GODDARD FARM

60 FOOT BY 30 FOOT DOE LOAFING BARN FACING SOUTH HAS A 22 FOOT BY 60 FOOT AWNING.   THE WEST HALF HOLDS 1000 SMALL SQUARE BALES OF ALFALFA.  THE EAST HALF IS DEVOTED TO DOE LOAFING WITH A HEATED AUTOMATIC WATER SYSTEM AND THE  LOWER WALLS ARE INSULATED 5 FEET UP.   BUILT 1994

THIS IS THE INSIDE OF THE DOE LOAFING BARN. IN THE FAR LEFT CORNER YOU CAN SEE THE FADED RED BROWERÒ HEATED WATER SYSTEM FOR THE DOES SO THEY HAVE CONTINUOUS ACCESS TO A FRESH DRINK IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE WALLS ARE INSUALTED 5 FEET UP TO PREVENT EXTREMES OF TEMPERATURE FROM RADIATING THROUGH THE METAL WALLS. FOR SANITATION AND COMFORT THE FLOOR IS COVERED WITH A 12-INCH DEPTH OF MAN SAND.

THE 22-FOOT BY 60-FOOT AWNING PROVIDES 40 FEET OF COVERED SPACE FOR HAY FEEDERS AND 20 FEET ON THE WEST TO PARK THE TRACTOR AND LOADER OUT OF THE WEATHER. 

 BOTH PICTURES ABOVE SHOW THE HAY FEEDERS BUILT ON 2" BY 12" RUNNERS SO THEY CAN BE DRAGGED OUT OF THE WAY WHILE THE LOAFING AREAS ARE BEING CLEANED.   THE FEED BOXES ARE 12 INCHES DEEP AND THE DIVIDERS ARE 7 & 1/4 INCHES APART FOR MINIMAL HAY WASTE.   THE REMNANTS OF A SALT BLOCK CAN BE SEEN ON THE END OF THE DISTANT FEEDER.   A SECOND SALT BLOCK IS ON THE WALL IN THE LOAFING BARN.    WE KEEP MORTON®  BRAND SALT BLOCKS FREE CHOICE IN EVERY PEN.   SALT IS ESSENTIAL TO GOOD DAIRY GOAT MANAGEMENT. 

DOE LOAFING BARN AND AWNING

ANOTHER VIEW - BUILT 1994

WE TRY TO TRIM HOOVES EVERY FOUR WEEKS TO KEEP THE DOES' FEET IN GOOD CONDITION.   AS A PREVENTIVE WE USE KOPERTOX ® ON ALL HOOVES AT EACH TRIMMING.

PREGNANT DOES ENJOYING THE SUNSHINE - JANUARY 16 - 2006

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 Valbazen® Drench

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THIS IS ONE OF OUR BROWER® THERMOSTAT CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC HEATED WATER SYSTEMS.  IT SITS ON THE FENCE LINE SO IT WILL BE ABLE TO SERVICE TWO PENS.   THEY ARE HEAVILY INSULATED AND CALKED AT THE BOTTOM  AROUND THE CONCRETE BASE  MAKING FREEZING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE EVEN WITH EXTENDED LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER.

THIS IS THE EAST PARLOR DOOR TO OUR NEW DAIRY BARN WHERE THE DOES WAIT TO BE MILKED.   THE AREA IS COVERED BY A 12-FOOT BY 36-FOOT AWNING.    THE ENTIRE AREA UNDER THE AWNING IS COVERED WITH A 6-INCH DEPTH OF MAN SAND TO KEEP THE AREA DRY AND SANITARY.    A 12-FOOT BY 14-FOOT BLACK PERFERATED NYLON MAT COVERS THE MAN SAND IN THE AREA WHERE THE DOES GATHER TO ENTER THE MILK ROOM.   2008 - 2009

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 THIS IS A "CLOSE UP" OF THE NYLON MAT PROVIDED FOR THE MILKERS IN THE HOLDING AREA JUST OUTSIDE THE DAIRY PARLOR.    THIS MAT PERMITS URINE TO DRAIN AWAY AND BE ABSORBED INTO THE MAN SAND BELOW MAKING THE AREA MORE SANITARY AND DISEASE FREE.    THE AREA UNDER THE MAT DROPS OFF SHARPLY FROM THE PARLOR DOOR EAST SO THAT DEBRIS CAN BE EASILY HOSED OFF WITH HOT WATER.

ABOVE IS SHOWN A PATH FROM THE MILK PARLOR TO THE LOAFING BARN 6 FEET WIDE AND 6 INCHES DEEP WITH MAN SAND (PULVERIZED LIMESTONE FROM THE LOCAL QUARRY) SO THE DOES'  FEET WILL BE DRY AND CLEANER WHEN THEY ENTER THE MILK ROOM.

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 We use the above-pictured Swift Model M7000D series,  Binocular Microscope with Semi-Plan (85% Flat Field) Focus, to check semen viability in both live breedings and A.I., fecal exams for internal parasites, and for identifying coccidia.   The M7000D has 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x Objectives, 10x Eyepiece, (corded version) with Halogen Illumination. ============================WORMINGWE WORM THE HERD, PURSUANT TO THE DIRECTION OF OUR VETERINARIAN,  WITH IVOMEC-PLUS® WITH THREE CONSECUTIVE WORMINGS AT 10-DAY INTERVALS, FOR A TOTAL OF THREE WORMINGS,  STARTING ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE KIDDING.   WE REPEAT THIS REGIMEN DURING MID-SUMMER AND AGAIN BEFORE BREEDING SEASON, ALWAYS DOING RANDOM FECALS IN BETWEEN AS A BACKUP.   WE USE THE PACKAGE DIRECTIONS OF 1CC PER 110 LBS. OF BODY WEIGHT.

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WORMING KIDS IS CRUCIAL TO THEIR GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

STARTING AT 3 WEEKS OF AGE, KIDS ARE GIVEN IVOMEC-PLUS™  AT 1/2cc S.Q. EVERY 2 WEEKS GRADUATING UPWARD ON DOSAGE AND GIVEN 1cc  AT 12 AND 14 WEEKS.  AFTER THAT,  KIDS ARE WORMED BASED ON FECAL EXAMS.

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Kushlan™  cement mixer used to mix our grain ration.   It Can mix up to 200 lbs. at one time.   Has a 3/4 horsepower single phase electric motor that runs on 110, a rust proof poly drum  and pneumatic tires.   Retractable handlebars make it easy to move around and stores in a smaller space when not in use.

Makes on-farm feed mixing for a micro dairy practical and consistent.

SUE IS VERY PARTICUALR ABOUT THE QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF  HER GRAIN RATION &  MINERAL MIX, BOTH OF WHICH SHE PREPARES WITH HER KUSHLAN™ MIXER

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