What about a Kiko Goat Farm? Chevon and Milk
What about a Kiko Goat Farm? Chevon and Milk
I love my goats. If you have them, you know exactly what I mean. I love them as pets, so little, always need me, nipping and 'maaa'ing me all day long. Nigerian Dwarf's are so cute! My problem is I need them for a little more then just to love on now. I need them to have a job and bring value to the ranch. Maybe someday the can be my exit to the rat race, my hope for stable homestead.
All 442 acres of ours are heavily wooded. There are some large flattened areas but mostly mountainous and rocky. I would like to have larger breed goats to clear land, as tall as possible. This will keep the ticks and predators away, and feed the goats for free, its a win win. Now I need to decide on the breed.
I have researched many really great websites and listened to so many podcasts about the behavior, attitude, hardiness, eating habits and mothering habits of many breeds. I certainly had already decided on a larger breed Spanish, Boer or Kiko. All avenues have lead me to investigate Kiko's deeper.
I have spoke to a few Kiko farmers and called the American Kiko Goat Association (AKGA) with some questions. They are hardy and have parasite resistance. Their creation story is amazing, if you like science and genetic nerdy stuff like I do. They are the perfect meat and dairy goat. The statistic's I have read show they are better Nanny's then other breeds. So what will I do with them?
Most people sell kids, cull goats for meat, milk the Nanny's and make Artisan cheese and soaps. That sounds a little overwhelming to me. I mean, don't get me wrong, the farm life is for me, I enjoy all of it I just don't know how 1 person can do that all. I need to keep my mind at ground zero and start small. Fencing, yes, I need to perfect fencing, but how much? Like the whole 60 acres I plan to fence, well that's way to big of an area for now, how about smaller areas in the woods, that sounds better. But what size? 1 acre square or rectangle sounds great for now. They will have the barn and small stalls under the lean to for the weather, and they can eat until their heart desires. Remember, I am only thinking of 2 female goats right now. The buck will come later when I need him.
What about kids? This is my 1st step into this new adventure in my mind. Lets start kidding the goats when they are an appropriate age and see what happens. I will purchase a registered 100% New Zealand and breed up my percentages and eventually have more does and registered goats. That's a start.
Culling animals that are not to standard, have defects or just are not desirable will be my downfall. I haven't ever hurt and animal, I love them all and cannot do this task, however goat meat is becoming very popular in our country. Its called Chevon and is becoming more desired every year in the US.
My understanding is you send your meat goats to the butcher and they take it from there. You can keep it for your own homestead, sell it or pre-sell it it customers. I have not tried goat meat, only lamb, but hope to soon.
Milking Nanny goats sounds exciting and exhausting at the same time. To milk twice a day no matter what means you can never take a day off or go on a trip, unless you schedule your kidding with down time. I see local farmers selling cream and goat milk all the time, I have not seen anyone in my area making homestead artisan cheese. Having a whole cheese facility sounds like a dream for the future, but needs to be on the back burner. Baby steps Chrissy, just remember, little baby steps, I don't even have Kiko's yet and I have a whole business plan already!!
I have scheduled 2 Kiko Farm tours and will be taking any classes given locally on goat farming. OSU extension has some really great information, guides and spreadsheets on their website. I am really excited about this new adventure and what path's it may send me. Who know's maybe I wont even do goat farming, the avenues it may take me to will be a great ride.
I love my goats. If you have them, you know exactly what I mean. I love them as pets, so little, always need me, nipping and 'maaa'ing me all day long. Nigerian Dwarf's are so cute! My problem is I need them for a little more then just to love on now. I need them to have a job and bring value to the ranch. Maybe someday the can be my exit to the rat race, my hope for stable homestead.
All 442 acres of ours are heavily wooded. There are some large flattened areas but mostly mountainous and rocky. I would like to have larger breed goats to clear land, as tall as possible. This will keep the ticks and predators away, and feed the goats for free, its a win win. Now I need to decide on the breed.
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| Babylove with our baby goat-goat's |
I have researched many really great websites and listened to so many podcasts about the behavior, attitude, hardiness, eating habits and mothering habits of many breeds. I certainly had already decided on a larger breed Spanish, Boer or Kiko. All avenues have lead me to investigate Kiko's deeper.
 |
| Madmartigan and Willow getting love |
I have spoke to a few Kiko farmers and called the American Kiko Goat Association (AKGA) with some questions. They are hardy and have parasite resistance. Their creation story is amazing, if you like science and genetic nerdy stuff like I do. They are the perfect meat and dairy goat. The statistic's I have read show they are better Nanny's then other breeds. So what will I do with them?
Most people sell kids, cull goats for meat, milk the Nanny's and make Artisan cheese and soaps. That sounds a little overwhelming to me. I mean, don't get me wrong, the farm life is for me, I enjoy all of it I just don't know how 1 person can do that all. I need to keep my mind at ground zero and start small. Fencing, yes, I need to perfect fencing, but how much? Like the whole 60 acres I plan to fence, well that's way to big of an area for now, how about smaller areas in the woods, that sounds better. But what size? 1 acre square or rectangle sounds great for now. They will have the barn and small stalls under the lean to for the weather, and they can eat until their heart desires. Remember, I am only thinking of 2 female goats right now. The buck will come later when I need him.
What about kids? This is my 1st step into this new adventure in my mind. Lets start kidding the goats when they are an appropriate age and see what happens. I will purchase a registered 100% New Zealand and breed up my percentages and eventually have more does and registered goats. That's a start.
Culling animals that are not to standard, have defects or just are not desirable will be my downfall. I haven't ever hurt and animal, I love them all and cannot do this task, however goat meat is becoming very popular in our country. Its called Chevon and is becoming more desired every year in the US.
My understanding is you send your meat goats to the butcher and they take it from there. You can keep it for your own homestead, sell it or pre-sell it it customers. I have not tried goat meat, only lamb, but hope to soon.
Milking Nanny goats sounds exciting and exhausting at the same time. To milk twice a day no matter what means you can never take a day off or go on a trip, unless you schedule your kidding with down time. I see local farmers selling cream and goat milk all the time, I have not seen anyone in my area making homestead artisan cheese. Having a whole cheese facility sounds like a dream for the future, but needs to be on the back burner. Baby steps Chrissy, just remember, little baby steps, I don't even have Kiko's yet and I have a whole business plan already!!
I have scheduled 2 Kiko Farm tours and will be taking any classes given locally on goat farming. OSU extension has some really great information, guides and spreadsheets on their website. I am really excited about this new adventure and what path's it may send me. Who know's maybe I wont even do goat farming, the avenues it may take me to will be a great ride.
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