Let me make a fair warning in advance, I have uploaded lots and lots of pictures. These are just a few of many that I managed to take, so I just had to share some of them.
Last week it was time to wean our 2013 kid crop. We wanted to wean the kids at 90 days. Of course, they are not all born on the exact day, so there are some that are over 90 days and some that are under 90 days. This spring, when we'd look out in the pasture, we'd really like what we were seeing. Some years that may not always be the case. I couldn't wait to see what the scales, pencil, and paper would say.
They were rounded up out of the pasture with the Border Collies, Davie and Alex. I tried my best to get a good photo of the herd, but I tell you, when you've got so many scattered out running towards the gate, it's hard to capture one with all of them in it.
They get to walk across the road to our working pen that has been converted to a goat working pen. We have 2 catch pens with alleys and head gates. They were originally for the cattle, but Shane converted one side to work goats. It is still a work in progress, but it sure beats the way we first started working goats. Our 4 running feet, lasso (no lie; you should've been there) and a shepherd's crook. Now it's Border Collies, pen with alley, and squeeze chute with head gate. You can see photos of our working pen
by clicking here at this link.
I tried to get a unique photo of the goats in a group here, but it didn't work out as planned. A few stopped to look at me, but those Border Collies kept them moving.
Shane and Mal walk along behind the goats and help the border collies with any stragglers.
I tell you, that girl is one big help. Dillon happened to be at his grandma's house on this day. He had to miss out on all the fun :)
Earlier in the day, before we moved them out of the pasture, I walked around with my camera to try to get some pictures. Here are a few of them.
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| This doe always produces well. We have several daughters, granddaughters, & great granddaughters out of her |
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| doeling |
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| doeling named McFlurry by the kids |
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| buckling |
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| doeling with a lot of spunk |
This doe in the photo below is AWESOME! She is 7.5 years old and still produces some of the biggest and best kids. She weaned a total of 119 pounds with these 2 bucklings. One was 61 pounds the other was 58 pounds. She does this consistently every year with no input.
We were very pleased with our weaning weights and overall health of our herd. We did cull 3 mature does out of the main herd, as well as 16 bucklings. They all averaged about 83.00 a head.
Also our Anatolian Shepherd puppies are growing! They have just started learning to eat out of the
dog feeder.
We are excited to see how the rest of our kid crop grows out as we whittle them down to the best of 2013.
