The lovely girl, "Kilo", pictured on the first page of this newsletter was purchased sight unseen from Lloyd Kneese. She cost me quite a bit, but I wanted to have a good start from the Kneese herd... so I bit the bullet and got out the charge card.  My friend, Lisa , picked up the goat for me and put her with her own goats and lo and behold: my pretty girl had a surprise kid in June!  Lisa named him "JuneBug".  Five days later, the mama got her head caught in the fence and died in the horrific Texas heat .

 

   Poor little orphan JuneBug was farmed out to a nice local Texas lady with milkgoats where he got to rob milk from the  milkstand.  A month later he was delivered to Arkansas (along with two goats from Lisas herd that she insisted I take) where he spent two days being coddled by a bunch of women ... then home to Missouri .

 

JuneBug seems determined to survive, despite all odds... and has become quite the opportunist.  He steals milk from any goat that I happen to have caught for hoof trimming, vaccinating or shearing (much to their dismay). He sleeps side by side with the Pyranees in the driveway and is the first one in the feed room for his snacks.  I recently weaned and sold twin dairy wethers and their mother (bless her distended little udder) has hesitantly allowed JuneBug to nurse the excess milk. Lloyd kindly supplied me with the registry number of JuneBugs sire, so I may still be able to benefit from their genetics.So things seem to be working out thanks to many wonderful goatfolks and many wonderful animal friends as well.  Look for updates on his progress in future newsletters... he may be my new posterchild!