Meat Goat Blog

A Job I Couldn't Do

    A couple days ago, we were approached by a man who hoped to buy some goat milk to settle his stomach. Being a strictly meat operation, we suggested other options. Milking 120 goats 2 times a day 7 days a week, 365 days a year, sounds like a tough job!!! We definitely appreciate those brave souls who are dedicated enough to wake up in the early morning and do it though.

Goats: The NEW Weapons of Mass Destruction

    As summer approaches, many people begin looking at their quickly sprouting yards thinking: "wish it didn't grow so fast." Well we've got the perfect answer: GOATS!  This year our little weed control experts went to work next door clearing our neighbor's back pasture. To quote another happy landowner: "it looks like they hit it with Napalm."

Leaving the Nest

 
 We're always amazed how fast our little babies transform into big, self sufficient does.

Goofy Genetics

    It's intriguing to see how traits pass from one generation to the next. Your biggest kids can come from the tiniest mothers and the most gorgeous does can have the plainest babies. This year, while watching our kid crop develop, we noticed a fairly average doe nursing a beautiful new doeling. On further examination, we found that the baby was the spitting image of her grandmother. Guess the coloring just skipped a generation. Similarly, other traits like parasite resistance, twin production, and hoof growth can pass in and out of the genetic pool. According to an article by Gail Bowman: "It is also said that it takes three generations to breed out a trait. That would only be true if the trait is not carried as a recessive gene in each generation, in one or the other parent. In other words, it can be difficult to completely remove an undesirable trait from your herd, once you have it." Just goes to show the importance of bringing only top of the line genetics into your herd.

 

Our Source of Color

While color should not be the focus in selecting quality goats, if all other desired characteristics are present, a little extra color sure livens things up. But how do you get it? Color, like any other genetic trait, can be sort of flukey. For example, Samson, our 100% New Zealand Kiko herd sire is white all over but will often throw colored kids. Similarly our Purebred Kiko buck, Roman Ruler, has beautiful markings and throws his color even with the plainest does. While color is good, herd sires also pass down more important traits such as: parasite resistance, twin production, and even mothering abilities. This is why having a good herd sire is SO important.

Can't AFFORD to Sell Goats

Like many Oklahoma goat ranchers this year, we have been blessed by a significant increase in the price of goats. In fact, we have received SO much interest in our prime breeding stock that there aren't many left that we could let go of. While all the sales are good for economics, we want to have enough goats to be in business next year.