SBC/GW's Journal- Spring shows DONE! & Update

[Wehner Homestead]

Super glad that you were able to enjoy Thanksgiving!!!

 

[Bruce]

The loss of Pete is so heavy.

Wait!! WHAT!!!! How did I miss this!!!

 

[Carla D]

Thanksgiving was super special.
All the fam was there except my oldest daughter.
We also had two friends of the family over.
At one point I turned around when all the boys were standing behind me and all "being boys". It was one of those moments where it strikes you that they are all grown up, these huge men were all my babies. Each one brings such joy. It is funny though because when we all sit down it is still... mom... can you get me "such and such", mom... I need more "such and such".... mom..... Some things still are special. When my 24 year old son fell asleep I naturally grabbed a blanket and covered him up. Where did the time go? Wasn't he little just a few years ago?
Not my girls, my girls don't do that. My girls are so "I got this" attitude! I love it! Of course the chess board was brought out. No darts this year as I finally fixed all the holes in the wall and didn't want to do that again.
A 5 hour game of Risk had everyone up til 3:30am. Little DD is cut throat! She took over the world. Everyone spent the night. Uh oh... lol we were wall to wall people.
One of our guest is just simply one of the most amazing people I have ever met. We had so many hours of great conversation. So blessed.
I was also quite encouraged by some of our discussions. It was a wonderful time.


The loss of Pete is so heavy. I am thankful for those that called and allowed me just to cry and chat and of course once on the subject of goats the grief floated away for a bit.
One of Pete's (and Blue and silver and so on) littermate's will be coming for a visit this week. I am so excited to see him.

I have cut back on my volunteer work and am no longer working with the county extension services for dairy goats. I really am too busy. Doing far less in the way of phone consults with both goats and dogs.
I realized I was investing more time into too many that quite frankly were not ever going to put in the time to actually learn anything. Some people become draining and really just want to whine about their animals but not manage their animals. Some will never learn anything but when they have an emergency they somehow think it is now MY emergency. Ummmm, no.
What's the saying "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink". That is what it seems like is the norm now. You can give all the tools but some people just can't apply anything.
Tired of repeating myself.
Friends are a whole different story. Thankfully!

The "pet world" of goats will destroy goats. The ads for goats are appalling. People that can't even spell their supposed goat breed. Don't know the difference between a polled goat and a horned goat. Swearing that the goat is a purebred such and such and you take one look and go not a chance! None of these people have a clue yet are breeding whatever and no education to who they sell to because they are clueless. The difference is even 5 years ago people wanted to learn something, not anymore. Just a new kind of puppy mill.

Coming to a close on many of the goats on milktest. What a year.
No idea why but Raina and Tiffany have decided oh, I want to make a bunch of milk ok.....

We have a few more does to breed. YAY!

Now, if only the rains would stop.

That does sound like a monumental event. I’m so glad it was such a delightful day for you. It’s also really tough coming to the conclusion that a person is a bit overextended. I think I’m there myself.

 

[farmerjan]

@Southern by choice ;You talk about the ads on Craigslist and such, the people who can't spell the name of the breed, who have no idea of what they really have because they have become experts after one or two birthings, who are not the slightest bit interested in the actual confirmation or breed standard of an animal but it is "cute" or somewhat close to something they have seen so it is "definitely" this or that... like what @Baymule was saying about the "Jesus donkeys".

Yes it is going to make everything a mishmash breed. We see it in the Craiglist ads for a "great breeding bull" that they want a totally absurd amount of money for and the picture shows a half grown humpbacked whitish colored animal that is a "potential charolais herd sire".. enough to make a decent cattle person want to cry or throw up. I've seen "white faced angus" on there as potentials for a herd sire listed by someone who really has no clue what they are talking about. And this stuff is just proliferating at a rate faster than rabbits. It is the same in the poultry world with all these "new" breeds that are just crossbreds. And I am sick of "easter eggers" that are just crossed up chickens that will produce a blue/green/olive colored egg. I guess it is a blessing they aren't trying to call them Araucana's. So I can very well understand what you are talking about.

As for the cutting back because you just give and give to those who really don't want to learn...I can more than understand that. Plus, it just gets tiresome to always feel like you are "babysitting" for some half-azzed breeder that doesn't want to and won't put the effort into becoming a true breeder. Since my son's accident nearly 2 years ago and the strain from the headaches and such, plus trying to deal with some very trying landlords, we have cut back a bit on our haying operations, and some cattle as we have been culling, and will be giving up another pasture/hay place at the end of this lease.
Now I am having to deal with a real PIA know it all son of the owner of one place that comes in and basically gets into our business. He has decided that he wants to breed some Wagyu beef, after having some at a restaurant. VERY EXPENSIVE stuff. It is the "kobe beef" that you see advertised. It is super marbled beef, much too much fat marbling for my taste, very tender, takes a special diet to feed it out and longer to do. He has decided that one of my jerseys should get bred AI to this semen, so he can have some. We rent their pasture, I am so frustrated with some stuff that goes on there, and now this. There will be some real bad things to come out of this before it is over.... and my son doesn't really realize how bent out of shape I am over this. This is the barn where I keep my nurse cows and put the calves on them. I haven't fully decided what direction I am going in, but have made a decision to NOT breed my current nurse cows back now, as their calves are in the 2-3 month age and should be bred back now for to calve again next fall, normal 12 month calving interval...but am going to wait until June to breed them for calves the following March/April. I will be losing at least 6 months, but in the meantime am looking for somewhere else to take them and just get "my operation" out of this place. I don't want to be having to worry about moving cows and small calves so this will give me at least a year to figure out what I am going to do. I've had my limit. He came and took one of the kittens I had been taming at the barn out of the stray momma, and they go in the barn when they want. Says he will get the semen shipped and I can store it in my semen tank. I don't want this whole situation. I am at my wits end right now with this, on top of everything else. The father called and said he was going to go buy some cat food because the cats were starving because they run out to the truck everytime you go out there. I feed them once a day, they are there to catch mice and such. They are healthy, and the momma cat even catches rabbits. I got rather upset over the phone when I told him that they get fed daily, that they don't need to be overfed and that the big plastic trash can they put in my hay storage area will just get chewed through by the groundhogs, that i keep a couple of small 1 gal size containers of cat food I bring from home up on a shelf, and why did he think I kept my grain in metal cans with tight fitting lids. I've had enough, now it's just figuring out how to get out of there. Plus if they think I am going to give up a years breeding on MY cow, and then I will wind up having to feed and take care of HIS animal, they have another think coming.

Sorry for the rant, I have been pretty out of it since this came to a head on Thanksgiving.

We did get all the hay up, nearly 300 sq bales and I don't know how many rolls that took all week to dry because it wasn't nice and sunny all week like they forecast... but it looked pretty good. Oh, I think I mentioned that on the Weather Thread I started....

 

[Wehner Homestead]

Wow! That’s a lot to take in @farmerjan! I’d totally be looking for someplace different!

 

[Southern by choice]

@farmerjan you know I am not a breed snob or a registry snob either. We started out with purebred but unregistered goats. They had purpose. To milk. We did always buy registered bucks though and we tried ti improve areas needing improvement. But I am not one to throw the baby out with the bathwater so to speak. But one thing we did do was always teach a class and educate every person who bought a goat from us. They became responsible breeders.
We have had people that when told that our class is mandatory for new goat owners (keep in mind we don't charge any extra money- the price of the goat is the same) they don't want to and they go buy a goat for the same price without any education.
How stupid is that? Even if the goat is less, how. stupid. is. that?
We teach fecal analysis and allow them to take part so they can learn. We teach how to determine external parasite issues. How to examine a goat, how to give shots, how to trim hooves, how to do FAMACHA (we are certified). Feeding care to include a list of articles and limks etc. We also emclose our testing results. We show them how to "look at the goat" what to watch for. We go over coccidia prevention, follow up procedures, what kind of emergency items to have on hand etc... the list goes on.
But they don't want to take 3 hours to do the class.
They don't deserve my goats.
But this is what is out there, this is what is breeding pet goats. Letting them suffer with parasites, coccidia, milk fever, pregnancy toxemia, prolonged labors, torn uterus from kidding to young because they were too ignorant to follow any advice on separating bucks and does. Frozen kids from not putting a doe up in the barn because they didn't know she was bred or when she would kid etc. The list goes on and on.

People can make you cynical over time.

I sure hope you find a new place soon. Sounds like the stress is mounting.

You know we have always tried to register the goat that way we just hand the papers over and it is a simple transfer to new owner. The transfer is $4.50 or $6 if after 120 days. (Non members is more)- the other registry $3 - $6.
I went over my currently owned list. SMH- The registration was paid for by me. at $9.50-$10.50 EACH for does and bucks $15.50- $16.50 EACH. Yep, a whole bunch of animals (Like 30) still in my name- never transferred. I'm done with it. I will give them the registration application filled out and they can pay all the fees. I don't charge enough to cover the cost of papers and all the testing and to feed them.

I will reserve my energy for those that are struggling and having a hard time with something but at least want to learn and are doing all they can.

Our consult work is great but even there we have really stopped most of it.

 

[Mini Horses]

He has decided that one of my jerseys should get bred AI to this semen, so he can have some.

@farmerjan You can end it by giving him the name of a vet who can store his semen & AI the cow you will only RENT to him for the pregnancy, then he can take calf and bottle feed. I suspect he will not enjoy that beef as much once he finds the prices for JUST the semen/AI work. Your cow is worth a lot more than he thinks, too. Of course, it may infuriate him and end your lease sooner than later.

You are right to move those girls ASAP. Life isn't worth the stress these situations bring.


@Southern by choice I hear you on the buyers. Now, I enjoy my goats and basically sell off kids. Occasionally a doe in milk to a family wanting such. BUT I spent a whole lot of time with mini horses in the "improve' the breed frame. Spent a huge amount on high quality, from backgrounds well researched. Hired trainers to work and transport to expensive shows all over the USA. Won a lot, did well. Animals were well bred, trained, healthy, vaccinated, DNA tested, etc. It went well for a number of years as most of my contacts were show oriented and wanted what I had. We made good money.

Then, there were those who didn't care. One came to my farm a few times, picked out ones she wanted.....bought somewhere else!! Simply due to price. So, THEN she calls ME with her registration problems and -- the kicker -- all three were sick and she wanted help to get them healthy. I gave her my vets name/number, told her she got what she got, don't call back. Spent years with minis and in the end, glad to get out of that.

Now I'm in my "farm" for me. Still like to help others but, not going thru all that anymore. I am going to pick up a small herd of Boers next year. They do better in the meat production & sale results. Probably will cut back on my milkers a little, I ain't getting any younger. At some point we deserve to relax more.

 

[farmerjan]

@Southern by choice and @Mini Horses you both know where I am coming from as I well understand your positions also. We also buy registered, purebred bulls for breeding purposes and to "better" our beef herds. You are both right, you don't have to have registered, and having them doesn't make you a "snob" or anything else. There is a place and purpose for both registered and purebred, and grades. We do get papers with the bulls, but no, I would not register the offspring anymore, like you said, give them the filled in app and if they want the papers, it is their responsibility. And a good dairy animal of any breed doesn't have to have papers. But you both "get" it with these "expert pet owners" that really have no real clue and then will argue with you when you try to teach them different. I too am about sick of it and all these idiots.

This son of the owner of the pasture where I have had my nurse cows for years is a doctor now, as well as his wife also, they live in a very "nice" house, and they come out here to "the farm" because it actually is in both his and his sisters name with the parents tied into it as caretakers or some such convoluted mess. He hated the farm, but now is an expert on the "wonders" of eating wagyu beef, and it is a perfect use for his part of the farm. Irregardless of the fact that we pay rent to have the use of it.. he would not ever consider taking a calf and raising it, that is what the farm is for... at one time he called cows evil, disgusting creatures.... he talked about having a small vineyard there on his "part of the farm"... but found out that was too much work... he seems to think I am going to be his private "nigger", and I say that in a respectful way to anyone on here who is black, because he just thinks I will be his free labor to raise his beef. It is a very sticky situation with them now, and I am trying not to upset the apple cart with my son's relationship with them because he has been good friends with the daughter and her husband for years. She at least is sensible, but they now live in TN with his job transfer... she thinks her brother is crazy for this idea.
He says, oh, he will pay the value of the calf that I won't get from the cow when she has his calf... but I have tried to explain that the beef will have to be fed longer and a special ration to get the growth and such. He seems to think that it will just sit out there and grow and produce him all this FANTASTIC beef. I don't want to get into it because what if she doesn't settle, what if the calf dies, what if it doesn't grow like it should, what if, what if.... it will be a bigger disaster.... and we do not have any vets around here that do AI breeding, mostly because everyone that has cattle does their own or gets a neighbor to do it. There is one that does some ET work, but I don't deal with that office..... besides who the he// is supposed to be watching the cow to catch her in heat... or who is going to do the shots, cidrs , or whatever to do timed AI.... NO NO NO I want NO PART OF IT. I don't even breed for other people anymore because of the aggravations except people I know that get the whole process and know the whole routine/risks etc. Just not worth it.

Maybe I am getting old.... just tired of dealing with the public. When we take cattle/calves to town to the sale, they get sold, buyers risk, and we get a check and are done. Sure I like for people to get good decent healthy stuff, but I am not going to babysit them once they own it. I have helped several people over the years and some have been appreciative, some not. I want the animals for myself, and for my freezer, and the extras will get sold as feeders and that is life. I will give them as good a life as I can here, and that is the best I can do. Someday when there are fewer and fewer of us that are true breeders, and there are all these breeds and varieties that have become extinct due to the idiots that don't get it, maybe the world will wake up, and realize the value of people who try to do it right, before it is too late.

 

[Mini Horses]

maybe the world will wake up, and realize the value of people who try to do it right, before it is too late.

Nope. Not happening anytime soon. That's why "farmers" are dwindling. No one wants the work, take the effort, losses, lessons...just go buy GMO & hormone filled from the grocery. They don't even know what it takes to get it there! Most don't care.

Past 20-30 years have seen so, so many health issues for the general population. Lack of proper nutrition, chemicals in food and too much sitting on their tush!
People don't know HOW to cook. Heck I have people sample foods at demos and they want to buy the jar/can/pkg of what I made. When told where ingredients are they go "I have to MAKE IT??" in total shock. LOL

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Let the doc buy his own damn cow!