How it all started.....

My two oldest daughters asked their dad if they could take meatgoats in 4-H. This is the man who told me soon after we were married that I could bring home all the animals I wanted to the farm as long as I didn't bring home any goats. He loves his dog, cattle, and horses.

Instead of directly saying "no", he told them to figure a breakeven on them, and if they did that he would support them. Let's just say he was surprised to come home and see the girl's "breakeven". They had spent the day hounding the managers at tractor supply and coop to get all their info. He is a man of his word, so two female goats came to live on the James farm.

Now these goats weren't supposed to be bred, but as it happens sometimes, one kidded out just before fair, and she was so cute I just lost my mind and we purchased another 26 does. Of course I justified my purchase as being necessary for me to be a good Kansas Agriculture Extension agent. In Kansas we were getting several questions regarding meatgoats, and I figured if I raised them myself I would become more knowledgable about the process and be of more help to others. I think my husband knew I just liked them though.

We have continued to expand, and we now own 60 does, 3 billies. I am in the process of kidding out 50 of the does now. You would think I would know better than to have them due in January, but unfortunately I didn't pay enough attention to the calendar when I placed the billies in with the does.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Banding the boys

Well we are about a week late on re-vaccinating, but that is just how it is sometimes. I band the boys at this time, following their 2nd shot of C-D-&T. The T stands for tetnus, which is a disease they can get by getting cut with anything rusty, or can get following banding.
Banding is the process of removing the testicles of the boys, making them unable to breed. It is fairly painless, with the kids maybe laying around a little more often for a day. The bander just places a band (similiar to a rubber band) around the testicles, shutting off the blood supply and causing the bag to fall off in a couple of weeks. I have posted a few photos showing the process.




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