Damara sheep and all sorts of goats!

Discussion in 'Planting, growing, nurturing Plants' started by Pacqio, Apr 8, 2009.

  1. Pacqio

    Pacqio Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2009
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Hi everyone, I'm new here, just came across these forums accidently.

    I'm in NSW near Wagga Wagga, and I breed Damara sheep as well as goats - all sorts - Angora, Boer, Dairy (british alpine and saanen) and harness and pack goats.

    I specialise in breeding animals for beginners, small lifestyle/hobby/permaculture blocks.

    I'm very into self sufficiency; we have our own milk from the goats, meat from the goats and sheep, big vege garden for ourselves and I also grow some feed for the livestock. I've got a few chickens on the way, once I get the chicken coop fixed up.

    But I just thought if anyone wanted to know about any breed of goat, or damara sheep, I can answer questions and I have a lot of pictures, too if anyone is interested!

    Looking forward to chatting more on these boards :)
     
  2. frosty

    frosty Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2005
    Messages:
    852
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: Damara sheep and all sorts of goats!

    Hi Pacqio and welcome to the forum :D

    We breed British Alpine goats over in WA and life you are also trying to be self sufficient

    maybe a silly question but you happen to be or know anyone else in NSW who breeds BAs and has MN2 or higher status in the Johnes Disease MAP program ?

    we are looking to buy BA buck and its very hard to find on they will let into WA :(

    I would also love to know more about your harness goats :D

    regards
    frosty
     
  3. Pacqio

    Pacqio Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2009
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: Damara sheep and all sorts of goats!

    Hi Frosty, what are regulations regarding bringing animals into WA? Will they accept a negative test on an animal, or does it HAVE to be MN2 herd status?

    I am in a protected zone so there isnt much need for us to participate in the MN program, BUT I make it a practice to either buy from MN3 studs, or any animal I buy in has to have a JD and CAE test before they come in - negative of course.

    As far as BAs go, the stud that springs to mind is Glendowen - up in northern NSW - I cant think right now what MN status she is. I'll send off a quick email and let you know. I'll also have a look through the herd book tonight and let you know if I come up with anyone tomorrow. I'm sure there must be someone.

    I am the only one within about a 4 hr radius with BAs, so I know the struggle you have finding goats. I have to go either to the top of NSW or the bottom of Vic to get new stock. I have a buck waiting up at the NSW-Qld border that I havent been able to pick up yet.

    Actually I know there is an impressive young buck on DGSA vic page at the moment, mother has a very good udder, he isnt MN though, but will have a CAE and JD neg. vet certificate.

    Funny, around here we are used to having animals come over to us from WA because of the JD status, not often that animals are going from here to you!

    What would you like to know about my harness goats? I can post some pics a bit later tonight, but I need to go out and do a feed mix for the preggo ewes - didnt get it done during the day, was running late, lucky there are lights in the shed!
     
  4. ilvpermaculture

    ilvpermaculture Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2009
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: Damara sheep and all sorts of goats!

    Hello! I have recently purchased 11 angora goats. I love them, and they are great for helping out on my property with keeping grass down, free fertilizer, and yarn! My questions for you are: One of the older goats belly seem to swollen out a little. Is that normal? Does that mean that he is fat? I was worried that it might be worms and ran a fecal test and it came back negative. When I feel his backbone it is normal not fat or to skinny.
    Also, some of my goats seem to have really flaky skin. I know that mites can cause this, and did find some mites on them. Since I am about to shear them I am going to delouse them. Do you have any other suggestions on keeping the flaking skin under control? Thank you for taking the time on my beginner questions. :)
     
  5. frosty

    frosty Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2005
    Messages:
    852
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: Damara sheep and all sorts of goats!

    Hi again Pacqio and thanks very much forf all that information :D It is such a coincidence you joining the forum now when I need info on this :lol:

    They prefer MN2 but may consider letting one in if the herd has a Check Test. However that gets very expensive I believe !

    I have been in contact with Glendowen on Monday and she sent a quick reply saying she was off to Sydney Royal but did have one and would email me when she got back next week. They are currently MN1 but will be upgrading to MN2 in a couple of months so maybe in time to get him over for this breeding season. Yesterday I had thought he would be too big as I was thinking of air freight but last night a friend told me about Dick Smiths Transport based in Dubbo who do regular road tranport to WA, and they seem a definate possibility. Do you happen to know anything about them ?

    They seem so far to be the only possibilty. Conabolas Rural Tech near Orange at MN3 but their buck came from WA and is out of our best doe as is our curent buck . I didnt sell them the buck I bought the doe afterwards.

    I have seen the 2 on the DGSA Vic page and even emailed the vendor of an AI buck by Osory Estrada - he seemed just what I need but althought they test their herd they are not in the MAP program. The WA Ag dept said nothing is allowed in here from Vic. SA or Tasmania unless the herd is MN3 :(

    I would love to see some pics of your harness goats :D do you put any of your Alpines in harness or mainly the Boers ? We have an ambition to put a couple in harness. It would seem getting a suitable harness would be one of the hardest parts?

    regards and thanks
    frosty
     
  6. Pacqio

    Pacqio Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2009
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: Damara sheep and all sorts of goats!

    Hi guys, sorry I disappeared, I've had a difficult few days culminating with my best BA doe extremely sick today/tonight and I dont think she will pull through. Of course she is my best doe, a Glendowen, ex show winner.

    Frosty, I think the Glendowen buck would probably be your best bet. I have every confidence that you would get a top quality buck. Now, I know that the other day I was reading SOMEWHERE that someone has flown Damara sheep from Qld to Darwin, in a dog crate. I'll chase that up for you. I dont know anything about the other transport company I'm afraid.

    The best I've found for a harness goat is 75% Boer 25% dairy - the dairy blood just gives them that bit more frame and height, the boer gives them the muscle mass and weight. My boys at the moment are 2nd cross boers, mum was a first cross out of a saanen. I've also got a fullblood red boer going. The old BA who is sick at the moment has been worked lightly in harness and pack, I've got an angora buck who does a small amount of work both harness and pack, and an old angora who does a bit of pack work.

    I use leather mini horse harnesses, altered by hand to fit goats better. My vehicle is a two wheeled sulky, modelled from a mini horse sulky just scaled down a bit, hand made. I'll get those photos up when I get a chance.

    How old is the goat with the big belly? Its quite common for them to develop a 'middle age spread' as they mature. On some it looks like great big saddle bags. You are spot on with feeling his backbone - and if he's not too skinny or too fat then he is fine. The belly is not a very good indication of anything really, in a goat lol not 'fat', or pregnancy or anything really ... except maybe bloat if its carried high and on the left.

    Dermatitis (flaky skin) is also something that older goats seem to get; its a PITA frankly. Again, you are doing the right thing by shearing and de-licing. Oftentimes, this will help the skin problem also (even if there are no lice present). If it persists, a few different remedies I have used include: oil in the feed (if you are handfeeding), livamol either in feed or as a free choice lick (bloody expensive stuff though), rinsing them in apple cider vinegar (mix half half with water) or 'Betadine' wash from the vet. The Betadine works the best but is expensive. You could also try head and shoulders shampoo or any horse medicated wash, such as Hoss Gloss. But I would reassess a few days after the louse treatment, you might find it fixes the dermo too.
     
  7. frosty

    frosty Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2005
    Messages:
    852
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: Damara sheep and all sorts of goats!

    Thanks again Pacqio

    sorry to hear your doe is sick I have sent you a PM.

    I have been looking at old Goat World mags and Glendowen do seems to be quality goats :D I am anxiously waiting for them to get home fom Sydney and contact me again.

    People from here have flown little kids ( of 3 to 5 weeks old ) over in dog crates but from what they say a six month old buck will be too big and expensive some also say the airlines wont fly bucks over the above age :lol: probably the smell !

    I had wondered about mini horse harness so I will look into it more :D my hubby is a metal worker so he can build a sulky ! A net friend in the UK has a pair of boers in harness but we will have to make do with BAs we dont have room to branch out into another breed :lol:

    then of course there is the ever present problem of finding time to do all this :lol: but its good to dream and we would like a use for our unwanted wethers as westaill havent quite got over the hurdle of turning them into dinner :oops: I know its pathetic ............

    ivpermaculture sorry I didnt see your post - welcome to the forum and to the joys of goatkeeping

    regards
    frosty
     

Share This Page

-->