Down to 12

After the sale Monday at the stockyard we are down to 12 cows.  We started out with 40 head in the beginning which makes it look like we have no cows.  There are 10 yearlings that have been kept as replacements from some of our good momma cows. 

We have been feeding the replacements to try to keep up their body condition through the winter.  This is the first time we have ever kept any of our calves.  It is much easier to buy one that is already bred that will give you a calf soon.  With the yearlings you have to let them mature and then breed.  It takes 2 years before you can get a calf,  that is if everything goes right.



 2 adorable on-lookers

I hope we can manage to build our herd back up this year.  The weather the past 2 years has really made it a challenge around here.  I am crossing my fingers for a great spring and summer season. 

This is a feed that Shane found that is made of peanut by-products.  It was guaranteed to have 9-12% protein.  The yearlings didn't want to touch it at first, but have started eating it up.  It smells just like peanuts....and take it from us......it tastes just like a raw peanut.  Yep.......we tried it out.  Couldn't resist it.  It just smelled so good and  peanut-y.  I know, I can't believe we did it either. 

Hope we get many good years from her

And her too!

The days are counting down until our goats start off our 2011 kidding season.  I am so excited!  Shane is hoping for all of our goats to kid in five days.  I, on the other hand, wouldn't mind if they space it out a little.  Fifty-two does kidding in five days sounds a little crazy to me.  But hey, that's just me.....

I feel so sorry for this poor thing.  She just waddles all over the place.  I feel for sure she is going to have triplets, at least. 

My favorite doe

Big work day

Saturday was a big work day here at our farm.  We (I use the term "we" loosely) worked all the cows and checked body conditions, and their mouths.  It was decided that all of the broke mouthed cows would be culled and sent to the stockyard on Monday. 



Shane putting in a new ear tag

Davie and Alex, the border collies, were able to get in there and get a little work done.  As you can see by the photo below, they are ready and willing to get in there to help out.

Alex and Davie

This is a picture of a cow that would be considered to be a "broke mouth" cow.  You can see that she is missing some of her teeth.  This is commonly found in older cows, and obviously causes this cow to not be able to maintain her body condition.  This is due to not being able to pull at the grass as well with those missing teeth. 

"broke mouth"

Shane believes that salt blocks causes broke teeth due to cows biting the blocks.  This of course, is just his opinion.  That's one of the reasons that he uses loose minerals for the cows. 
 

We had some really good help while working the animals too.  Dillon really jumped in there and worked real hard.  He got up that morning and dressed himself and was ready to go to work! 

He was the gate keeper and would open the gate and let the cows back out into the pasture after they were run through the chute.

Mallory tried to stay out of the cow's way while hanging out above the action, on the fence. 

Then we did FAMACHA checks on all of the goats.  Our does should start kidding around the end of February.  We had to take it easy on them, and not run them through the "alley" in the catch pen.  We just funneled them down to a smaller area and Shane would catch them one by one.   The checks went real well, except a few of the commercial does needed deworming.  We've had them about 6 months.  We'll have to see how they adjust to our management style.  Some have done exceptionally well where others not so much.  You can definitely tell a difference in our Kikos when compared to the commercial.  It's amazing! 

We also changed out ear tags on quite a few of the does.  We purchased a few commercial and some percentage does, so we are planning on color coding the tags to easily identify what percentage they are. 

Once again, Mr. Dillon got right in there and worked those goats like a real "goat rancher."  I think the hat did it for him.  He didn't take it off all day! 

Brrrrrrr.......

It has been soooo cold here lately.  I'm sure you folks farther up north, are much colder......but we typically don't have this cold of weather.  Last night it got down into the teens, and will be getting just as cold tonight.  It is miserable to have to get out in this bone-chilling weather.  I've put on coverall's, scarf, gloves, hat and still get cold.  The wind just cuts through you.  I feel pretty bad for the animals.  Look at their watering tub below....

Now don't you just want a good drink of ice cold water today? 

Hay and Hunting Dogs

If you guessed that Shane was constructing a hay rack out of and old trampoline frame, then you guessed it right! 

We really needed something else to put the hay in for the goats.  Our other hay rack offers the goats the option of getting their head stuck between the squares...which I absolutely hate.  Some of those goats are determined to stay stuck, rather than have me help them get out.  I couldn't tell you how many of the square panels I have had to cut with wire cutters to get a goats head un-stuck!  By the time I have to do that I'm almost certain my blood pressure is up near the 200's....

Shane special ordered the panel wire used on this rack.  The squares are 4 inches which keep the goats from getting their heads stuck, and also makes less waste of hay from falling through the larger holes, like our other rack.  We've just put it to use, so we'll have to see how it works.

On another note, we have been having frequent visits on the farm from other 4-legged animals.  This year has brought more hunting dogs onto our place than any other....I think.  We have had to "rescue" some on 2 different occasions, out of the goat pastures.  Our fence line that borders the forest is only 5 strands of barbed wire with one strand of hot wire on the inside on the bottom about 12 inches off of the ground.  It keeps the goats in, but the hunter's dogs manage to get in sometimes.  Our LGD's (livestock guardian dogs)  don't take it easy on them either.  I'm sure if we hadn't gotten to the dogs, they may not have survived.  We have tried to get the word out to the hunters around here about the LGD's and that they do not let the dogs roam freely in "their" goat pasture. 

I just happened to be out in the pasture the other day, when 5 hunting dogs came running down the highway.  The dogs actually caused me to notice them.  They took off and stood guard.  I had to get a picture of this, it was so neat to see them go from friendly with me, to guardian-mode in just a matter of seconds.  I really like the picture too.  If those dogs had crossed the line, they were ready to spring into action.
It's amazing to see how alert and protective they are to their goats against anything that doesn't belong in the pasture. 

Kimba and Jael with one of their daughters
Cheyenne 7 months (far left) in training

What's happening

Shane's been busy constructing something to be used here on our farm.  This picture is just a hint....Can you guess what it is going to be and what it is made out of ?  When it's complete, I'll put more pictures and details.

This is the first year that we have weaned calves on and plan on keeping for replacements.  We have a few steers that will be sold later on when the prices come back up.  We had actually planned last year not to winter over any cows...just goes to show you never really know what can happen when you run a farm.  Things change and all your plans have to change too.

Shane found a soy hull pellet feed at a local feed store.  It had 9% protein and the hay we have is 8% protein.  We have experimented with lick blocks, lick tubs, and for now, we are using the feed along with the hay to try to keep them going through this cold weather until the clover comes up.  I like it because the calves are starting to come closer to us now.  I can see why folks feed their animals.  They no longer run from you, they run to you and I like being able to get that close to them without them being scared to death.

We had an old feed trough that was here from when Shane's grandpa ran the farm.  We mostly used it for fun around here.  We would pull the kids across the pasture behind our Kawasaki mule.  It is just not quite big enough to accommodate all of the calves.  Shane had some drums around that he cut in half and then tied them together.  It is working out really well as a trough.

I was out in the back forty and did notice a little of the clover coming up in patches.  I sure hope it comes on.  The goats and cows have really put a dent in the hay supply.  We had a drought this year, and it is really showing with our winter grasses.  Thank goodness we didn't get any snow this year. 

Livestock Guardian Dogs

Today just happened to be a day for us to be even more thankful that we have livestock guardian dogs (LGD), our Anatolian Shepherds.  Shane went out to make rounds this morning, and came up on this animal laying out near our main doe herd's hay rack.  At first sight, Shane said that he thought it was one of our border collies....and after getting a closer look, he noticed it wasn't a border collie.  It was a coyote.

6 month old pup overlooking coyote

We knew that we had coyotes around, due to the fact that about 3 years ago we lost several newborn calves to them.  We got donkeys to keep with the cattle, and didn't have any more losses.  Our goats have always had LGDs with them, and we haven't had any losses to predators.  We have found dead raccoons, rabbits, cats, hunting dogs, armadillos, etc. out in the pasture with the goats.  This was the first time we've had to carry out a coyote. 

 

Right on the other side of this pasture, I've heard a group of coyotes getting worked up at dark, and I wondered if they would ever get brave enough to venture into our pasture. Shane said that it had frost on it this morning, so it must have happened sometime last night. This one was missing some of his teeth, which Shane said he appeared to be an older one.  

We've gotten calls from folks, who have goats that were thinking about getting an LGD.  I would have to say it would be a very wise investment.  Some may never have any issues with predators, but all it will take is one night for them to put a hurt on your livestock.  I am so thankful that we have ours. 

Will he stay or will he go?

We are in a kind-of horse dilemma here.  We have 5 horses, and at most we ride 2 at a time.  The other 3, usually the same 3, are staying out in the pasture with our cattle and getting their bellies full.  We have this horse named Shaggy that was purchased over the summer, that we had put on Craigslist to sale about a month ago.  Shane decided to ride him one last time, and like magic, he pranced around the field and caused Shane to really begin to like him more.  After that ride, Shane came inside and removed the post (we had already received 3 phone calls in just a few hours). 

Shaggy

Can you imagine what that horse did to cause Shane to decide to keep him for a little longer?  He had a gait about him that Shane felt like he could possibly be a Tennessee Walker; just needing a little fine tuning. 

Come to find out, he is a cross between a quarter horse and a Tennessee Walking Horse (so the owners before the previous owners had said).  He is a beautiful horse and has a very good disposition about him, but we have to get rid of some horses here!  5 are just too many!  Have you ever seen how much a horse can eat? 

 

So we are not sure if Shaggy will stay or go.  But one thing I'm pretty sure of after talking with Shane tonight, he will end up with a Tennessee Walker, because he is hooked to that smooth fast gait.  So we may end up changing the whole group of horses we have.  Of course, Mr. Sonny will be staying here for now.  I have enjoyed riding him quite a lot.  He isn't too bad looking either!  Just take a look for yourself....

Sonny

We had a visitor today!

While I was at the barn I happened to notice something moving in our front yard down the road.  I thought to myself....here we go again!  One of those crazy TX goats got out again!  The closer I looked, it was just too big to be a goat.  It kinda looked like maybe a calf had gotten out.  That was impossible for one to be in our yard though.  The field they were in was on the other side of the barn.  Anyway, I knew something was walking around on the other side of the pasture fence that shouldn't be, so I was trying to get a game plan on how to get it back in on my own.  Then I noticed one of our neighbors coming down the road, she stopped to let me know that I had a big boar hog in my yard!  Aha!  No goat or calf......but a hog!!???  She said that it walked down another road heading this way.  It walked over a mile to get to our yard.  Here  is a picture of it right off of my back porch.

This thing was gigantic.  I was a little worried that it would be mean, due to all of the stories my mom told me about the wild hogs running through the woods when she was a child.  She said you could hear them coming through the woods and her grandma would holler for the kids to run inside the house so the hogs wouldn't get them.  As a child, hearing this story, I had a real fear of ever seeing any of those wild hogs.  On this day, I was just fascinated that this thing was in our yard eating acorns like this is where he belonged.  Our LGD's had other feelings about it.  In the picture below, you can see Jael and Kimba keeping a close eye on it behind their fence.

Kimba and Jael in background

After he was finished with the acorns in our yard he decided he would head down the road.  He ended up getting to my pecan trees and stopping again to eat my pecans!  He was such a hog!   

In the meantime I had called my neighbor to come check this thing out.....He arrived with a friend and they ended up getting him, if you know what I mean. 

Please accept my apologies....

I have been slacking on posting on the blog lately, so please accept my apologies.  Things have kind of slowed down around here, and quite honestly.....I'm enjoying it!

Here's what we did this weekend.  In preparation for this winter, Shane has come up with a portable hut to put in the pasture for our does.  We learned a hard lesson last winter, when it was freezing with rain mixed with sleet.  We have our does in a different pasture that has absolutely nothing to get under, beside, around, etc. to get away from freezing rain. 

It started out with these metal rings that were like a spool for some kind of cable.    There are two of these rings with a rod in the center for the cable to roll around like a spool of thread. 

Then they were cut in half to make semi-circles to become the frame. 

Below is some tin that we have had put to the side waiting to get some good use out of it.  Let me tell you a little story behind this tin.....When Hurricane Katrina came in down here in 2005, she blew this tin off of Shane's mothers roof.  We kept the pieces that could be reused for something else.....and what do you know???  We have found something good from the devastation that the Hurricane caused us.  We were able to use the tin.....5 years later.

 

This is what it looks like underneath it.  There are 3 sheets of tin screwed across the semicircles.  They are ran lengthwise with 3 semicircles underneath which is overall 20 feet in length. 

 

In order to transport it to the field, we had to use our utility trailer and move it very carefully.  As you can see, it was too big to put in the trailer, so we had to balance it on top and use clamps to hold it in place. 

 

Never a DULL moment !!

Can you guess what this is a picture of?  If you guessed a goats horn, you are correct!  Now why am I holding this horn and snapping a photo of it?  Well, let me tell you why....

Yesterday, we ended our breeding season and moved the does together into one herd again.  That meant that our bucks went back into the buck field together again.  Of course one would expect the usual pecking order fighting to go on, but Rooster and Gold Digger took it to another extreme.  They started ramming their horns, and before we knew it, this is what happened.....

Gold Digger lost one of his horns.  It was broken completely off at the base of the skull.  You can see down into his skull by way of two holes left in his head from the horn.  It actually scared me...I thought we were going to lose him from bleeding to death, but it didn't bleed as much as I thought it would.  We gave him an injection of Nuflor and put some paste around the holes (not in them) to keep flies away per the vets instructions.  He said the holes needed to be left open to allow drainage.  I thought WHAT???  to myself....leave holes that expose the inside of his skull open??????  Shane and I were talking last night about what if an acorn fell out of the oak tree and landed in one of those holes.  It would hit his brain...How crazy is that!  He is doing well today, just hanging around in a pen by himself.  I tell you though, it is never a dull moment around here!

Today Mr. Clause Miller came to pick up his 7 does that were brought a couple of months ago to be bred by Pistol Pete/Rooster.  They left out this afternoon heading back to Illinois.

Three of these does were in with Pistol Pete, and the other four were with Rooster. 

Also, Mr. Miller was kind enough to transport one of our anatolian shepherds back with him for the Greniger's from Just Kidding Goat Farm in Minnesota.  They will be driving to Illinois to pick up their new LGD, Xena. 

Xena getting ready for the trip

So that's all that's been happening around here.......for now, that is.......because it there truly is never a dull moment when it comes to our place!