The Schroeder Farm

          

All the kids eating

           This is the last week I will be writing a blog post for class. A lot has changed on the Schroeder Farm since I started the blog, so in this blog I would like to explain a little more about my animals at home.

It’s hard to believe the semester is almost done, but the animal numbers are growing at the Schroeder farm since this blog was started! February and March was busy goat kidding. Between my brother and I we have 30 kids out of the 14 does. On my weekends that I have been able to go fun I have been able to work with them and get some of the necessities done. Dehorning is one thing I explained in one of my posts. I was actually able to line it up that I got to help dehorn all mine on the weekend I was home. As mentioned earlier, the males that are going to be castrated, wethers, or does that will be shown for a market animal are the only ones that are dehorned because of safety concers.

The first kids of the year. Flipsie had twins

Flopsie & Alfredo

Another thing I did when I went home one weekend was tattoo and tag the new kids. It is important to have identification and keep records on animals. In the animal world it is much easier to have animals on a number system for paperwork reasons rather than name everything. It is a lot like social security numbers for people. In the left ear the animal has its own unique number. For Boer goats, through the American Boer Goat Association, each year has a different letter and then a person puts a number. 2014 is the letter D, so the first kid of the year was D01 and then we just keep going down the line. In the right ear we have an individual number that represents our farm. Also in the right ear is a Scrappie tag. These are required for tracking animals and also represent where the animal came from. Each farm orders tags and it is a second number that can be used.

Sharpe's new trick with mommy Josie

Also with new kids comes getting shots. Just like kids get vaccinations when they are little, so do goats. There are two different shots that the does have got and one shot that the kids have gotten. The does received a wormer about a day after they kid and also a follow up two weeks after. Does are under more stress with kids, so the chance of worms is higher. The kids got a CD&T shot at 1 & 2 months of age. It helps to prevent overeating and tetanus.

Some of the chicks

Besides the goats the farm has also gained some chicks and pigs. Over spring break I was able to buy 12 chicks of assorted breeds. My brother also got 15 white leghorns which are known for their high egg laying capabilities. They are growing fast and I look forward to fresh eggs come July. This past weekend I went to a pig auction and purchased 3 market barrows that I plan to show in FFA. They are the Duroc breed.      

The pigs drinking water





 

For more information on poultry a great website is: http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/ They also have a good magazine.

For more information on Pigs check out: http://www.mnpork.com/default.aspx#.U2JkfMLePmQ

The Pride of Minnesota Boer Goats website has many links to individual goat farms in Minnesota and some good facts about goat meat: http://www.prideofmnboers.com/home