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tahir
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Nick
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Anna-marie
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tahir
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Anna-marie
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tahir
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Anna-marie
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 Posted: Sun Jun 03, 07 12:07 pm Post subject: |
 
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| tahir wrote: |
Aha. Is it worth me tracking down a local dairy goat herd to see if they have kids to get rid of for next year?
Have fun in Tunisia |
Tahir,
If you want goats, you will probably be able to get some kids for next year.
But, you will need to provide shelter for them. They don't particularly like the rain, and like to have a "home".
They will "browse" rather than grazing, and will help to keep your hedges down. Mine also like the seed heads from docks, so help to prevent next year's growth. They are also partial to nettle leaves, but these have to be wilted before they will eat them, so you will have to cut them for them.
And as for brambles - mine eat all of the leaves, leaving it easier for me to get to the berries 
However, you do need to be aware of what plants are close to the goats, as yew is extremely poisonous, and there is a whole list of others that need to be avoided. I have found, though, that as long as there is plenty of the "good" stuff available for them, they tend to leave the "bad" stuff alone.
Many people say that you need high fences for goats, but mine are OK with just normal sheep fencing.
The rest of their management is pretty much the same as that for sheep. Hooves, worming, vaccination, etc. But if possible, it may be wise to keep them separate from the sheep, as they are prone to picking up coccidiosis from them. (They can, of course, be vaccinated against this.)
Goats have the added benefit that they don't need shearing 
They don't neccesarily need milking, either, of course, and won't anyway until they have kids themselves.
If you want loads of milk, try a dairy breed. But if you want good meat, try a Boer goat or Boer-cross. You should still be able to get about two litres a day for the family.
Several commercial dairy breeds are now using Boer goats to "beef-up" their herds, so that they get better meat quality from slaughtered kids.
Goats tend to be very sociable - find kids that have been bottle fed. They will be your friends for life.
Here endeth the lesson  
Anna-marie |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
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Location: Essex
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Anna-marie
Joined: 18 Sep 2005
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Location: West Wales
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| Posted: Mon Jun 04, 07 8:21 am Post subject: |
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Hi Tahir,
You would need to give them some concentrate, too. I use Allan and Paige (or however it's spelt!   ) Goat Mix. It's good, clean stuff, and they really enjoy it. I only give them about half a scoop a day, increasing it to almost a whole scoop during the winter. And of course, they will need good quality hay, too.
You will need to take care that the sheep don't eat the goat's food, too, as it contains too much copper for them.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Anna-marie |
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tahir
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Mary-Jane
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tahir
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tahir
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sean
Downsizer Moderator
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tahir
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