Welcome to Green Pastures Farm
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Green Pastures Farm
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Here's lookin' at you, kid!
WE DO THINGS A BIT OLD FASHIONED AND ARE PLEASED TO SHARE OUR
GOAT RAISIN', BACK-TO-BASICS WAYS WITH
THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED!
After settling the area, we began raising many different kinds of farm animals. However, Nubian goats had been a heart's desire for many years. Upon contacting reputable, local breeders, we began with a couple of does and their kids, shortly adding to our stock by purchasing a very handsome, well-conformed buck.
In the beginning there were many questions, but Adonai/the Lord was gracious and brought several goat breeders into our path who were more than willing to share their wealth of knowledge with us.
Our Nubians are strong, healthy and friendly. They are known for their great conformation, good udder quality, long teats and large ears. Their living quarters are kept clean twice daily to assure good health & contentment.
Those needing assistance in the area of goat health, milking, and setting up living quarters, etc. may email us. If we cannot answer your questions, we will refer you to another breeder who may be able to help.
Green Pastures Farm Nubian goats, both registered or registered-quality, are pampered and loved. We believe that those purchasing from our stock will be more than delighted with the quality of their new addition.
Here is some practical information to help you make initial decisions as to owning a dairy goat.
If we may be of further assistance in answering any of your questions, please contact Kathie by email at kathie@kitchen2.com.
1. Goats are herd animals. When considering the purchase of a goat, remember that you will have better success and a quieter farm if you have at least two goats: 2 females (does), 2 males (bucks), two wethers, or a mixture.
2. Housing and Fencing. There is a lot of discussion on this topic about which is best. However, we at GP have found a secure barn or shed-type housing, which can be closed in at night from predators, rain, drafts and cold, to be the best. A simple straw or hay flooring is sufficient. Or keep it even cleaner by using the dirt floor and sweeping it daily. Goat predators are usually of the canine family (dogs, wolves, wolf mixes, and coyotes). Even the family pet dog can become a menace or killer. Recommended fencing should be electric with 7 strands or welded farm fencing with an electric wire on top and one wire 12 inches from the bottom on the INSIDE of the pen or field.
3. Goat health is a must. Always purchase a goat from a reputable source. Auctions and dirty barns are breeding places for sick and diseased stock. Paying a little more may help to insure the quality of your animal. Things to check for: good bloodlines, good conformation, and when possible, try to see the parents or pictures of the parents. Check the quality/condition of the hair, hooves, nostrils and eyes, udder and teats. If you are using these goats for breeding or milking, you will want to read several dairy goat books, which are available.
4. What do we feed them? We use a mixture of 2-part scratch (cracked corn and wheat middlings), whole oats and goat sweet feed. A good quality hay is a year-round treat and a must for the cold winter months and times of dormant pasture. Also, we supplement with goat minerals, kelp, some beet pulp (not for bucks!), and fresh greens and vegetables from our garden.
5. Grooming and Training. The quality and temperament of your animals will depend on the time you and your family devote to them. We work with our animals daily to assure their quiet, calm behavior. At three months of age, we train our goats to a lead line or collar. Most visitors remark about our herd being calm and behaving much like a pet dog wanting to be petted and loved. A daily or weekly brushing helps to keep their coats clean and shiny. Trimming of their hooves is done every 4 to 6 weeks. This process takes about 10 minutes and requires only a pair of hoof trimmers, which can be purchased through many animal supply catalogs. Trimming of their hooves is much like trimming your own toenails--a simple and easy procedure.
6. Milk/Milk Products/Meat. Choosing a dairy goat has many great benefits. First, they produce milk (from a quart to 2 gals. + per day / goat milk is usually measured in pounds), which can be made into ice cream, cheeses of all sorts, cream, butter, yogurt, etc. Goat milk tastes similar to cow milk. However, it is far superior in quality because of the higher amount of butter fat. Many doctors prescribe goat milk for certain conditions such as ulcers, dyspepsia, pyloric stenosis, and intolerance to cow milk. It is preferable to cow milk in many cases of liver dysfunction, jaundice, and biliary problems because the fat globules are smaller than those in cow milk. Goat milk has been used for infants being weaned, children with fat intolerance, acidosis, infants with eczema, pregnant women troubled by vomiting or nervous or aged people with dyspepsia and insomnia. It is more easily digested than cow milk because the fat is finer and more easily assimilated. It is particularly rich in antibodies and has a much lower bacterial count than cow milk. Proper milking practices can be easily learned from those who own dairy goats. Second, there is the production of meat called chevon from the French word for goat chevre. Usually the bucks are castrated by 3 months of age. They are then harvested by 6 to 8 months old by the owner or a local slaughter house. Goat meat is used very much like beef and is very tasty and nutritious.
7. Horns/De-scenting/Identification. Horns in dairy goats are usually removed shortly after birth by a process called disbudding. This practice is done to keep the goats from harming each other and their owners, which is not usually intentional. Bucks, which will be kept for breeding purposes, are usually de-scented at this time in order to keep the "goaty" buck smell from being pronounced during mating season. They are also tattooed, on the inside of the ears or tail, to help identify them for registration purposes, in case of theft, showing, sales, etc.
8. Worming. I can’t say enough about this. If a goat shows signs of sickness, dry hair, lethargy, diarrhea, etc., you might be fighting a condition of worm-overload. We use herbal wormers, purchased from Hoegger Goat Supply, Fayetteville, GA. Several times a year, we use other wormers to insure that our goats are clean of parasites. Please be sure to read worming medications carefully before using.
PLEASE NOTE:
We have a "closed herd." Why? Because we do not use vaccines. We do not use conventional medicines unless there is a life-or-death situation. Therefore, if you have goats or other ruminants, and wish to visit our farm, you will not be permitted to walk on the property surrounding the pasture or barn or be permitted in same. If you fall into this category and desire to see or purchase our goats, please let us know so that we can make arrangements for you.
ROOSTERS - Occasionally we have several bantam, bantam-mix, cochin-mix roosters that need a home. If you are looking for some great bug eaters, we have a few for you. No charge. However, you must pick these up; we will not deliver or mail them.
PUREBRED NUBIAN GOATS - Presently, we have two buck kids available immediately. We will be breeding our does in October/November of 2008 for Spring 2009. Please contact kathie@kitchen2.com .
Our young, energetic buck, Unique, is a splendid sire from a fantastic, heavy-milk line. His coloring is gorgeous with splashes of many colors. His dams, Serenity and Willow have fantastic conformation and long teats--easy milkers!
If you are considering the purchase of a spring kid, please contact us.