Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[frustratedearthmother]

We typically do our own butchering. (Might make a few calls though and get an idea of pricing) DH usually does the 'deed' and I pretty much do the rest. I skin, I gut, I cut it up, age it a few days in the fridge and then freeze it. I've only done the smaller goats so it wasn't a big deal.

A couple of these guys who will get bigger than the ones I've done myself, but the process doesn't change. Unless I sell 'em in the next week or so I'll be banding soon. One of 'em might just get to stay a buck. He's 3/4 Nubian 1/4 pygmy which technically is still a 1st generation Kinder. He's really flashy and quite a nice guy.

The Nubian buck I have now is really nice - and BIG! He was a bottle baby so he's a sweet guy and quite a gentleman, but he's BIG. Last year during the rut he was popping the staples out of the fence posts and just taking down the fences. If that didn't work - he'd just hop over the stock panels. UGH! Not sure I want to deal with that again this year. Need to make up my mind pretty quickly cuz the rut is coming!

Happy Sunday ya'll!

 

[Mini Horses]

I found an old family slaughter house that I am going to use, good referrals, and they will charge $50 to kill & process hog, cut into hams, shoulders & balance of carcass down the midline. Pretty much same for goat. So, kill & chill/age & minimal cutting -- but does the biggest job for me -- then I will bring home in coolers and finish process. Will render lard, etc. After I see how that goes for #1 piggy, will decide for next. Tomorrow I am moving 2 girls & 1 boy to another pasture. 30 days out and piggy #2 will go bye-bye.

My full sized Nubian gave me twin bucks and they are very large. Trip mini Nubians are sizeable and very fleshy...2 are, #3 is staying petite. Guess he got more of the nigi genetics from mom. He's a keeper. Brothers, freezer. The full Nubians will probably be sold as bucks as they are very, very nice and super milk lines. May take them to an auction next Sat......it's normally got good goat people there and prices have been good for quality animals. All can be registered & mini nub is 5th gen.

Once the sows farrow this Fall, I will decide if I want to sell them, butcher them or keep them. While I like the fresh farm meat, I am thinking "do I want to DO all this??" Much depends on how well they do on the large pasture area.

CL has a local with a reg Dexter cow & bull calf on side, bred back, being milked........I am chomping at the bit!!! NO,NO, NO!! $1800 but, most want $1200-1500 for a freshened Jersey around here....no calf, no rebred. Hmmmm milk cow, calf for butcher & another on way....why do they do this to me?? I do NOT need her, the milk, or that much beef. THERE! not buying.

Order the milking machine & milk more goats, instead.

If the goat meat goes over well, it's the decision maker. Gotta make kids to make milk, so a sustainable supply of meat in better sized proportion. I'm talking through this.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

@Mini Horses Stay strong! I'm the same way though... I thought I wanted a Dexter for a long time. But, I try to stay away from things that are bigger than me with a smaller brain, lol! Even the little guys can hurt you - even if they don't want to. I can't afford to get hurt... too much to do!

Started raining just as I finished feeding... ugh. That means it will be even MORE humid. I still need to go out and milk the morning girls - the ff's. I'm milking my regulars in the evenings. But, I'm also training the young ff's right now too. They are NOT too happy about it either, lol. I want their babies weaned and them trained milkers before I pitch 'em back out to pasture. While they are 'milkable' now - I need to milk them long enough for them to start enjoying it. That way they'll be easy next year.

 

[Britesea]

Conga Rats on the family slaughter house! We used to use one at our old place- DH went to high school with the son who did the main work so that was nice.

 

[Mini Horses]

NO cow will I buy. I love my goat milk and will train FFs to milk. Yes, gotta pull kids!!

YES, a good slaughter house is my choice. I am not going to do the deed on these larger animals. Chickens can do if needed. Rabbits, nope, can't do that -- if lost in the wilderness and starving, yeah, but not there yet Just can't get past the cuteness part.

I could be a vegetarian if I didn't like a good grilled steak so well.

 

[hqueen13]

LOL @Mini Horses Yup. Pretty much. Like meat way too much to stop that!
Glad you sold some of the bucks, really sucks on the no show. I just don't understand people. Highly annoying!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I've got some folks who are supposed to come look at all the little bucklings tomorrow morning. At this point I'm ready to either wether them all and kick them out to pasture - or practically give them away to anyone who will take them, lol. They are in my way and I need the pen that they are in for other reasons. In fact, right now I'm just about ready to give them all away. My friendly goats have turned stupid and my non friendly goats are STILL stupid! They are all supposed to love the milk stand by now - and some of them do - but some of them I have to chase down to get them near the milk room. BUT - the minute they are in there they rush to the stand waiting for a handout.

I spent most of the day at a competition with our students. We compete with 5 other schools in academics and athletics. Our program has NEVER lost in 9 years of competition. Soooo, the other schools are after us...they've always been after us. We tell our students that they go into this with a target on their back. And this year was no different. But, I am proud to say that we didn't lose again! But, we did tie for first with another school... ugh. Better than a loss though!

Found a dead chicken in the yard today. Can only guess that Gracie and Cowboy had a bad day...or maybe I should say that the chicken had an even worse day. This weekend I'll have to start separating those two. Gracie is NOT a good influence on Cowboy. Herding breeds are not good teachers of guardian breeds. I'll figure out other arrangements this weekend. I'm thinking that Cowboy needs to start spending more time with Maddie so he can learn what an LGD is really supposed to do.

 

[Mini Horses]

OK--we both know that the miking does absolutely must have a routine or they get "stupid". Besides, it's HOT and who wants to work in that heat?

Some days a farm will make you want to walk away......

I have a mini stallion that is really ruining my day. A real Houdini & he was out again this evening, storm fast approaching, had to go get him back in own pasture as I sure didn't want any of the 10 mares bred! Gotta geld him. FREE to good home...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Woohoo! Five less mouths to feed! Sold 5 bucklings this morning. What a relief. I'll have to go out in a bit and move the one remaining buckling (that I'm thinking of keeping) into another pen. I'll put the ND buckling with him so he'll have a buddy. Need to wean the ND babies anyway.

 

[baymule]

Sold 5 bucklings?? You go girl!!