Herd Management
At Lukalah Farm we try to maintain as natural health care as possible and do use herbal methods on our animals as a first choice treatment/prevention, always keeping in mind their health and well being. Where necessary, we do give vaccinations and supplements.
PARASITES -
We use Molley's herbal wormer as a prevention. Periodic fecal exams are done. Then treated accordingly. For lice treatment and prevention we use Diatomaceous Earth.
ILLNESS
Coughing, nasal discharge, udder rash or pimples. Herbs first, breath easy, garlic, immune st drops, vit c and fecal checks for parasites. I find that parasites can compromise the immune system that can allow other illness to get a hold of the animals.
I will use Western medicine to save an animal when needed. If it is a doe in milk, the milk will be tossed for an appropriate amount of time if a drug is used.
FEED
There is plenty of brush and grass to eat. The goats are expected to make use of that during the day. We do not spray weed killer on this farm. I try to find the best hay and alfalfa I can each year. The grain is what we call here as Super Goat. I add BOSS and some times Alfalfa pellets if needed in the winter.
Does: Hay, Alfalfa and 1/2-3 cups of grain per day. Depending on if they are in milk and what body condition they are in. I find each one requirements are slightly different.
Doelings: Hay, Alfalfa and 1/2 cup grain daily. Same thing as far as amount. Just watch their body condition, increase, decrease accordingly.
Wethers: Same as doelings when young. I didn't plan to keep any but the grand kids had other ideas!
Bucks: Grass hay, brush, some times Alfalfa (in the winter or conditional), orchard grass pellet with BOSS added.
HOOVES
We trim our own. I have found that the hooves grow and different speeds on different animals. I just check them every week to see if they are in need of a trim. Usually a bout every 4 weeks in spring/summer. 4-6 weeks in winter.
KIDDING
Our herd came from Negative CAE and tested negative here on the farm. So our kids are part dam raised, part bottle raised with lots of attention from us every day. We try to be there for every birth. The doe will receive calcium drench and warm molasses water. The cord is shortened and dipped in 7% iodine to prevent naval ill.
Kids are dis-budded at 1-3 weeks, depending on when the buds appear.
Vitamins/Minerals & supplements
Free choice minerals available at all times. I have used a couple of different types. They like both kinds. Both types are for goats and come from the feed store. I add nutritional yeast and Kelp to the feed store minerals. Right now they have Sweetlicks Meat Maker.
We do give Bose injections as we live in a selenium deficient area.
Vit B complex injection & Probios naturally occurring microorganisms orally for rumen problems or recovering from illness/medication.
Milking
Does except the handling of their udders better right after birth. We milk them right a way without withholding milk from the kids until they are 4-6 weeks old. The withholding is done progressively as they get older and are eating other foods.
CMT is done every 1-2 weeks and as needed.
We keep things as sterile as can be done in a barn! No one has gotten ill :)
PARASITES -
We use Molley's herbal wormer as a prevention. Periodic fecal exams are done. Then treated accordingly. For lice treatment and prevention we use Diatomaceous Earth.
ILLNESS
Coughing, nasal discharge, udder rash or pimples. Herbs first, breath easy, garlic, immune st drops, vit c and fecal checks for parasites. I find that parasites can compromise the immune system that can allow other illness to get a hold of the animals.
I will use Western medicine to save an animal when needed. If it is a doe in milk, the milk will be tossed for an appropriate amount of time if a drug is used.
FEED
There is plenty of brush and grass to eat. The goats are expected to make use of that during the day. We do not spray weed killer on this farm. I try to find the best hay and alfalfa I can each year. The grain is what we call here as Super Goat. I add BOSS and some times Alfalfa pellets if needed in the winter.
Does: Hay, Alfalfa and 1/2-3 cups of grain per day. Depending on if they are in milk and what body condition they are in. I find each one requirements are slightly different.
Doelings: Hay, Alfalfa and 1/2 cup grain daily. Same thing as far as amount. Just watch their body condition, increase, decrease accordingly.
Wethers: Same as doelings when young. I didn't plan to keep any but the grand kids had other ideas!
Bucks: Grass hay, brush, some times Alfalfa (in the winter or conditional), orchard grass pellet with BOSS added.
HOOVES
We trim our own. I have found that the hooves grow and different speeds on different animals. I just check them every week to see if they are in need of a trim. Usually a bout every 4 weeks in spring/summer. 4-6 weeks in winter.
KIDDING
Our herd came from Negative CAE and tested negative here on the farm. So our kids are part dam raised, part bottle raised with lots of attention from us every day. We try to be there for every birth. The doe will receive calcium drench and warm molasses water. The cord is shortened and dipped in 7% iodine to prevent naval ill.
Kids are dis-budded at 1-3 weeks, depending on when the buds appear.
Vitamins/Minerals & supplements
Free choice minerals available at all times. I have used a couple of different types. They like both kinds. Both types are for goats and come from the feed store. I add nutritional yeast and Kelp to the feed store minerals. Right now they have Sweetlicks Meat Maker.
We do give Bose injections as we live in a selenium deficient area.
Vit B complex injection & Probios naturally occurring microorganisms orally for rumen problems or recovering from illness/medication.
Milking
Does except the handling of their udders better right after birth. We milk them right a way without withholding milk from the kids until they are 4-6 weeks old. The withholding is done progressively as they get older and are eating other foods.
CMT is done every 1-2 weeks and as needed.
We keep things as sterile as can be done in a barn! No one has gotten ill :)
