There's a New Kid In Town

I was surprised that she did it, but Tricia sold "Thunder."  Thunder is Jane's kid that was born on April 22nd.  Thunder had distinctive spots like a Dalmatian.  He also had lots of personality and would jump around and make my wife smile.  They buyer showed up at the house and Tricia wanted one last photo with him before he was loaded into the truck.

The buyer did not want his horns removed.  He wanted Thunder because of his spots.  Tricia carried him to the truck and prepared to load him up.

It was a somewhat sad farewell, but Tricia will be okay, I think.  With goats, if you don't watch it, before you know it they will over-populate your pasture and they'll eat grass that your cows could be eating.  Time to thin out the herd.

But Thunder wasn't the only animal leaving.  So was his mama.  Jane was loaded into the truck as well.  They are headed to Iota, a town east of here.  Jane wasn't sold.  She was traded.  Jane is a Nubian Goat.  Nubians are dairy goats that are well-suited to our hot climate.  Also, one more kid was sold.  Star, Annie's doeling was sold as well.

Well, what did we take in trade for Jane, the Nubian Goat?  We took in a doeling who is a La Mancha goat.  La Manchas are also dairy goats.  The La Mancha is the only breed of goats developed in the United States.  We promptly named her, "Oreo."  Can you tell why?

Here is another angle shot of Oreo, the new kid in town.  She cried and cried while she familiarized herself with her new surroundings.

La Manchas have Spanish origins.  They have a very distinguishing characteristic - their ears.  As opposed to Nubians, who have long, floppy ears, La Manchas have very short, tiny, almost elf-like ears.  This photo not only shows off her odd ears, but also shows how goats have strange, rectangular pupils.

Oreo has another distinguishing characteristic - wattles.  Wattles are fleshy, hair covered appendages that hang from her neck.  They are like skin tags on humans.  Some people remove them, but we leave them on.  Our first Nubian goat, Nellie, had wattles.

So of the four kids born on Our Maker's Acres Family Farm in the last four months, only one kid is left, George.  George was quite upset with his friend, Thunder and his sister, Star leaving the farm.  No more friends to play with!  George cried and cried.  Finally, he hushed after his mama, Annie, calmed him down.

Fewer animals on the pasture.  Also a new breed of dairy goat on the pasture.  The new kid in town will be old enough to breed this fall.  La Manchas are heavy producers of milk that is high in protein and butterfat.  They are tough goats and their milk production holds up even in adverse conditions.  Welcome Oreo, to our farm!