The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: PipKelpy on April 23, 2019, 09:07:00 pm
-
I know I know, disbud when young etc! Been to auction and also sold privately and bulk of sheep flock now gone! Jennifer the calf is testing my patience as unlike the others, she goes into "donkey" mode when On the head collar and lead. Front feet stretched out, eyes squint and she growls at me! Previous owner been informed, who laughed and said 'Juniper genes!'.
However, I've ALWAYS wanted a goat or 2. Now, I've googled and read and no, I don't want to set myself up as a micro dairy, so am only interested in a goat that can rear a baby that will become burgers (have found a supplier of very tasty goat ???? burgers - who needs beef burgers?) and will live very happily with remaining sheep and 4 cattle. Hornless due to electric fences!!
Now, I like the idea of Golden Geurnsey or English goat yet can't see anything about breeders for English goat. Also, different goat websites differ about what a goat will eat. Some state grass, others say thistles and rough which is great as got plenty of thistles. Swearing doesn't seem to frighten them, neither does digging them up or topping them! Last resort is spraying and the last time we did that we had fertility problems in the cattle (2013), so since then, we've been chemical free.
Goat folk, opinions please!
-
All goat breed are horned. Some guernsey are polled but only some.
My goats actually ate thistles!
I saw someone on internet removing adult goats horns with elasticator bands (like lamb tails). Horns fell off after like a week. I don't think this is legal though and certainly very risky for the goat (risk of infection and injury).
We are still eating our goat. To be honest I find her flavour very strange - more used to eating lamb - perhaps because of her diet? Mostly ate brambles, ivy and rough grass.
-
My old golden guernsey produced naturally polled kids - one out of triplet girls and all male kids. Now retired so can't help you but ask around.There's an angora breeder near Tewkesbury, breeds for polled might have wethers for sale, not sure. Do you want to deal with shearing goats twice a year?
-
No to shearing!! Bad enough with the sheep. To be honest, if it weren't for 1 sheep, they'd all go but she can't be left by herself and whilst the cattle herd are growing, I need a few sheep to keep the grass down. I have looked at the hair sheep breeds but only the Dorper lamb December/January time and other forum's/websites i have read have stated foot problems in the current UK breeding stock (I'm only going on what I've read). After lambing in winter and spring i and mum have decided we prefer winter lambing. This time of year, no thanks. Yet I've had lambs jumping in snow in winter on a sunny winter's day and they are fine!
Goats - the folk we buy our burgers off also do cuts, which we tried and didn't like. Maybe I wasn't cooking it right. Lambs chops i prefer! But then they told us that they had the kids done as burgers and they are flying!! Really are, fried or grilled.they are divine!! Are you eating yours as joints/chops or as burgers?
-
My main focus is the fleece so meat in my by product, the other way around than most people do it.I keep the angora wethers for 2 - 3 years before they go as goat mutton. Slow cooked joints in the rayburn.
Boer goats are the meaty ones but some of my dairy x angora have been big enough to send at 6 months. The angoras are slower growing, it takes a lot of energy to grow body and all that fleece.How about dairy boys from a bigger dairy farm that doesn't want to bother with them. If it's for your own consumption, size doesn't matter so much. just get them disbudded if it's a problem.
What kind of electric fence do you have, I use two wire round the pig patch and insecure fence line, don't have any problem with horned goats. wouldn't use netting though.
-
No to shearing!! Bad enough with the sheep. To be honest, if it weren't for 1 sheep, they'd all go but she can't be left by herself and whilst the cattle herd are growing, I need a few sheep to keep the grass down. I have looked at the hair sheep breeds but only the Dorper lamb December/January time and other forum's/websites i have read have stated foot problems in the current UK breeding stock (I'm only going on what I've read). After lambing in winter and spring i and mum have decided we prefer winter lambing. This time of year, no thanks. Yet I've had lambs jumping in snow in winter on a sunny winter's day and they are fine!
Goats - the folk we buy our burgers off also do cuts, which we tried and didn't like. Maybe I wasn't cooking it right. Lambs chops i prefer! But then they told us that they had the kids done as burgers and they are flying!! Really are, fried or grilled.they are divine!! Are you eating yours as joints/chops or as burgers?
Why dont you get Easycare of Exlana sheep? No shearing, no dagging, no lambing problems (or at least less), no horns. Thats what Im thinking of doing.
-
Easy care don't lamb out of season! If I have to lamb, then it's got to be at December time.
Goats, my burger supplier (we have 10 a month when he's this this way) they are dairy goats so the off spring are dairy.
-
All breeds of goats have horned ones, dairy breeds often have polled ones. However when breeding goats you should put a polled goat to a horned goat otherwise you risk getting intersex kids.
-
Tie her to the tractor??? Yes, a relative has suggested that! Her 'problem' is that she wants to go where she wants to go. The others walk beautifully and when I say left or right turn, actually turn that way. Jennifer walks and trots willingly by my side until I decide to take her the opposite direction to which she wants to go. I no longer pull her, she has a choice, stand and growl or back down and walk to me. Took her 20 minutes to get across the field the other day. Would have been faster if she didn't arse about. She won't win, promise you that! The other 2 when they had their moments when learning didn't stand, both Knickers and Mary would put them front legs down and flop down. It's quite a funny sight when I think about it. Worse than children!