Here Come the Goats!

a new kid found in the barn... still wet and drippy... lucky to be born on a sunny morning

FROSTBITE ! - with the kind of weather the midwest (and elsewhere) has experienced this winter, it was probably inevitable that this sort of thing would occur... but it is the FIRST time it has happened here.

I came home one night to two frozen flat babies... one big and one small. The temperatures were in the single digits. Oddly, the big one was the one beyond recall...never even made it out of the sack. The little one was moving, so I scooped her up and ran for the house. This was a Boer kid with extra long ears. The ear that was between the goat and the ground was cold and stiff; but the one that was up and exposed to the frigid night air was folded over and frozen onto itself... crispy with ice crystals! Since this baby was obviously hypothermic (no need for a thermometer here) she was immersed immediately into a sink of warm water where she was thawed and warmed (including the long frozen ears). After about 20 minutes in increasingly warm water, she was blow dried, belly-wrapped with a heating pad and swaddled thickly in a large towel , where she stayed for about two hours. This system for hypothermia works well for me. After she was brought up to temp, she was given some colostrum and then fed small amounts every couple hours through the night. The next day, I noticed the ears were puffy... so I did alittle research.

Looking up frostbite in my Goat Medicine book, they recommended rapid thawing in warm water 106 - 111 degrees (good I did that) It also stressed the "importance of drying cold weather newborns , paying special attention to ears, testicles and feet. Sloughing may occur."

Several days later: the puffiness has retreated, but the tips of the ears remain a bit hard. Not sure what is going to happen yet, but so far, so good. She is a beautiful doe and I am so glad that she was saved.

Total Goat and Kid Inventory Up 3 Percent

All goat inventory in the United States on January 1, 2007, totaled
2.93 million head, up 3 percent from 2006. Breeding goat inventory
totaled 2.44 million head up 3 percent from 2006. All market goats
and kids totaled 494,000 head, up 4 percent from a year ago. On
January 1, 2007 meat and all other goats totaled 2.40 million head,
up 5 percent from 2006. Milk goat inventory increased 2 percent to
296,000 head while angora goats were down 8 percent totaling
238,000 head. The 2006 kid crop totaled 1.92 million head for all
goats, up 4 percent from 2005.

this confirms what we have all experienced for the last 5 years or so : goats are a hot item, sell well and make money for their owners . Commercial white angoras are still suffering from lack of demand for commercial mohair (although prices are starting to come up as world warehouse supply dwindles) Expect first mohair, and then angora prices to rise in the coming years as demand exceeds supply.

Mohair production in the United States during 2006 was 1.35
million pounds. Goats and kids clipped totaled 216,000 head.
Average weight per clip was 6.30 pounds. Mohair price was $3.68
per pound with a value of 4.98 million dollars.

this information is based on commercial white mohair / greasy / warehoused

and is a far different market from the handspinners market which demands individual, low grease fleeces in pristine condition. I expect prices for white mohair will begin to approach colored mohair prices since colored mohair supply is increasing and white mohair becomes harder and harder to find.

For Sale - on moms now, weanable at the end of March

always wanted French Alpine, but could not afford one? Here is your chance! Prices will not be lower.

Cozette's boy07 - solid black with white partial belt. Registerable French Alpine out of Beniesoit Tate Tristan. HMFF Cozette is a first time mom and has a beautiful odder with good sized teats for handmilking... will probably join the house-milkers this year $75 (price good through March 31) disbudded

Suzette's boy07 - black & white cou blanc. twin. Registerable French Alpine out of Beniesoit Tate Tristan. Suzette is an easy milker with a nice udder and joined my house milkers last year. $75 (price good through March 31) disbudded

Charlotte's boy07 - black & white cou blanc with BLACK stockings... very flashy. Twin. Registerable French Alpine out of Beniesoit Tate Tristan. Charlotte has a great udder and is one of our long-time house milkers. $75 (price good through March 31) disbudded

note: being a "house milker" means alot here. Only the best producing and easiest milking proven goats get that honor.

Cherie's girl07 - Cherie is a promising yearling mom out of HMFF Charlotte and Beniesoit Tate. She is still growing but has freshened with a great udder similar to her mothers (albeit smaller). Her doe kid is a black and white cou blanc . Registerable French Alpine $100 (price good through March 31) disbudded

I have had numerous requests for dairy goats, so contact me immediately if you are interested in any of these goats. I can take Paypal deposits. hmffarm@fidnet.com

For Sale - Yearling Goats

young cashgora does - one white (angora x boer) and one silver ( angora x dairy).

Package deal: $150 takes them both. Offer good through March 31st.

young pygmy does - roan/white banded and red/white banded. Exposed to our dairy buck for summer kids. Package deal $150 takes them both. Offer good through March 31st.

charlottes boy06 - French Alpine buck /registerable $100 black and white cou blanc, wattled, disbudded., twin born in 2006. He will be ready to work this fall!

photos available upon request...inquiries to hmffarm@fidnet.com

Angora Doe and Kid!

HMFF Serafina - a 3 year old black rvbf angora doe out of dam: PTF Spookshow (registered black solid ... see photo at top of page) and sire: RBF Rocky (flowered Navajo-type) She has a black solid self doe kid at side and is a good mom/brood doe, but probably not a show prospect . Her doe kid (born 2-22-07) is out of HMFF Amadeus (black ss registered) Priced together /$350

price good until March 31st . Inquiries to hmffarm@fidnet.com

Zenport Hoof Trimmers for Sale

I like these so well, I bought a couple extra for my farm friends ! 7.5" long hoof trimmers for trimming goat, sheep and llama hooves. Manufactured by Zenport. This tool is so sharp it will actually cut a coin in half. Blades are made of hardened carbon steel which keeps the blades ultra-sharp. Easy-grip handles and a safety lock. Tool is brand new and comes in a blister pack. Looks almost identical to Shear Magic trimmers, except it is GREEN and at about half the price. $10.00 plus shipping. I will be posting them to my ebay store, but thought I would offer them to you first. I can take Paypal payment and have them in the mail to you immediately. hmffarm@fidnet.com

-to Amy of Missouri for taking B.B Destiny into a wonderful home where she will be loved by three young boys. Its always good to know that the animals you sell are going to good homes.

"the best fleeces on ebay!"

Thanks to Brenda of Montana for the kind compliment and referral regarding my mohair on ebay.