CntryBoy777
Herd Master
If I was closer I'd let ya move them here, and ya could come visit them anytime ya wished....it'd be like ya was renting the pasture for $1/yr.....
Jumping the Moon Dairy - the next chapter
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farmerjan
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The sad thing is there is a time that some have to go...we do not run an old age home for cows either, but still.... it is sometimes hard to make the cut. If they are the older, maybe not making as much milk ones, hard to catch, not very personable then they would probably be on my short list. I know they make the short list of the cows, but luckily all they have to do is get bred and raise a decent calf yearly and pretty much stay. Have one now, that has nubs for teeth, stays fat, gets pregnant, raises a nice calf, is a B$%#@H to get in the catch pen.....but as long as she is getting pregnant, stays in good flesh and raises a decent calf she gets a pass....my son laughed this year when she wound up preg again...and just said hey mom your favourite cow is preg.....her daughters are also hard to get in but they do a real crackerjack job of raising calves.....but you can't sell the ones making money.
Luckily cows mostly only have one offspring at a time, don't know how I would deal with so many youngins' at a time....and handling them as closely as you all do would make them more in the pet category.....But my dairy calves, jerseys and guernseys, do get more personalized attention and I do get more attached.
Luckily cows mostly only have one offspring at a time, don't know how I would deal with so many youngins' at a time....and handling them as closely as you all do would make them more in the pet category.....But my dairy calves, jerseys and guernseys, do get more personalized attention and I do get more attached.
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babsbag
Herd Master
I have a friend that is going to raise my kids for me next year, of course I will supply the milk and pay her too. The bucklings will get sold ASAP as will any doelings I don't want to keep (keep...there's that word again). So this next group of kids should all be friendly little bottle babies.
And now the rest of the story... I bought a new Alpine buck. He is French Alpine and DNA tested to carry a double gene for high Alpha S1 Casein protein which is proven to make better cheese. So by carrying the double gene each one of his kids will inherit and least one gene and it only takes one to make good cheese. So herein lies the problem...I should keep ALL of his doelings from next year.
Someone come and save me from myself. Having mature does in milk and replacement kids at the same time makes for a cozy barn. I am also keeping my old buck just in case this boy doesn't settle anyone, you never know with a new young buck and I need a backup plan.
Gosh this is confusing. @CntryBoy777 I'd take you up on that offer in a heartbeat. I do have someone that would probably buy all I want to sell but darn it, its hard to think about "quality of life". They have served me well, I feel like I owe them something in return.
And now the rest of the story... I bought a new Alpine buck. He is French Alpine and DNA tested to carry a double gene for high Alpha S1 Casein protein which is proven to make better cheese. So by carrying the double gene each one of his kids will inherit and least one gene and it only takes one to make good cheese. So herein lies the problem...I should keep ALL of his doelings from next year.
Someone come and save me from myself. Having mature does in milk and replacement kids at the same time makes for a cozy barn. I am also keeping my old buck just in case this boy doesn't settle anyone, you never know with a new young buck and I need a backup plan. Gosh this is confusing. @CntryBoy777 I'd take you up on that offer in a heartbeat. I do have someone that would probably buy all I want to sell but darn it, its hard to think about "quality of life". They have served me well, I feel like I owe them something in return.
Mike CHS
Herd Master
Babs - you give a whole new meaning to 'Goat Math' but I do feel for the choices you have to make and probably soon.
misfitmorgan
Herd Master
It was very hard for me too when i decided to cut back on goats and get rid of the mini's. I loved them and was worried the new owner wouldnt understand their quirks. The new owner just got a hold of me last month to tell me how much he still loves them and how they were doing. Apparently he understand them just fine and I was worried for no reason. Will every goat you sell be a happy story, no but it is rare for everything to always turn out well.
We are looking at taking my pet pig(450lbs) to the auction to sell for meat because she is infertile...she is my pet but feeding her for her lifetime would be way to expensive and she has no purpose on the farm. I'm not going to like it but it is how it has to be otherwise we will end up with 20 pet pigs and be broke.
If they dont give a good amount of good milk, hold weight well, or are a pain in the butt to do anything with always...there is no reason for them to be there on the dairy farm. We all worry about what will happen to them when we sell any animal but we just hope for the best and do what our farms need the most to keep running smoothly, have enough room for all livestock, quality feed, etc.
We are looking at taking my pet pig(450lbs) to the auction to sell for meat because she is infertile...she is my pet but feeding her for her lifetime would be way to expensive and she has no purpose on the farm. I'm not going to like it but it is how it has to be otherwise we will end up with 20 pet pigs and be broke.
If they dont give a good amount of good milk, hold weight well, or are a pain in the butt to do anything with always...there is no reason for them to be there on the dairy farm. We all worry about what will happen to them when we sell any animal but we just hope for the best and do what our farms need the most to keep running smoothly, have enough room for all livestock, quality feed, etc.
Bruce
Herd Master
Yep! That is the high hurdle you need to clear. I'm sure it won't be easy AT ALL.
CntryBoy777
Herd Master
I know it is extremely difficult, but if it were me, I'd rather send them off healthy and well.....say goodbye and deal with the emotions after that......than for them to be around til they get sick, linger, and die. It is inevitable and I'd rather remember them at their best, than to watch them suffer and always wonder if I did something wrong to cause it, or overlooked something.
Since you are building and running a business, the CEO side has to dictate the running of a profitable business....otherwise, ya won't be in business for very long. If ya had plenty of land, room, and space ya could have a personal "Herd" and a dairy "Herd", but with 60 running around and having to tend to each day.....it would be a killer for ya to have to tend to a separated herd too. You certainly can't make yourself responsible for the actions of others....ya can screen them as best as ya can, but ya can't control the "Events" in their lives that may put those animals at risk. Something that I learned in my corporate career is personal is personal, but business is business....decisions must be made for the betterment of the business irregardless of the personal consequences. Your anguish reveals your character, seriousness, and level of care....however, they don't pay the bills or benefit ya in furthering your "Dream" that ya have worked diligently to make a "Reality".....
Since you are building and running a business, the CEO side has to dictate the running of a profitable business....otherwise, ya won't be in business for very long. If ya had plenty of land, room, and space ya could have a personal "Herd" and a dairy "Herd", but with 60 running around and having to tend to each day.....it would be a killer for ya to have to tend to a separated herd too. You certainly can't make yourself responsible for the actions of others....ya can screen them as best as ya can, but ya can't control the "Events" in their lives that may put those animals at risk. Something that I learned in my corporate career is personal is personal, but business is business....decisions must be made for the betterment of the business irregardless of the personal consequences. Your anguish reveals your character, seriousness, and level of care....however, they don't pay the bills or benefit ya in furthering your "Dream" that ya have worked diligently to make a "Reality".....
Devonviolet
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WOW! Well said, 
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Bruce
Herd Master
Yep, that Fred is a smart guy (among his other stellar qualities). I'll have to go to his journal and ask about this "corporate career".
@Devonviolet I'm sure he would be happy to do it, you just need to provide a company car for the commute.
@Devonviolet I'm sure he would be happy to do it, you just need to provide a company car for the commute.
Pictures!! Where are the pictures!
I am excited to see how this young buck will do. We had some friends who needed some cash and were needing to get out from under a feed bill, so they sold me their two Alpine does (5 and 6 years old). I have raised Boar goats but have never ventured in the dairy side of things (I am blaming BYH for this!!
). A friend is wanting the milk for soap making and is keeping them miked out until I get things setup for a larger milking operation (again, I am pointing the finger at BYH for this extra work). I guess I should stop lurking and start my own journal!We may have to talk soon on dairies and the little darlings that make this work. You are about a 20 hour drive.
Keep up the great work @babsbag, you are a great wealth of knowledge and inspiration.
