Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Moved
I have moved the blog over to wordpress. It's a little easier to keep everything together in a neater format and include the soap section too. Check it out: MARMALADE HOLLOW
Friday, March 2, 2012
Gettin' close
We're in the final 2 week stretch 'til the first babies start arriving and I must say we've had some lovely weather for it...minus the tornadoes on Tuesday. That was NO fun.
Apricot, a first time 2nd freshener, has a lovely little udder forming. See?
She's as big as a house too, poor girl. But, she still gets around well for a heavily laden gal.
Oh, what? Don't like lookin' at the back end of a goat? Welcome to the life of someone who raises dairy goats.
Apricot and Toddy are due on the 12th and I thought FD was due on the 16th but made a bit of a mistake when first computing dates. FD was not bred the same week as Apricot and Toddy, she was bred the following cycle. I've been wondering why she's not filling her udder! Bonnie is due at the end of the month and Ann and FD due a few days in to April. If I had to guess, I'd say Apricot will not make it to the 12th, but we'll see. I surly hope she holds out to at least the 7th! Toddy isn't lookin' small herself! She had a single buck last year, let's hope for a couple doe kids this year, with spots thankyouverymuch =).
I let the girls into the back back yard yesterday. The temp. got up to 68. I couldn't pass up the chance to sit outside for just a little while! The grass is super green in the woods and I think the girls really enjoyed the chance to get out somewhere new. I think spring is coming a bit early. Or, at least, earlier than it did last year. Soon enough I'm sure brown grass and naked trees will be but a memory and I can't wait. These warm days have taken us out to the far stretches of the property more than once and as I look back toward the house I just can't wait for it to a sea of green waving grass again with the trees all leafed out and the everything looking so beautiful again. Though, I will say, that there is just a small bit of beauty in winter...I still prefer spring!
Apricot, a first time 2nd freshener, has a lovely little udder forming. See?
She's as big as a house too, poor girl. But, she still gets around well for a heavily laden gal.
Oh, what? Don't like lookin' at the back end of a goat? Welcome to the life of someone who raises dairy goats.
Apricot and Toddy are due on the 12th and I thought FD was due on the 16th but made a bit of a mistake when first computing dates. FD was not bred the same week as Apricot and Toddy, she was bred the following cycle. I've been wondering why she's not filling her udder! Bonnie is due at the end of the month and Ann and FD due a few days in to April. If I had to guess, I'd say Apricot will not make it to the 12th, but we'll see. I surly hope she holds out to at least the 7th! Toddy isn't lookin' small herself! She had a single buck last year, let's hope for a couple doe kids this year, with spots thankyouverymuch =).
I let the girls into the back back yard yesterday. The temp. got up to 68. I couldn't pass up the chance to sit outside for just a little while! The grass is super green in the woods and I think the girls really enjoyed the chance to get out somewhere new. I think spring is coming a bit early. Or, at least, earlier than it did last year. Soon enough I'm sure brown grass and naked trees will be but a memory and I can't wait. These warm days have taken us out to the far stretches of the property more than once and as I look back toward the house I just can't wait for it to a sea of green waving grass again with the trees all leafed out and the everything looking so beautiful again. Though, I will say, that there is just a small bit of beauty in winter...I still prefer spring!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Wishy Washy Weather & The Countdown
First off, the weather this winter has been, dare I say (?), delightful. As far as winters go, I am happy with the way this winter has gone so far...several cold days, but nothing absolutely terrible. There have been lots and lots of warm days and they really have just been so very nice! And, we've gotten rain!!!
Yesterday I put the boys out on their new pasture. There's nothin' in it to eat besides some cedar trees to nibble on and they were kind of apprehensive about what to do but they just had a grand old time running and jumping and being goats.
I walked the girls out to the far end of the property. This is one of my favorite places to be in the summer. The hills make it impossible in places to see our house or the neighbor's and it just feels like the end of the earth.
Our neighbor dropped off a HUGE log the other day we plan to use as a gun range back stop. I used it as a lounge chair yesterday while the girls nibbled on whatever they found tasty. It was only about 45 degrees out but there was little to no wind and the sun as shinning. It was so nice just to relax an nap.
The does who are due first, Apricot and Toddy, are starting to fill their udder. Dare I say I find it ever so cute? The time has come to begin getting everyone back into the routine and start thinking about setting up kidding pens. Every morning most of the girls get their chance in the milk stand. Miss Iris thinks she should have her own turn plus one for each of the other girls too and will stand there waiting impatiently while I shoo her out of the way. She goes first, mind you. Even the little girls get their turn in the stand and if I am in a hurry and do not have time to grain them, they balk at me! Silly things. No one gets much. The big girls get a 1/2 a cup at best which is "cut" with 1/2 a cup of alfalfa pellets. They are all a real good weight. I've taken them down to a 10% sweet feed and not a high protein grain because they don't need it. They get a real good alfalfa in the morning and now with these pellets, my belief is they're getting plenty. Too much can be hard on the organs.
Most detest the pellets but I'd really like to get them used to them. Reason being is that now that I am feeding more brome, with the possibility of going to all brome depending on how this summer shapes up, I'll need/want supplemental calcium. One of the easiest ways is pellets.
I spent about an hour cleaning up their mess in the barn this morning from this 1st cutting round of alfalfa I let them have free reign on. Much of it was just stem, learned my lesson there not to buy that cutting again. Pretty soon we'll have new babies bouncing around. Tomorrow a quick moving front is supposed to move through and drop some rain and snow. We'll take it!
That's all for now.
Yesterday I put the boys out on their new pasture. There's nothin' in it to eat besides some cedar trees to nibble on and they were kind of apprehensive about what to do but they just had a grand old time running and jumping and being goats.
I walked the girls out to the far end of the property. This is one of my favorite places to be in the summer. The hills make it impossible in places to see our house or the neighbor's and it just feels like the end of the earth.
Our neighbor dropped off a HUGE log the other day we plan to use as a gun range back stop. I used it as a lounge chair yesterday while the girls nibbled on whatever they found tasty. It was only about 45 degrees out but there was little to no wind and the sun as shinning. It was so nice just to relax an nap.
The does who are due first, Apricot and Toddy, are starting to fill their udder. Dare I say I find it ever so cute? The time has come to begin getting everyone back into the routine and start thinking about setting up kidding pens. Every morning most of the girls get their chance in the milk stand. Miss Iris thinks she should have her own turn plus one for each of the other girls too and will stand there waiting impatiently while I shoo her out of the way. She goes first, mind you. Even the little girls get their turn in the stand and if I am in a hurry and do not have time to grain them, they balk at me! Silly things. No one gets much. The big girls get a 1/2 a cup at best which is "cut" with 1/2 a cup of alfalfa pellets. They are all a real good weight. I've taken them down to a 10% sweet feed and not a high protein grain because they don't need it. They get a real good alfalfa in the morning and now with these pellets, my belief is they're getting plenty. Too much can be hard on the organs.
Most detest the pellets but I'd really like to get them used to them. Reason being is that now that I am feeding more brome, with the possibility of going to all brome depending on how this summer shapes up, I'll need/want supplemental calcium. One of the easiest ways is pellets.
I spent about an hour cleaning up their mess in the barn this morning from this 1st cutting round of alfalfa I let them have free reign on. Much of it was just stem, learned my lesson there not to buy that cutting again. Pretty soon we'll have new babies bouncing around. Tomorrow a quick moving front is supposed to move through and drop some rain and snow. We'll take it!
That's all for now.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Feeding dairy goats
**Edited** After re-reading for grammatical errors, I've decided that auto-spell correct really irritates the heck out of me! Makes me look like I don't know what I'm talking about at times.
I admire the writings of Sue Reith. I know some will not agree with her feeding technique(s) but I, for one, do.
I have known several people who feed incorrectly and have problems come kidding time with both kids (floppy kid syndrome) and does (ketosis & hypocalcemia, kidding problems such as retained placenta, poor labor, etc.), not to mention urinary calculi in bucks and wethers. Just last year a good friend of mine lost a good doe to hypocalcemia.
I urge you to read the following:
http://goats.wetpaint.com/page/Hypocalcemia+-+Feed+for+Prevention
Down toward the bottom there is a good analysis of protein and calcium. : http://www.barbibrownsbunnies.com/hay.htm
Page 1, bottom right will give you a better understanding of calcium and phosphorous ratio in some of the more common hays: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/pubs/id146.pdf
Now, these are general guidelines. When hay is cut, how and when it is baled and how it is stored, and location where it is grown along with any type of fertilizing will all affect the nutritional value of hay. But, as a general guidelines, these are good to use.
Remember, having too much calcium is also a problem. And for wethers, it's not about making sure they have little to no calcium, the balance has to be correct. Too much in either direction (i.e. too much calcium, to little, too much phosphorous or too little) also can cause major problems. Goats need a balanced diet, just like people.
I am sort of experimenting with a diet of alfalfa and brome. Last year, brome was only available free choice and they received alfalfa in the AM and PM. This year, with alfalfa prices being through he roof, we've gone to alfalfa in the morning (super good quality high protein alfalfa) and cut back on our protein in our grain (too much protein is hard on the organs and too much is really just unnecessary). Last year we did not get as nice a cut as we did this year. They also get (basically) free choice early (May) cut brome, which they love. Their feeders are filled with it in the morning, mid-day and then in the PM as well. I am watching them closely for signs of ketosis. So far, so good.
The early gestation does get NO grain. As soon as they are dry- which this year was before being bred or shortly there after, I did not milk to 2 months prior to kidding this year- I cut out the grain. About 6 weeks before they kid I have started giving them just about 1/4 cup of grain on the stand and slowly adding alfalfa pellets (they hated them at first), just to get them back in to the routine again and to get the first fresheners used to the routine. It also gives me a chance to feel fetal movement, checking udders that are starting to fill and going through (fake) milking motions which helps when it comes time to be milked. Waiting until kidding often makes for very jumpety first fresheners which is no fun. I take the time before hand so it's not a stress afterwards.
So, following good feeding techniques, along with plenty of proper minerals and possibly additives (Vit A & D, selenium an/or copper bolusing, etc. ) is a real good way to keep healthy producing goats!
I admire the writings of Sue Reith. I know some will not agree with her feeding technique(s) but I, for one, do.
I have known several people who feed incorrectly and have problems come kidding time with both kids (floppy kid syndrome) and does (ketosis & hypocalcemia, kidding problems such as retained placenta, poor labor, etc.), not to mention urinary calculi in bucks and wethers. Just last year a good friend of mine lost a good doe to hypocalcemia.
I urge you to read the following:
http://goats.wetpaint.com/page/Hypocalcemia+-+Feed+for+Prevention
Down toward the bottom there is a good analysis of protein and calcium. : http://www.barbibrownsbunnies.com/hay.htm
Page 1, bottom right will give you a better understanding of calcium and phosphorous ratio in some of the more common hays: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/pubs/id146.pdf
Now, these are general guidelines. When hay is cut, how and when it is baled and how it is stored, and location where it is grown along with any type of fertilizing will all affect the nutritional value of hay. But, as a general guidelines, these are good to use.
Remember, having too much calcium is also a problem. And for wethers, it's not about making sure they have little to no calcium, the balance has to be correct. Too much in either direction (i.e. too much calcium, to little, too much phosphorous or too little) also can cause major problems. Goats need a balanced diet, just like people.
I am sort of experimenting with a diet of alfalfa and brome. Last year, brome was only available free choice and they received alfalfa in the AM and PM. This year, with alfalfa prices being through he roof, we've gone to alfalfa in the morning (super good quality high protein alfalfa) and cut back on our protein in our grain (too much protein is hard on the organs and too much is really just unnecessary). Last year we did not get as nice a cut as we did this year. They also get (basically) free choice early (May) cut brome, which they love. Their feeders are filled with it in the morning, mid-day and then in the PM as well. I am watching them closely for signs of ketosis. So far, so good.
The early gestation does get NO grain. As soon as they are dry- which this year was before being bred or shortly there after, I did not milk to 2 months prior to kidding this year- I cut out the grain. About 6 weeks before they kid I have started giving them just about 1/4 cup of grain on the stand and slowly adding alfalfa pellets (they hated them at first), just to get them back in to the routine again and to get the first fresheners used to the routine. It also gives me a chance to feel fetal movement, checking udders that are starting to fill and going through (fake) milking motions which helps when it comes time to be milked. Waiting until kidding often makes for very jumpety first fresheners which is no fun. I take the time before hand so it's not a stress afterwards.
So, following good feeding techniques, along with plenty of proper minerals and possibly additives (Vit A & D, selenium an/or copper bolusing, etc. ) is a real good way to keep healthy producing goats!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
PJ and Metritis- An Update
It's been a fairly long time since I have updated information on PJ. This breeding season started out with the tell tale vaginal discharge again from this doe. After some more researching, I began to wonder if, in fact, she was (or used to) suffer from a Vitamin A deficiency. If you'll remember, the summer of 2010 when we first moved to Kansas, PJ had come down with a severe case of Cocciodisis. As an adult, it can happen even if treated for it as a kid. She lost a lot of weight, lost condition and of course would not eat for a period of time.
Vitamin A deficiency can happen if if the goat is eating good green forage. Many sites will tell you that Vit. A deficiency will not happen as long as they are eating good green grass/hay. Not true, in fact. While I cannot say without a doubt, I think the Vit. A deficiency caused by lack of eating due to coccidiosis caused her immune system to be compromised thus leaving her susceptible, especially, to a uterine infection. As far as any night blindness, I have not witnessed any but I did note the scruffy coat which, I thought, was due to copper deficiency. She did improve after copper supplementation last year along with a couple of good rounds of worming. While I do not recommend being willy nilly with any supplementation, I will say that I do supplement with the utmost caution. There is very little information on Vit. A deficiency and uterine infections specifically. Believe me, I've checked but there is info available if you just search!
Fast forward to present. I have since done a number of intra-uterine flushes on PJ. The first with a diluted LA-200 (3 rounds, 3 concurrent days) through her open cervix. Please read up on Sue Reith's articles on fertility issues in does. I did not breed her on that cycle in November. I also picked up some Nolvasan Uterine Suspension which I ordered from Allivet.com. This is for bacteria sensitive to chlorhexidine. Since her lab results came back last year for bacteria 'immune' to tetracycline, I was pretty sure the LA-200 would not do much, if anything. Now, flushing is not something that can be done unless you know a little about artificial insemination. First off, the cervix has to be open and it's not open unless they are in heat (or giving birth). I ordered my speculum through Hoegger. Well, to be truthful I ordered a metal one used on humans but ordered a small and it wasn't quite big enough to do the job easily. A large human speculum would have worked just as well as a goat specific speculum.
I have yet to receive my full A.I. kit with special light source so using a flashlight and doing all of this on my own was a bit tricky. But, necessity is indeed the mother of all invention and the mouth comes in real handy at times for holding certain things...like sheaths, flashlights, etc.
I was able to flush her 3 days in a row with half a tube of Nolvasan and bred her that same cycle...right now we're just waiting to see if she settles. As before, the discharge is off and on though since flushing her with the Nolvasan, I haven't really seen much, if any, discharge. It was especially copious on warm days though the amount varies and whether she's on her cycle or not makes no difference. It's hard to say whether or not it will do the trick. Oral antibiotics has not proven to help (last year). I did not do concurrent antibiotic injections with the Nolvasan flushing but did with the LA-200 flushing. It's late in the year and I have succumbed to the fact that I may not be able to fix her. This flushing is my absolute last ditch effort...and she may need several. I would imagine, after overe a year of having it, it's going to be a pretty stubborn case. At this point I wish I would have started earlier in the year but as I've mentioned, this has been an especially strange year of cycling so catching her in a good standing heat and knowing she still had an infection was a long drawn out process.
Anyway, so, I just thought you might like to know what was going on with Miss PJ.
Vitamin A deficiency can happen if if the goat is eating good green forage. Many sites will tell you that Vit. A deficiency will not happen as long as they are eating good green grass/hay. Not true, in fact. While I cannot say without a doubt, I think the Vit. A deficiency caused by lack of eating due to coccidiosis caused her immune system to be compromised thus leaving her susceptible, especially, to a uterine infection. As far as any night blindness, I have not witnessed any but I did note the scruffy coat which, I thought, was due to copper deficiency. She did improve after copper supplementation last year along with a couple of good rounds of worming. While I do not recommend being willy nilly with any supplementation, I will say that I do supplement with the utmost caution. There is very little information on Vit. A deficiency and uterine infections specifically. Believe me, I've checked but there is info available if you just search!
Fast forward to present. I have since done a number of intra-uterine flushes on PJ. The first with a diluted LA-200 (3 rounds, 3 concurrent days) through her open cervix. Please read up on Sue Reith's articles on fertility issues in does. I did not breed her on that cycle in November. I also picked up some Nolvasan Uterine Suspension which I ordered from Allivet.com. This is for bacteria sensitive to chlorhexidine. Since her lab results came back last year for bacteria 'immune' to tetracycline, I was pretty sure the LA-200 would not do much, if anything. Now, flushing is not something that can be done unless you know a little about artificial insemination. First off, the cervix has to be open and it's not open unless they are in heat (or giving birth). I ordered my speculum through Hoegger. Well, to be truthful I ordered a metal one used on humans but ordered a small and it wasn't quite big enough to do the job easily. A large human speculum would have worked just as well as a goat specific speculum.
I have yet to receive my full A.I. kit with special light source so using a flashlight and doing all of this on my own was a bit tricky. But, necessity is indeed the mother of all invention and the mouth comes in real handy at times for holding certain things...like sheaths, flashlights, etc.
I was able to flush her 3 days in a row with half a tube of Nolvasan and bred her that same cycle...right now we're just waiting to see if she settles. As before, the discharge is off and on though since flushing her with the Nolvasan, I haven't really seen much, if any, discharge. It was especially copious on warm days though the amount varies and whether she's on her cycle or not makes no difference. It's hard to say whether or not it will do the trick. Oral antibiotics has not proven to help (last year). I did not do concurrent antibiotic injections with the Nolvasan flushing but did with the LA-200 flushing. It's late in the year and I have succumbed to the fact that I may not be able to fix her. This flushing is my absolute last ditch effort...and she may need several. I would imagine, after overe a year of having it, it's going to be a pretty stubborn case. At this point I wish I would have started earlier in the year but as I've mentioned, this has been an especially strange year of cycling so catching her in a good standing heat and knowing she still had an infection was a long drawn out process.
Anyway, so, I just thought you might like to know what was going on with Miss PJ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)