Two months ago, we had no goats. Now we have four! On Memorial Day, my husband and I trekked to Murfreesboro to take a look at some Lamancha does that a sheep farmer had picked up at the sale barn. We came home with "Memorial Day," or Mimi -- a yearling first-freshener with a case of the scours. That night, we went to a neighboring county to look at a Lamancha-Saanen cross doeling that a lady had for sale. We came home with "Valentine." I named her that because she had been born near Valentine's Day. Neither of these were registered.
I had a buckling on order from a breeder up past Knoxville, and late one evening we met the people halfway, at a truck stop, and carried Morning Star from their truck to ours out in the parking lot.
Even with one milker (producing a quart a day), and two young stock, I still lacked a milk goat that would produce enough for the household. So...one more purchase was in order. About a month ago, I bought a 6-year-old show goat from a breeder up near Knoxville. Celine is a registered Lamancha doe with excellent bloodlines and good production. Only problem was the breeder neglected to inform me that she was used to machine milking. The first time I milked her by hand, it was a rodeo!
And so, our little herd has taken shape, and these are some pictures of what our current milkers look like -- after a clip, some good feed, and a little TLC...
I had a buckling on order from a breeder up past Knoxville, and late one evening we met the people halfway, at a truck stop, and carried Morning Star from their truck to ours out in the parking lot.
Even with one milker (producing a quart a day), and two young stock, I still lacked a milk goat that would produce enough for the household. So...one more purchase was in order. About a month ago, I bought a 6-year-old show goat from a breeder up near Knoxville. Celine is a registered Lamancha doe with excellent bloodlines and good production. Only problem was the breeder neglected to inform me that she was used to machine milking. The first time I milked her by hand, it was a rodeo!
And so, our little herd has taken shape, and these are some pictures of what our current milkers look like -- after a clip, some good feed, and a little TLC...