One Fine Acre - 2023 4H Steer Project Update

[OneFineAcre]

So remember our "accidental" breedings when Fortunate Son got in the doe pen?
Zamia of course and then the yearlings, Genevieve, Guinevere, Amber, and Milky Way.
All are now due at the same time and we have no stalls.

Maurine went out this morning and 2 dry babies are standing in the middle of the barn with Angel and Bella standing guard. Had to check backsides to see which one had it. Genevieve was the guilty party, and she was laying in the back of the barn with her mom and sister.

Buck/doe twins. Apparently she didn't have any difficulty and her and her sister are the youngest. Her birthday is May 1st, so she's 11 months old.
When we put her and the two babies in a stall (with Cookie and her single) She licked them and Maurine saw one of them nurse. So, maybe she'll do ok

 

[Wehner Homestead]

Best wishes with this occurrence and that it all plays out well!!!

 

[OneFineAcre]

Just talked to Maurine. Everything is going well.
11 month old had 3-10 oz and 3-5oz kids

We also discussed that it might be best to let these young mothers have the kids outside of the stalls because it seems the LGD's are doing a great job in cleaning them up. Sometimes FF are a little confused.

 

[Bayleaf Meadows]

Wonderful! Hope the rest go as smoothly.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Amber had big twin bucks this afternoon
As soon as I got home I went out to check everyone
Amber was in a stall and I could see she had a bubble coming out
Ran back in and called Maurine she was ten minutes away
Get towels and go back out
I could see the face and nose in the bubble
So I just waited since she wasn't pushing much and didn't seem in to much stress
So Maurine gets home and turns out the front legs were back
But she was able to get one in the right position and pulled him pretty easily
2nd one came fine

 

[OneFineAcre]

I don't think either one of these young mothers has an incredible amount of milk
We have some frozen Colostrum and then later plenty of Togg milk

 

[Bayleaf Meadows]

If I am counting right, that's fifteen bucks and fourteen does (one died). Not bad, but let's have some more does from the rest. How many more are still expecting?

 

[OneFineAcre]

I think your count is correct
3 more due now
Zamia, Milky Way, and Gwen
Then Shea, Taffy and Climate Control
I think that's it for spring
But once Clarabelle's other kid Gwen kids ( they are still nursing her) and we can fully segregate we are going to lute Clarabelle and Ginger to try to breed for fall kids.
We have some inquiries about possible Clarabelle-Vivaldi bucks

 

[Bayleaf Meadows]

You forgot Rosemary- April 16 ish?

 

[Wehner Homestead]

Sometimes our first calf heifers need a little extra help to make enough milk and hold their weight. We try to always have more than one so that we can separate them together and grain them some. Is this something that is done with goats? Obviously I’m still learning about dairy goats.

Edited to add: we try to creep to take some of the stress off too (in cattle and even with our Boers). Have you ever tried anything like that??