Our goats have their own website - to learn more about our Tennessee Fainting Goat herd (also called Myotonic Goats) - go to Gotgoaties.com or Faintinggoat.net
Information on the meat, or chevon is included
here. Our breeding program is geared to produce the best meat with the
least amount of un-natural input. Concentrates (read bagged grain) have
become the norm for most meat goat operations. Goats by nature, are more
like deer than sheep. They are born to browse, not graze.
Our hilly overgrown
pastures and rocky property posed an excellent
opportunity. Healthy goats! They need less hoof trimming, as they
walk over the historic flint outcroppings to reach the rosa, honeysuckle,
hawthornes and other delights that Mother Nature has to offer a country
goat. The goats are rotated off the areas when I start to see them
lowering their heads to eat. By feeding off of branches, tree bark, and
leaves, that practically eliminates the need for de-worming
routines, as the parasites tend to live within the first
few inches from the ground (EAP).
We are also breeding to produce both resistant AND
resilient goats. Goats that are resilient to worm loads are selected
through tracking FAMACHA
scores. There are a few individuals we can always count on showing no
anemia, even though they are suppoting a larger worm load than
others.
Fecal Egg Counts (FEC) are necessary for any operation.
Routine deworming with chemicals is not only environmentally irresponsible, but
expensive too. You can do our own fecal exams - Fiasco Farms provides wonderful instructions that anyone can
follow.
Resistant goats are those that do not seem to pick up as much
parasites. By managing pastures and browse, it is hard to scientifically
examine which of our goats are truly resistant, but we can tell you which ones
aren't if they continue to show high FEC readings. Goats that require
deworming are given herbal remedies or Ivomec, depending on the situation.
We find that garlic given free choice is also helpful.
Tennessee Fainting Goats are listed in the 'Threatened' category by ALBC
, as well as on the Slow Food USA Ark of Taste.
Black Welsh Mountain Sheep
Just when we thought the goats kept us busy, we added
sheep. The breed we selected is not simple to find, and when we were given
the chance to buy a small flock, we jumped at the chance. Thank you so
much to Jeanne Miller in PA!
These sheep are the
only true black wool producing breed, smaller in size (100-140lbs) and parasite
resistant. They do very well on rough forage.
They are delightful
animals with very strong independant personalities (Black Welsh Mountain sheep
don't flock) and not to mention gorgeous to look at!
This year's shearing produced
anywhere from 2lbs-4lb fleeces. October 2007, we purchased a new ram - Rockbridge MG, who is from an F2 from UK line. His first group of lambs are due at the farm
late April 2008. We have decided that our first goal will be carcass quality, secondary fleece.
We are
members of the American Black Welsh Mountain
Sheep Association, and our flock is registered.
Black Welsh Mountain Sheep are listed in the Recovering category on ALBC's Watch list.
Black Welsh Mules
Project for 2008 breeding season is crossing the Blue Faced Leicester on some select Black Welsh ewes to start our mule flock. Mules are common in the UK, and we our basing our program on the already proven 3-tier scheme - first Blue Faced Leicester on hill sheep, then use another terminal sire (researching Suffolk and Dorset, and even Tunis) on the mule ewes.
Reasoning for commercial crosses at A Rare Breed is thus - satisfying the market demand for a larger carcass, while still maintaining the purebred Black Welsh Mountain for breed preservation. Trials and tasting on the resulting lambs next year will indicate if this is the direction we would like to take.
Our sheep and goats are regularly health tested and BOTH OUR SHEEP FLOCK AND GOAT HERD ARE TAGGED - US
VOLUNTEER SCRAPIES PROGRAM - WV1034