We were recently asked, "What
do you do on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis?"
While it was an interesting question and one of which
we gave much thought, we came to the conclusion there
is no one answer. Our goat management depends on a lot
of variables such as season, condition of the goats, age
of the goats, etc.
On a daily basis, of course, we feed the goats. The amount
we feed and what we feed depends on how much forage
is available to the goats and the quality of that forage.
The amount and mixture we feed also depends on if the
goat is growing (up to a year old), if the goat is pregnant
or lactating, or if the goat is just maintaining conditioning.
We do feed our goats even when ample browse/pasture
is available to them; this is to keep them in a routine
of coming to the barn, going through the catch pen,
so we can catch them when we need to. Some of our goats
are fed twice a day, and some are only fed once a day.
On a daily basis we also spend time simply observing
the goats. Do they show signs of diarrhea? Are they
standing with their heads down? Is a goat down on its
knees eating? Are any holding a foot in the air or seeming
to have trouble walking? These are all signs of trouble
that would require additional care.
On a weekly basis we go to town to pick up feed (we
buy by the ton but don't have the storage capacity for
that much. To insure freshness, we only bring home the
amount we need to feed each week.) At different times
of year and at different points in gestation of the
goats, we supplement our Co-Op Goat Grower with yeast,
corn, and/or sunflower seeds.
Also on a weekly basis we check the supply of minerals
and baking soda we have out for the goats. We replace
as needed.
At Clear Creek Farms we do not worm on a schedule;
instead, we worm only when the goats need to be wormed.
At least once a week we will do a fecal examination
under the microscope to determine excessive parasite
loads. Every couple days, as part of our routine observation
of the goats, we will check different goats' eyelids
and/or gums to assure they are a healthy pink.
Vaccinations are done on a routine basis, but not all
goats need the same vaccinations at the same time.
30 days before a doe is scheduled to kid, we will have
her a shot of 2 cc BoSe (because we are in a moderately
deficient selenium area) along with 2 cc of Vitamin
A,D,E. We also give a 2 cc booster of Covexin 8. 30
days is an approximate timetable; we may vaccinate a
group at the same time even though their due dates are
several days apart.
We wether bucklings at 2 months, so the buck kids get
a 3 cc shot of Covexin 8 at that time. Buck kids we
are leaving entact as well as doelings get their first
shot of Covexin 8 at 12 weeks with a booster one month
later. Bucks get a yearly booster while does get a booster
either at a year or 30 days before she is scheduled
to kid – whichever comes first.
Hooves are trimmed as needed. We have some does who
have their hooves trimmed once a year and some trimmed
every other month. The hooves tend to grow at different
rates. There is a myth that as long as goats are walking
on rocks they won't need their hooves trimmed often.
At Clear Creek Farms we have not found this to be the
case. We have noted that hooves tend to grow faster
(for some) when they have corn added to their diet.
(In the winter we add whole corn to their feed to provide
a source of heat.)
Since we have free-flowing spring water at Clear Creek
Farms, we do not treat for Coccidiosis on a routine
basis. There are many, though, who treat their babies
at 6 weeks and 12 weeks – for 5 days – with
Albon in their drinking water. On the rare occasions
we have to treat for Coccidiosis, we treat individually.
(Since switching to a feed with rumensin we have not
had to deal with a case of Coccidiosis.)
Paperwork is accomplished on a daily/weekly basis:
- We have worksheets at the barn to record when we give
medication or when we work on feet. Once a week these
daily worksheets are taken to the house so the data
can be transferred to our animal care program.
- We also have a board at the barn with every goat's name
that we may use to make notations of weights or treatments.
This information is input in our farm animal program
at a minimum weekly.
- Babies are ear-tagged at birth, and the data base update
to reflect this identification; but babies may not get
their tattoos until we either sell them or submit their
paperwork for registration.
- Applications for registration are completed on a weekly
basis and put in the herd book. We do not automatically
register the animals. Goats we expect to sell we tend
to sell with applications instead of hard papers; why
should both the seller and the buyer have to pay the
Association(s) to register an animal?
- Paperwork concerning purchases and sales (either animals
or supplies) is completed within 48 hours of the transaction
– then filed. This is a great time saver come
income tax season!
