Keep Current when our Black Herefords become Available for Sale
Breeding High Parasites Resistant Kiko Goats
Our herd enjoys access to 50 acres of fenced in pastures to browse, legumes , grasses, and small wooded under brush. We feed a small bucket of grain every day for extra nutration, and we supplement with grain and hay throughout the winter and kidding season.Our goats have access to high-copper loose minerals in PVC feeders at all times. Copper deficiency is a concern in many parts of the country, particularly in Georgia's Piedmont Region, which is famous for its red clay. Copper absorption is also slowed by the iron in the clay. A dull shaggy coat, difficulty shedding their winter coat, and/or a tail with hair shaped like a fish tail are all signs of a copper deficiency in goats (hair missing from the tip of the tail). A shortage of copper will make parasites more difficult to deal with. We don't use salt or mineral blocks because we believe they are too difficult for goats to obtain what they require.
Learn MoreKiko Goats may be safely housed in a hoop house. During the grazing season, trees or windbreaks, a three-sided shed, or a pole barn with just a roof could suffice. It's enough to keep them out of drafts. If you're kidding in the winter, you'll need a sturdy structure to house your pregnant and/or lactating does, as well as the youngsters. You may use livestock panels to divide the area within the structure into separate pens for each group of does and youngsters.Consider where you'll store feed, straw or other bedding, and other goat-related items while building goat housing.Make room for feeders and waterers, which will help to keep things clean and reduce feed waste. At any one moment, all animals should be able to eat or drink.If your goats will have a lot of access to woods, pasture, and other range areas, you'll need roughly 15 square feet of sleeping space per goat indoors
Learn More Goats need a CD/T vaccination. Kids get a series of 2, then every year after that. Technically kids are getting 3 vaccines. The 1st is actually pre-birth by passive immunity from their Dams. Her own immunities are passed to her kids in the 1st 24 hours or so thru her rich colostrum. Adults get one annually. It coincides with when they are born & then the breeding schedule every year after that.
What types of goats do you keep?" This is a question that arises at every farmers market... The truth is both everything and nothing at the same time. They're Free Range goats at this point.Natural principles underpin the Free Range way of life. We eat chemical-free foods and clean with chemical-free soaps, cosmetics, and cleaners. Use natural herbal medicines and show respect for the animals and the environment that assist us. We began breeding goats by obtaining some of the country's best Alpine and Toggenburg bloodlines; attractive, well-bred, and high-volume milkers. We transported them home to our natural pastures, began feeding them non-GMO feed and natural herbal supplements, and then released them into lush, rotating pastures... They became weak, anemic, and sick very quickly. We couldn't figure out what was going on. They had the best of everything, including abundance of pasture. What had gone wrong?
Learn MoreIt is possible to make a profit with Kiko goat farming. The stocky physique and capacity to acquire weight fast distinguish this goat breed. Create a business strategy that will support the rearing and sale of your livestock if you own a hobby farm and want to add Kiko goats to your herd.Kiko goats are a popular meat-producing breed. Goat meat is popular in many cultures because of its sweet, somewhat gamey flavor. The meat has a high protein content and is low in fat. Stews, curries, soups, and rice dishes may all be made with it. You can promote your goats to independent restaurant owners, sell your goats at auction, or advertise your commodities to a specific group that uses goat in their meals.
Learn MoreHiring out a herd of goats for weed management has led to big business for one Tama County farmer.Adam Ledvina, 30, of Chelsea owns and operates Iowa Kiko Goats and Blue Collar Goatscaping — respectively a commercial breeding and meat goat business combined with a prescribed goat grazing “goatscaping” business for clearing out brush without the use of herbicides or machinery.On a recent “Iowa Farmers Union Lunch and Learn” episode titled “On the Farm with Adam Ledvina,” Ledvina explained how he got so tied up with all things goat.It began almost a decade ago while he was working to remove brush and invasive species for the Iowa DNR and various other conservation organizations.
Learn MoreHow Do You Know If Your Kiko Goat Is Content? We now know!Today, the world's goat population is approximately 900 million, up from 600 million in 1990. The increased popularity of goat cheese, goat milk, and goat meat is the reason for this goat boom.To accomplish a successful job, goat farmers must first understand their animals. That's when Alan McElligott enters the picture. He works at Queen Mary University of London as a senior lecturer in animal behavior. He also claims that goats are "underrepresented" in research on animal welfare.
Learn MoreGoat babies ase a cute as puppies and hibit canine-like personalities. Even with their unusual eyes and fascinating facial hair, goats of all ages have expressive expressions. More than 200 domestic goat breeds can now be found all over the world, having been domesticated some 10,000 years ago. They can be found munching grass or tree trunks and come in a variety of colors and sizes.
Learn MoreJamaican Curry Goat is an amazingly delicious, flavorful, and bone-tender slow-cooked Jamaican spiced curry! An unquestionably must-make Jamaican dish! So simple to prepare and so quick to make.
Learn MoreThe Kikonui Project (Kikonui means "better than Kiko") began in the early 1980s with the development of the Kiko breed in Brightwater, New Zealand. Approximately 10,000 feral does from various North and South Island sources were screened to select 26 animals for the Kiko breed based on size, physical confirmation of feet, udder, and mouth, temperament, and general eye appraisal.
Learn MoreDomestic animals like sheep and goats are susceptible to attacks from a variety of wild predators. However, livestock guardian dogs, or LGDs for short, can assist safeguard your animals and lower the chance of predation.Since ancient times, LGDs have been utilized all throughout the world to ward off predators and safeguard various farm animals. Usually, there are three main approaches they take:Dogs utilize their scent to identify their territory as a matter of course. These borders can be recognized by wolves, coyotes, and other animals, which makes them less inclined to attack when they come across them.
Learn MoreGoat meat has recently begun to acquire popularity. Although it is frequently consumed in Asian, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern cuisine, less people in western nations are interested in it.Among the healthiest red meats, it has a lower saturated fat and cholesterol content and a greater iron content than other red or white meats.The flavor of goat meat is robust and gamey; it is sweeter than lamb but not as sweet as beef. Its distinctive flavor is complemented by cooking it with lots of flavor and spices.
Learn MoreRemember the initial selection criteria for your farm/ranch as you commence on your mission to find the highest quality and most conformation perfect individuals. Breed: KIKO The KIKO was chosen purely on the basis of its capacity to survive and develop on steep terrain. mountainous highland terrain (on New Zealand's south island), where nutritional circumstances are difficult to come by No supplemental feeding is offered since it is considered demanding. In order to achieve this, The KIKO breed is made up of does mated to bucks who have been screened from a huge wild population. Anglo Nubian, British Toggenburg, and Saanen breeds are used in this cross. The underlying issue Through population genetics, the goal of generating a new breed capable of high performance in order to improve meat output under adverse environmental and nutritional conditions has been achieved — As a breed, the KIKO has arrived.
Learn MoreGoats have hooves made of the durable protein keratin on their feet, just like your nails! And, like us, this constantly growing material requires upkeep for their health and comfort. A goat's hooves would naturally wear down in the wild due to frequent walking and climbing, but in most farm environments, hooves will not be worn down enough through activity alone. As a result, it is our responsibility to trim their hooves on a regular basis for their health!
Learn MoreYour goat herd needs sanity, diligent husbandry work, and care to remain healthy.Despite the fact that goats are generally sturdy creatures, a variety of health issues can arise, thus having the right knowledge is crucial.Following the guidelines for regular worming and hoof maintenance is a great start, but it is only the beginning of the practices and routines you must adhere to in order to both prevent and identify the early warning symptoms of goat sickness and illness that might decimate your her
Learn MoreThe National Kiko Registration was established to provide an independent, professionally administered lives r Kiko breeders of all sizes and management styles to register and track their bloodlines. Our registry provides education and marketing assistance in addition to recording pedigrees, while leaving management decisions to individual breeders. We're devoted to helping you and your herd prosper as the official register for the nation's oldest, biggest, and most established Kiko herds.
Learn MoreResearchers from Queen Mary University of London discovered that goat kids develop group accents, with each group bearing a distinct vocal stamp. This study, along with others on goat bleats and body language, provides scientific proof that goats are highly social animals. Questions, such as, "Do goats have accents?" lead to deeper ones, such as why? And how do these facts relate to our farming practices? It could be useful to understand what goats are saying when they bleat and why they headbutt. Most importantly, we need to know if goats require companions and what kinds of companions are appropriate.
Learn MoreHealthy baby goats are full of character. They bring joy and laughter to your farm by playing, jumping, and kicking up their hooves. This amusement is dependent on their first feeding.Colostrum, the first milk produced by a doe after giving birth, is essential for giving baby goats a strong, healthy start. Because baby goats are born without immunity, colostrum provides immune protection until their immune systems mature. It provides critical antibodies that the doe cannot pass on during pregnancy.
Learn MoreBreeding Low COI Pigs and Piglets
COI (Cofficent of Inbreeding) is a measure of how closely related your KuneKune’s parents are. The higher the inbreeding coefficient (%), the more closely related they are to there parents. In general, higher inbreeding coefficients are associated with increased incidence of genetically inherited conditions, reduced Fertility, and reduced life span.
Learn MoreWe rotate our pigs through nine pastures, moving them every time we rotate our goats during the Spring and Summer. Depending on the quality and quantity of pasture available you may need to supplement. We supplement our pigs with soy meal mostly in the Winter
Learn MoreKunekunes are slow-growing and take their time before getting saddled with a bunch of piglets. While they are sexually mature, between five to eight months, they may not be up to reproduction for another six months. It takes some time before the males build up confidence in their seduction.
Learn MoreOne of the reasons Kunekunes make great pets is their colorful personalities. They are gentle, loving and affectionate animals that thrive on social interaction. They have personality plus. They adore tummy rubs. As well as human company, these little creatures love interaction with other animals. So it's a good idea to buy two at a time, even better if they are from the same litter. Don't be afraid to cross graze them with other species.
Learn MoreSheltering your KuneKune can be as simple as a lean-to made of plywood or a Doghouse. We have a main barn where most of our KuneKune house during the year. In our outlying Paddocks we have a combination of doghouses and lean-tos. It is important to keep them sheltered from winter winds, ice and snow storms.
Learn MoreWhat could be more enjoyable and thrilling than seeing a group of KuneKune piglets romp across the summer's warm, green grass? Do you, on the other hand, shudder at the prospect of wintering pigs on pasture and providing cold-weather care?
Learn More Most pigs today are raised entirely indoors and are fed a diet exclusively of corn and soybeans. Pigs raised outdoors on pasture and in wooded areas are able to eat a diverse diet of plants, insects and nuts, in addition to being fed silage and grain. They are exposed to sunshine and are able to forage, run, jump and root in the soil. This results in healthier animals … and more nutritious food for people as well.
Studies show the nutritional value of pork from pastured pigs that consume grass and forage is higher than pork from conventionally-raised pigs.
The gestation period for Kunekunes is 116 days, 2 days longer than most other pig breeds.The first indication that a sow is ‘in pig’ is failing to come back in season after being mated. Sows will cycle every 18-21 days, but as the signs that a sow in season shows can vary considerably, it can often be hard to determine if a sow has come back into season again after a successful mating.
Learn MoreMale pigs, both intact and castrated, have tooth-like projections called tusks that grow from both the top and bottom jaw. The thick, hard, armor-like skin that covers the shoulders of boars is due to their tusks, which are utilized for fighting other boars.I strongly support routine tusk trimming even though it isn't one of my favorite KuneKune activities. Although boars can be housed together and kunekunes are a placid breed, a hierarchy must still be formed through sparring. It may get fairly rough, and having tusked boars makes it more dangerous.
Learn MoreBreeding Homozygous Black Herefords
When it comes to buying a Black Hereford bull, I usually recommend buying from a reputable breeder and staying away from the Sale Barn. It's also vital to have a bull that comes from a stock that has been chosen for having low birth weights. In the balmy month of February, amid a blizzard, the barnyard bull of unknown genetics may just happen to father big calves that you end up having to extract from cows! Artificial insemination is used by many of your finest breeders, and it provides the best genetics. When it comes to bull choosing, don't take any chances!
Learn MoreCattle farming using Black Hereford cattle is prevalent in the Southeast, Midwest, and Western parts of the United States. It is a beef cow breed that is primarily used for meat production. The breed isn't ideal for producing milk, but it does produce higher-quality meat.
Learn MoreTo be registered as a Black Hereford, an animal has to have more than 62 percent Black Hereford breeding. To achieve this percentage, it usually takes three generations and begins with a Hereford (usually a female) mated with an Angus animal (usually a male).
Learn MorePP = homozygous polled signifies that this animal does not have horns and that all of its offspring will be born without horns. This animal does not have horns since it is Pp + heterozygous polled, however its progeny may or may not have horns depending on their mate.
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