We got home last night from visiting family, and found a new happy arrival waiting for us in the goat pen:
She's a female, and looks just like the Saanen doe who gave birth to her.
By contrast, here is a photo of the male kid born a few days ago to the twin sister of that doe (same Toggenburg sire for both kids):
I guess the lesson is that when you start crossing breeds, you never know what will come out.
Unfortunately, it's also difficult to predict how good of a mother your goats will be. Queen Anne's Lace the Goat, who is the mother of both of these mother does, was an excellent mother goat. The first doe to give birth this year is also proving herself an excellent mother; the male kid pictured above is gaining weight nicely. The second doe, however, looks like she may be rejecting her kid. She won't sit still while she nurses, and we must hold her in place to make sure the kid gets a good meal. That could be bad news, but Mrs Yeoman Farmer and Homeschooled Farm Girl are determined to make sure this little kid gets enough to eat.
I guess the lesson is that when you start crossing breeds, you never know what will come out.
Unfortunately, it's also difficult to predict how good of a mother your goats will be. Queen Anne's Lace the Goat, who is the mother of both of these mother does, was an excellent mother goat. The first doe to give birth this year is also proving herself an excellent mother; the male kid pictured above is gaining weight nicely. The second doe, however, looks like she may be rejecting her kid. She won't sit still while she nurses, and we must hold her in place to make sure the kid gets a good meal. That could be bad news, but Mrs Yeoman Farmer and Homeschooled Farm Girl are determined to make sure this little kid gets enough to eat.
2 comments:
Often, the first day, the doe will be sore with engorgement, especially a first kidder. A day or 2 of holding her while the kid nurses will correct that. Rejection of the kid will usually be more overt and occasionally violent.
If she does reject the kid, another doe may be convinced to take her. Otherwise it's bottle time.
In any case, I would never keep a doe who wasn't an excellent mother, nor her kid. No matter what her other fine points there's just no point in keeping and perpetuating a management problem. If you need the milk, replace her in the fall. Unfortunately, her kid is this year's only doe, by the look of it, so you'll have to be on the lookout for a good doe in the meantime.
BTW, Toggenburgs tend to have very goaty flavored milk. I can't stand it myself. Saanens have much less goaty flavor in theirs. If your does are registered, you can get a bit more money for registered kids, when (if) you sell them. It may cost more to get the right buck, but it can make a big difference in the results.
As for that buck kid, I have three words: Birria de Chivo
Danby -
She is indeed rejecting the kid, but Mrs Yeoman Farmer and Homeschooled Farm Girl have been diligent about holding the doe so the kid can nurse several times a day.
Will be interesting to try this milk and see if it's much more "goaty" than the pure Saanen milk (these does are half and half). My impresion was always that the goat's diet was what most influenced the milk's flavor.
We have the stanchions set up, and will begin milking in earnest on Monday.
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