What's a "Typical Day"?

We were asked recently, "What's a typical day like on Sunny Acres Farm"?  After a slight chuckle at the idea of a "typical day" on any farm, the Goatfarmer gave the interviewer a general synopsis of his day, THAT day.  The particular day he was questioned, he was running flat out from sunrise to sunset, because along with the normal activities, there was hay to bale and get into the barn before a coming storm.

Saturday was another very busy day, but not at all like the one mentioned above.  Yes, the goats still had to be tended, and moved to their new paddocks.  That's about the only thing that really doesn't change, so I guess that would make it part of a routine or "typical" day.  However, for the three hours prior to taking them to pasture, both the Goatfarmer and Farmwife were working together evaluating the kids that were weaned last month, giving CD/T shots where needed, weighing them, doing Famacha scoring on each one, and deworming where absolutely necessary as dictated by their score.  We have worked out a pretty good system together, which involves running them into a chute for the individual scoring and any needed shots, etc., onto a scale, and out to a holding paddock.  Every score and weight is recorded (and later compared to their previous evaluation, done at weaning).  We've found that doing this every few weeks, often as frequently as every two weeks if we are seeing low scores, helps us catch problems before they get out of hand.  Though its a lot of work, it has paid off....last year we only lost one kid to apparent parasite problems, and (knock on wood!) this year all 50+ are doing very well so far! 

Since we are always seeking to learn new ways to better manage our herd, we decided to try something new yesterday, which we'd just recently heard from a very experienced producer.  We selected two of our yearling does who have not yet kidded, along with an old doe who no longer kids (yes, we do keep the occasional "pet" goat that no one can bear to part with!) and added them to the weaned kid group.  The paddock they are currently grazing is part of a 6-acre field, seeded this spring, of annuals...millet and forage brassicas (turnips).  This is a new forage mix we wanted to experiment with this year.  The kids are very unfamiliar with the new selections, and seem to be eating mainly the millet, which is high in energy, but not the brassicas, where the kids would get the most protein, needed for growth.  The idea here is that the older animals, experts at foraging and trying new things, will teach the kids to eat more of the turnips as well.  We'll watch them closely for a couple of days, and if need be, will add the entire doe herd to the group, hoping the kids will learn from their mothers.  Since they've been separated for over a month, there is less chance of  kids trying to nurse off their dams again.  The field will still be divided into small paddocks, with the herd being moved to fresh feed every few days.  The doe herd is currently enjoying browsing off a small area of overgrown field with lots of brush in it.

After finishing in the barn and grabbing some lunch, the Goatfarmer then took off to finish preparing another field for planting.  (See photo below.)  Today he's drilling in tillage radishes.  These will serve two purposes - providing the weather cooperates and they grow well, they'll be fall forage for the breeding herds.  And, because of their heavy and long roots, they'll nicely break up the soil as they grow, helping to loosen it up for a planting next spring, probably of another summer annual.  Eventually, the field will be planted to a perennial forage. This particular field is very heavy clay soil and needs to have this additional organic matter added to allow for a better long-term planting in the future.

But, it's not all work and no play.....after a long, hot day, we enjoyed a very pleasant evening with another couple, enjoying an evening swim and quiet conversation on our deck, gazing at the star-filled sky.  The night sounds of countless insects, along with the munching of the goats that were grazing in a nearby paddock are very peaceful and relaxing. We truly love living here on this farm, even with all the hard work and long days.  I guess that's why its been in the family for six generations now!