[TheForge] Re: OT Goats

[dann]

Jerry,

  I didn't know that you had fleet farm stores  in Alaska.   I 
thought that they were primarily a Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa chain.
The  taller size  (cattle panel ) welded wire panels are great goat 
fence.   I've seen goats climb over the lower (hog ) panels.

Dann


At 12:50 PM 9/10/2008, you wrote:
>Portable fencing is pretty straight forward, we use ranch panels, 
>they're 53" x 16' and work quite well for goats, even full sized 
>ones. In the spring while the pasture is recovering the grass on the 
>west side of the house is usually pretty lush early so we put the 
>goats there in a portable pen. It takes maybe 15 minutes to move it 
>to an uneaten piece of ground. We usually do this in the morning 
>before bringing them out.
>
>Panels can also be made with chain link in 10' sections with simple 
>cross pipes for feet. You see these on construction sites. Ranch 
>panels are probably a lot cheaper though, especially if you have a 
>Fleet Farm (Farm Fleet?) near by.
>
>As for goats being hard on fencing they're usually pretty docile as 
>long as something isn't chasing them. For meat and brushing I 
>recommend Boer wethers, they're particularly docile and VERY meaty. Mmmmmm.
>
>Shelter from the bad weather is important though it doesn't have to 
>be fancy, an old utility or stock trailer you can tow around would 
>be perfect. It would also make an excellent anchor for the fence 
>panels and a way to move them easily.
>
>Basic veterinary care is important as well though foot care isn't as 
>important when the animals in question are only going to be kept 
>till fall then butchered. Regardless, knowing how to check, clean 
>and trim hooves is a very good idea. Typically farriers trim goat 
>hooves as well as horses and are usually happy to show the owner 
>how. Seeing as there are horses involved already and that's my 
>suggestion. The farrier will also be familiar with the warning signs 
>of hoof problems.
>
>I don't know what you mean by drenching but it sounds like 
>nutritional supplements. In the goat world "drenching" is the 
>practice of giving them doses of vitamins, minerals and such. 
>Nutradrench is commonly available from Jeffers, Animal Food 
>Warehouse (more expensive) etc. or virtually any livestock supply. 
>Then there's Probios and a couple others. In most cases it's pretty 
>hard to overdose them.
>
>A good loose mineral is important as oppopsed to mineral licks which 
>have way more salt than minerals. We use SweetLix which has a low 
>salt content so the goats take all the minerals they need and don't 
>stop short because they've had enough salt. Also, do NOT think sheep 
>and goats have the same nutritional requirements, they're quite 
>different. The or one of the biggest is copper requirements, barely 
>life sustaining for a goat is near toxic for sheep so don't get 
>fooled by sheep/goat minerals they're not too good for either.
>
>Goats require horse quality or better hay, nothing kills goats like 
>bloating and a little mold is a fast bloater for goats. Clean water 
>is a must of course but for as short a time as the kids are thinking 
>of keeping them grain isn't going to be important till just before 
>they go to the freezer. A few weeks to a month before you put a wrap 
>on their careers take them off brushing duty and start feeding good 
>hay and a little grain, easy on the corn you don't want FAT goats, 
>you're just flushing any gamey taste caused by eating whatever.
>
>Frosty
>-------------------------------
>If it ain't forged
>it ain't real.
>Wrought iron is.
>The FrostWorks
>
>Meadow Lakes, AK.
>
>
>From: "Ruuf" <ruuf at slingshot.co.nz>
>
>
>
>>I can't see your fencing idea working for more than a week or two, 
>>as it is quite time consuming and a hassle moving fencing all the 
>>time, especially where the ground is hard.  Electric strip grazing 
>>fencing is bad enough. You also have to secure the goats while you 
>>move the fencing and move their water and salt. Goats don't handle 
>>adverse weather and may need some form of shelter, which may also 
>>need moving too.
>>
>>No one has mentioned that Goats also need their feet checking 
>>fairly regularly especially in wet areas, and may require drenching 
>>from time to time. It can be difficult getting a drench 
>>specificially for Goats. Drenches are usually given on the weight 
>>of the animal.
>>Rufus.
>>
>
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