls this amusing behavior "drive-by suckling." Although the original plan was to return Zazz to David once the kids were weaned, it didn't work out that way. With Zazz's gentle nature and want for affection, Joe fell in love and couldn't part with her. It became a Solomon's choice, as we are committed to not having anymore animals than can be cared for joyfully. It simply isn't in the plan to have three does to milk at 5 a.m., so somebody had to go. Originally, Esther was to become the queen of David's new mini-Oberhasli line; he parted with her to keep Simone company. So there came a sad day in Summer 2011 when Esther made the trip back to David's. It was heartbreaking to take her from Simone and listen to her cry in the back of the truck. Once getting her to David's place, however, the sadness quickly subsided, and Esther became a child set free in an amusement park. At QQR, Esther was constantly looking for things to get into, out of, or over. At David's, she was like a little bird who had been let out of a cage. We surmised she had simply been very bored, and now that she had 30 other herd mates, instead of just two, she had more stimuli than she knew what to do with. In all, it was a very good trade... one that we haven't regretted. Zazz and Simone have reached an understanding about who's boss essential to any goatherd; in this case, it's Zazz. She's not only older and bigger, but
An extraordinary sweetness matches her classic lines and coloring. Joe says she is easy to milk and a big milk producer, yielding about a gallon a day. She is totally at ease with people, walking up to sniff you from the other side of the gate or nibbling raisins (a favorite goat treat) from your outstretched hand.
Though she is Esther's mom, the original idea was that she would be "on loan" to us from David's herd. Instead of shuttling back and forth with fresh milk for the unweaned kids, David had the brilliant idea of simply bringing the mountain to Mohammed, as it were. Because of the separation of more than three days, mommy goat and kids forgot who was who, and the "maternal spell" was broken; hence, bottle feeding continued. Esther seemed to know that Zazz is her mother, and it was funny to watch her sneak up behind Zazz and sneak a sip before Zazz lightly kicked her off. Joe calls this amusing behavior "drive-by suckling." Although the original plan was to return Zazz to David once the kids were weaned, it didn't work out that way. With Zazz's gentle nature and want for affection, Joe fell in love and couldn't part with her. It became a Solomon's choice, as we are committed to not having anymore animals than can be cared for joyfully. It simply isn't in the plan to have three does to milk at 5 a.m., so somebody had to go. Originally, Esther was to become the queen of David's new mini-Oberhasli line; he parted with her to keep Simone company. So there came a sad day in Summer 2011 when Esther made the trip back to David's. It was heartbreaking to take her from Simone and listen to her cry in the back of the truck. Once getting her to David's place, however, the sadness quickly subsided, and Esther became a child set free in an amusement park. At QQR, Esther was constantly looking for things to get into, out of, or over. At David's, she was like a little bird who had been let out of a cage. We surmised she had simply been very bored, and now that she had 30 other herd mates, instead of just two, she had more stimuli than she knew what to do with. In all, it was a very good trade... one that we haven't regretted. Zazz and Simone have reached an understanding about who's boss essential to any goatherd; in this case, it's Zazz. She's not only older and bigger, but
New kids on the block
Zazz surprised us by giving birth to four bucks.
In November 2011, we bred both Zazz and Simone to a funny-looking and musky-smelling Oberhasli buck named Donny, short for "Adonis" (read about the encounter in our journal, lesson no. 4). Five months (practically to the day) later, in late March 2012, we witnessed the births of first Simone's kids, a doeling and buckling (without our help whatsoever; she literally "dropped" them while standing in the middle of the loafing pen), and then Zazz's four bucklings -- not unheard of, but a couple more than we had planned on and at least one more than Zazz could comfortably deliver and then suckle. Thank heaven Joe is both a nurse and an experienced goat "birthing coach," for Zazz was in distress during delivery, each one of her bucks presenting abnormally (never in the correct "diving" position -- extended front feet first, then the head -- that makes birthing kids relatively easy). Zazz's kids came out every which way -- rear feet first, head last; legs and head together (very stressful on the doe); one of the two back legs and the front legs first, with the head pushed back (again, very painful on the doe); and the head first, with the front legs pushed to the kid's side, creating a very large mass that stretches the cervix to the breaking point. Not to mention that Joe had to manipulate the kids in utero to get them from presenting butt first (breech), which can stop labor altogether due to the size of the kid versus the birth canal. But we both helped Zazz deliver as best we could, and when she had finished (after the second one, Joe kept saying "There can't be another one" -- but there were). And they all lived (though we worried about the second one, whom we revived with a squirt of Roberta's (John's sister) maple syrup -- see Joe's description in lesson no. 8).
We eventually named them all (though you're not supposed to, especially if you're not planning on keeping them): the doeling we called "Corabelle" (because the American Dairy Goat Association had declared it a "C" year, meaning all registered kids should have names that start with "C"), and we named all the bucks with monikers beginning in "F" that typified their main trait: Flash (for his speed and agility); Flake (for the white snowflake star on his head and the white tuft of hair on his tail); Frost (for the white-tinged cowlick behind his horn buds); Frisco (for his uncanny ability to steal milk not from his mom, Zazz, but from Simone); and Freeman, who is independent and most un-goatlike in his tastes and behavior. We sold Corabelle to a nice family in Sebastopol (in Sonoma County) who were looking for a sweet-tempered companion for both their other goats and their daughter.
As for the "boys" -- we'll, they are destined for the freezer, and we are trying to forget we named them. But in the meantime, we are feeding them and treating them with the same care and respect as we do our other goats: they have shelter from the elements, grain and hay twice a day, and an open pasture on which to graze whenever they like (even the dried grasses and vegetation of a field in mid-August California are of interest to goats, be it small clumps of the detested star thistle or the pleasure of some undiscovered patch of California melic that has popped up around the fenceline). Though "the boys," as we call them, were banded (a humane means of castration in which a thick rubber band is placed at the base of the scrotum, which makes their testicles whither and fall off--hence the name for them, "wethers"), they are still lively and curious and--oh, all right--cute. Though we were warned that they would be quite vocal, they have calmed down into a pattern of bleating only at feeding time, when they cry out lustily for their share of the bounty Joe distributes at dawn and dusk.
We eventually named them all (though you're not supposed to, especially if you're not planning on keeping them): the doeling we called "Corabelle" (because the American Dairy Goat Association had declared it a "C" year, meaning all registered kids should have names that start with "C"), and we named all the bucks with monikers beginning in "F" that typified their main trait: Flash (for his speed and agility); Flake (for the white snowflake star on his head and the white tuft of hair on his tail); Frost (for the white-tinged cowlick behind his horn buds); Frisco (for his uncanny ability to steal milk not from his mom, Zazz, but from Simone); and Freeman, who is independent and most un-goatlike in his tastes and behavior. We sold Corabelle to a nice family in Sebastopol (in Sonoma County) who were looking for a sweet-tempered companion for both their other goats and their daughter.
As for the "boys" -- we'll, they are destined for the freezer, and we are trying to forget we named them. But in the meantime, we are feeding them and treating them with the same care and respect as we do our other goats: they have shelter from the elements, grain and hay twice a day, and an open pasture on which to graze whenever they like (even the dried grasses and vegetation of a field in mid-August California are of interest to goats, be it small clumps of the detested star thistle or the pleasure of some undiscovered patch of California melic that has popped up around the fenceline). Though "the boys," as we call them, were banded (a humane means of castration in which a thick rubber band is placed at the base of the scrotum, which makes their testicles whither and fall off--hence the name for them, "wethers"), they are still lively and curious and--oh, all right--cute. Though we were warned that they would be quite vocal, they have calmed down into a pattern of bleating only at feeding time, when they cry out lustily for their share of the bounty Joe distributes at dawn and dusk.
A message from Joe about raising goats:
It is our intention for this site to be a place where our friends and family can come and view the ranch's happenings, but I would also like it to be a place for beginners to come, explore, ask questions and find encouragement in returning to a simpler but more rewarding type of life.
There are innumerable websites and books on the care and maintenance of a small goat herd. By the same token, there are innumerable opinions and methods of accomplishing that task. I don't have the time or inclination to rewrite all of the information available; however, I would like to offer a little clarity, derived from my own practical experience, about the seemingly insurmountable details of all aspects of successful care and love for our caprine family members.
I use "family members" loosely. Although we provide our animals with the absolute best care possible, we navigate life on the ranch under one very simple premise: All members of our family must support themselves. There are no free rides here. Our goats are not pets; they have to earn their keep, either in milk or meat. So just because I may fall in love with them as infants doesn't mean they won't find their way to the freezer at one point or another. I truly believe you can care for and love an animal in the very best way with the full intention that it will provide you with protein. Actually, I believe an animal that is cared for in a loving way tastes better and is better for you than one that is raised loveless, nameless and crowded into a space knee deep in its neighbors feces. Sorry to disappoint anyone--but yes, we will one day eat one or more of Simone or Zazz's buck kids.
Now, on to the subject of raising (rather than eating) goats. I'd like to give you a list of the websites and resources I've discovered that I think are the most helpful. As I'm constantly faced with questions, the following list will grow and evolve over time. Please let me know if any of the links expire or if you find contradictory details. I'll help to clarify and we can work together to keep the site current and relevant.
The most generally comprehensive goat site I've found is Fias Co Farm (http://fiascofarm.com/). Molly has put together an amazing site. If you have a question, she most likely has an answer, and you'll find it on her site. That said, I have mixed feelings regarding her exclusive use of herbs in the control of parasites (liver challenges, dosing discrepancies, etc.); however, the information she has compiled is impressive.
Hoegger Supply Co. has been in business for more than 75 years. My mother ordered her goat supplies from them exclusively, so I'm pretty trusting of their products. Also, they're really nice people. If you just want a 10,000-feet-in-the-air view of general goat health tips, I strongly encourage you to order their catalog. Near the back, they have a half-dozen pages on "the health tips we have humbly gleaned from our 76 years in business." This is in no way a comprehensive compilation of health information, but it's a handy quick reference. Also, it's attached to a catalog that will get you started with basic supplies and will provide an ongoing resource for vaccines, wormers and a nifty "goats are great" sweatshirt. If you can't find what you're after locally (I always recommend buying locally), they're a good source.
Onion Creek Ranch (http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com) is a site put together by Suzanne Gasparotto. It's downright amazing (Fias Co is still my favorite, but this site's a close second) in its almost exhaustive compilation of goat-related articles. The thing I really like is that she's sensitive to peoples' resources and availability of vet care in rural areas. Although she is careful not to "endorse," she offers articles on alternative treatment in lieu of paying the $300 just to have the vet step foot on your property. Although her information has a meat-goat bent, she is ecumenical in her offerings of both general and specific goat care needs. I have not been to her "Goat Camp," but I hear it's packed with great information as well as good hands-on learning.
These are just a few of the resources I've found; however, they are my three "go to first" places when I have questions. I expand this page when I can find another moment. Until then, please never hesitate to drop me a note. I'm sure I'll have an opinion; I might have the answer. But if I don't have either, I'll know where you can find more information.
Remember, if they burp in your face, it's not an insult, they're just comfortable with you.
There are innumerable websites and books on the care and maintenance of a small goat herd. By the same token, there are innumerable opinions and methods of accomplishing that task. I don't have the time or inclination to rewrite all of the information available; however, I would like to offer a little clarity, derived from my own practical experience, about the seemingly insurmountable details of all aspects of successful care and love for our caprine family members.
I use "family members" loosely. Although we provide our animals with the absolute best care possible, we navigate life on the ranch under one very simple premise: All members of our family must support themselves. There are no free rides here. Our goats are not pets; they have to earn their keep, either in milk or meat. So just because I may fall in love with them as infants doesn't mean they won't find their way to the freezer at one point or another. I truly believe you can care for and love an animal in the very best way with the full intention that it will provide you with protein. Actually, I believe an animal that is cared for in a loving way tastes better and is better for you than one that is raised loveless, nameless and crowded into a space knee deep in its neighbors feces. Sorry to disappoint anyone--but yes, we will one day eat one or more of Simone or Zazz's buck kids.
Now, on to the subject of raising (rather than eating) goats. I'd like to give you a list of the websites and resources I've discovered that I think are the most helpful. As I'm constantly faced with questions, the following list will grow and evolve over time. Please let me know if any of the links expire or if you find contradictory details. I'll help to clarify and we can work together to keep the site current and relevant.
The most generally comprehensive goat site I've found is Fias Co Farm (http://fiascofarm.com/). Molly has put together an amazing site. If you have a question, she most likely has an answer, and you'll find it on her site. That said, I have mixed feelings regarding her exclusive use of herbs in the control of parasites (liver challenges, dosing discrepancies, etc.); however, the information she has compiled is impressive.
Hoegger Supply Co. has been in business for more than 75 years. My mother ordered her goat supplies from them exclusively, so I'm pretty trusting of their products. Also, they're really nice people. If you just want a 10,000-feet-in-the-air view of general goat health tips, I strongly encourage you to order their catalog. Near the back, they have a half-dozen pages on "the health tips we have humbly gleaned from our 76 years in business." This is in no way a comprehensive compilation of health information, but it's a handy quick reference. Also, it's attached to a catalog that will get you started with basic supplies and will provide an ongoing resource for vaccines, wormers and a nifty "goats are great" sweatshirt. If you can't find what you're after locally (I always recommend buying locally), they're a good source.
Onion Creek Ranch (http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com) is a site put together by Suzanne Gasparotto. It's downright amazing (Fias Co is still my favorite, but this site's a close second) in its almost exhaustive compilation of goat-related articles. The thing I really like is that she's sensitive to peoples' resources and availability of vet care in rural areas. Although she is careful not to "endorse," she offers articles on alternative treatment in lieu of paying the $300 just to have the vet step foot on your property. Although her information has a meat-goat bent, she is ecumenical in her offerings of both general and specific goat care needs. I have not been to her "Goat Camp," but I hear it's packed with great information as well as good hands-on learning.
These are just a few of the resources I've found; however, they are my three "go to first" places when I have questions. I expand this page when I can find another moment. Until then, please never hesitate to drop me a note. I'm sure I'll have an opinion; I might have the answer. But if I don't have either, I'll know where you can find more information.
Remember, if they burp in your face, it's not an insult, they're just comfortable with you.