Ahhhhh my aching feet!
The most perfect foot alignment and confirmation can be best illustrated by studying a newborn Boer goat. From there, just like fingernails and toe nails they just grow and grow. Depending on the median that are in the goats’ environment, the hooves could be worn down naturally or they may need to be trimmed periodically. …
Its great to have great friends!
The best thing I have learned raising Boer Goats is that there are many great folks in this business. Any one individual cannot be knowledgeable of everything in a livestock operation and it is important to have associates to have input. It is also good to have reliable contacts to go to when a particular piece of equipment is …
Stuck in the House!aka..be careful what you wish for
Recently it became necessary for me to have foot surgery. Consequently this situation meant that I could not be on my feet for 4 weeks. Wow! At one point I would have cherished that thought and now I am just busting at the seams to get back to the barn. My family has been doing all barn work but I …
“If you’ll be my best friend I’ll be your best friend”
Another observation made while spending time with the goats is their socialization. In addition to the antics of the bullies I have noticed that certain animals travel in certain circles. For instance I have had does who were turned out into a large common area or outside to pasture and the same does stuck together the entire time. This also …
When Goats go to the Birds
Every spring a returning Cardinal shows up in trees outside our barn. I named him Charlie after a parakeet we had as children. Charlie knows where to come to pick up pieces of corn and oats as a result of fallout from feeding the goats. This year in addition to Charlie we also aquired a bluebird family …
Wethers and Does and Bucks … Oh My!
At the present time we have an offering of Wethers, Does and Bucks on our operation in South Fork Pennsylvania. There are wethers to show at your county fair and ones to raise for meat if that is what you have in mind. That is the versatility of the Boer Goat to use for show goats or raise for a meat product. We have Does …
The Goat Wisperer
As more and more time is spent observing my caprine collection, I have enjoyed learning many aspects of getting closer to their means of communications and their individual personalities. Boer Goats have as many various personalities as there are goats. Much like raising children, in order to maximize their potential as show goats one must understand these differences as much …
Did You Say “Bully” Goat???
It has become quite obvious as we raise Boer Goats for show and in the process of observing the goat family how natural bullying occurs in living beings. It is not clear if this is a flaw in a personality, a result of genetics or a learned behavior but certain individuals carry this trait and …
When the Apple is Ripe..
Remember the saying “When the apple is ripe it will fall, referring to an expecting mother? When we are talking about goats that translates to “When I am good and ready I will give birth”. There are plenty of signs that will predict or detect that a doe will be presenting those precious packages but any one of them …
Make room for March babies!
Spring is right around the corner, let the kidding begin! March 1st brought the first batch of spring kids. Of course in Pennsylvania there is always the weather uncertainty. One day it is 60 degrees and a half hour later it is snowing. Boer goat babies are resilient and our mammas take very good care of them. Not every Boer Doe …
