FROM:
MICK DOAK
RE:
GOAT NEWS
DATE:
28TH NOVEMBER 02
KEEP
THOSE CAPRETTO GOING
It
has been quite noticeable over the last few weeks that a few consignments
of Capretto have started to show the effect of a season coming to a close
in some parts of the state. Although most lines are still of a good quality
a few are showing the first signs that their mums are starting to go off
their milk. Out of the fourteen consignments which were delivered to Midland
this week several were of outstanding quality and consisted a line of Boer
Angora crosses, a line of Boer Dairy crosses and two lines of Pure bred
Angoras and came from the not so bad off areas of Bindoon, Beverley and
Moora.
Several
consignments which were delivered direct to Katanning were also reportedly
to be of excellent quality.
Many growers who have already finalized their capretto consignments for this season and who had been affected by the extreme dry conditions were very successful by changing paddocks more often than usual and therefore giving the Does and Kids a fresh pick as they went from paddock to paddock.
The
secret is to keep the does milking as long as possible till the kids have
reached the minimum weight required. Many growers also wet and dried their
Does before giving the wet ones the best feed so as to finish the kids
off.
Once
your kids are sold get rid of anything that is not going to be in your
breeding program next year, as soon as you can so as to conserve whatever
feed reserves you may have for them. Doe kids can be weaned successfully
at 8 to 10 weeks of age as long as you can give them a high protein diet
for a month or so to keep them growing. Protein levels can then be reduced
over a period to that they end up on a normal Lamb type mix of aprox 12%
Protein.
Any
kids coming off a creep feed system will not miss their mothers as much
as their paddock fed cousins when weaning takes place. Creep feeding kids
when they are still on their mothers has many advantages which include
getting them onto solids sooner, less weaning traumas, helping the mother
to cope better without the kid taking too much out of her and a more even
lot of kids who are able to cope with challenges in latter life better.
We
now have markets throughout the year so don’t panic if any of your latter
drop kids will not meet the December Export dead line. If they are having
a hard time on mum take them off as soon as you can after eight weeks of
age and feed them so they meet latter markets. If you don’t want to feed
them yourself let us know so that we can get them to someone who is set
up to feed. Don’t leave them too long so they become runty and of no use
to anyone.
·Lines
of quality Breeders of ALL breeds, both Stud and Commercial.
·Registered
Boers, 6 to 18 months old suitable for export.
·Boer
Cross Bucks 25kg Plus LW for delivery now or in the New Year
·Capretto
for Export and Local markets
·Rangeland
or Feral Goats for Slaughter Minimum 8kgDW
For
further details contact Mick Doak on Mb 0428439978 or Ah Ph/Fax 93093225
or Email: doakmick@bigpond.com.au