The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: reedos on October 18, 2011, 08:26:48 pm
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Title says it all really - well kind of says it, they aren't actually on our field yet as I need to finish the fencing, but that should be done this week. We had to collect them slightly earlier than planned as the woman who had them was getting rid of them sooner than she planned and the butcher was calling!
Anyway they are currently at John The Goat Man's place (our mentor, who I think is quite happy as he can keep an eye on us as we learn to milk them before he lets us loose on our own).
Polly we're finding is quite happy to be milked once we get her on the stand but takes some persuasion to get there - Nicky is easier (slightly) to get there, but kicks anytime you go near her udder - patience, a bit of gentle persuasion, regular handling and time, are according to John (who is also John The Beeman - but that's next years adventure), all she needs. Today I was ever so proud of myself, had managed quite well for my first time milking solo, when she decided to kick with her non kicking leg, the other was being gently held by me cue buckets flying milk everywhere and me cursing ::)
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congratulations :goat: :)
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How exciting. We will of course need photos when they arrive. ;)
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You have made a good decisions. Goats are fun. What breed are they? :goat:
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Well done and welcome to the goat world :thumbsup:
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Polly is 75% Golden guernsey and 25% British Toggenburg(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x22/allotmentsnstuff/DSC00342.jpg)
Niccy is 75% Golden Guernsey 25% Saanen, she's the one who likes to dance on the milking stand - although I think I might have cracked it with her the last couple of days.(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x22/allotmentsnstuff/DSC00343.jpg)
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nice pics :goat:
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Ahhh, lovely. :) Thanks for posting them.
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Beautiful goats. I'm sure you're going to enjoy them.
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They are lovely!!
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Well done, they look lovely, tempt her onto the stand with some food in a bucket, and brush her all over with a soft brush while shes eating, eventualy she will start to trust you more, things will improve when you get her home and can handle her more, she will come round given a bit of time.
One of ours won't leave the milk stand until she has had the udder cream on then you have to take the overnight crust out of the corner of her eyes and brush her., then you must give her a pat on the neck and rub her ears before she will move. they love routine.
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One of ours won't leave the milk stand until she has had the udder cream on then you have to take the overnight crust out of the corner of her eyes and brush her., then you must give her a pat on the neck and rub her ears before she will move. they love routine.
I love that!
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Hi, very nice goats! Are they registered (Herd book)?. If you are breeding them to a registered Golden Guernsey billy you are getting quite close to Brtish Guernsey, and there aren't many of them around!
Interesting to see that your 25% BT still has the faint swiss markings - I am just about to start to breed up to BG, using my BT goatling and a GG male. (I also have pure GG's). But it will be years until I get there....
Where in the country are you?
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The previous owner didn't register them for some reason - we know the parentage and the grandparents of one of them but think they are too old to register now. Niccy is 5 and Polly 3. I've e-mailed the British Goat society to ask if it's too late.
The plan is to mate them with a GG male from John The Goat Man's Herd - I think his herd is called Goxhill Herd and hopefully in time get British Guernsey's. ;D
We are in North Lincolnshire
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Only the breeder can register goats in the herd book, and only until they are 2 years old. After that it's only the identification register, and that would be a long route t BG's - but best to discuss with the BGS.
It is a shame that sometimes breeders for whatever reason do not register their goats, yes there is an initial financial outlay (but it is not much), however in the longterm it really increases the value of any goat (and that of her offspring!)
Have fun with your girls (and with the milk that they produce).
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Well had no reply from the BGS to my e-mail, which is disappointing.
But on a much better note, after much lugging of fence posts, fencing, sheds, metal roofing, sundry bits of wood and hammering (not always on my hand), drilling and screwing, the fence is up, the shelter built and the milking shed erected. Poly and Niccy make their move "home" tomorrow ;D
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Yes your goats are too old to be registered in the Herd Book, but I think they could go into the Identifcation register, then if they are mated to a registered bily their offspring would be in the supplementary register (SR number). Not sure what happens after that.
If you are serious about possibly breeding up to registered stock, then registration even in in IR would be adavantageous.
But most important: Enjoy your goats.
The BGS email address is think secretary@allgoats.org.uk or .com I am not sure. It will be on the website. If not phone them up. you have to be a BGS member to register goats in any category (or for GG's a member of the GGG society.)
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Only the breeder can register goats in the herd book, and only until they are 2 years old. After that it's only the identification register, and that would be a long route t BG's - but best to discuss with the BGS.
It is a shame that sometimes breeders for whatever reason do not register their goats, yes there is an initial financial outlay (but it is not much), however in the longterm it really increases the value of any goat (and that of her offspring!)
Have fun with your girls (and with the milk that they produce).
We are in a similar position, aquired a goat a little while ago, pure bred Togg, not registered, though we know the breeding. BGS says it may be possible with a letter from the breeder, and the original (previous) owner of sire and dam can confirm breeding. They checked to comfirm my information re the breeder and I was correct. It WILL cost but may be done. we've decided to try and get the breeder to write the letter and hope BGS committee will accept the 2 testimonials and give my girl her rightful place.
It is an unusual step for the BGS to take, and we are going to have to jump through quite a few hoops, but as Toggs are quite rare every one counts.
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We can do that - John the Goat Man is the owner of the sire of at least one of them and knows the owner of the dams. We are just hoping to take a stage out of getting them to breed British Guernsey's.
How did you contact the BGS penninehillbilly ?
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I originally contacted them via email, but be aware, it could cost more than the goat is worth, letters may not be enough, and a committee will have to decide whether to allow it, and the main thing -
Toggenburgs are a 'closed book' ie only Toggs who can be proved to have lines going back to the original imports can be entered, as opposed to British Toggenburgs, who can be bred up.
And you may have to be a member of the BGS.
The only reason I am trying is because so few are registered, I'm doing it for the breed rather than just wanting paperwork for her. Only 33 female kids were registered in the whole country last year, and 9 males, many who probably won't come up to scratch as they mature. So we are just hoping they may make an exception to widen the gene pool slightly.
She's just been to a very good male, so here's hoping it will all come together in time.
Originally I wasn't bothered what goats I got, I just needed goats again, didn't expect these high ranking aristocrats ??? but I love them. that's the main thing, love them for what they are, friendly, intelligent, entertaining, sometimes downright naughty, with that wicked look in their eyes that says they know they can get away with it ;D
google british goat society - there will be an email on there, but it may be a long, expensive battle.
(I think Polly is gorgeous - any more pics of her?)