In 2000 we moved to our own little slice of paradise about 80kilometers west of Brisbane in the Lockyer Valley. Over half of our one hectare property was covered with lantana and asparagus fern. We decided to get a few goats because goats eat anything, don't they? Well, these goats didn't clear up anything! Through fits of laughter, an old timer told me that I fed them too much of the good stuff so why would they need to go elsewhere. We live and learn!
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At the end of 2003 I decided to get into the breeding of miniature goats. I got in contact with Sue Ludwig. Through her, I purchased two mature does and two kids. I was assured that the does were pregnant so was hoping to get a buck from the resultant births. Unfortunately, it turned out that the does weren't in kid so my next step was to get a buck. My choice was Patona Park Bailey. He was quite small at eighteen months but by two years he was a massive (in the miniature goat world) sixty-six centimeters. I decided to keep one of his kids as my next buck - Pickwil Bangalay. Unfortunately, he did not live up to expectations so I started looking around for a buck from another stud. This was easier said than done as there were not many small, height verified bucks around and those that were, were not for sale. I settled on a young buck from Just Kiddin Stud - JK Ernie. Ernie was just at the height limit at three years of age. It's now a waiting game to see if he grows anymore. He has thrown some small kids which I am breeding on with. About a year ago I was offered the use of Just Kiddin Ejaz to further my breeding programme and start a new line.
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Ejaz is now four years old and 61cm.I have had some beautiful kids out of him which I will breed on with. I thank Debbie and Terry from Just Kiddin Stud for giving me the opportunity to breed with Ejaz. Although my breeding programme was somewhat put back with overheight bucks, I am now on the right track and feel that I am producing small, quality stock. It has always been relatively easy to have underheight does, but less easy to get an underheight buck. And of course, to go up in the gradings, both height and parentage are taken into consideration.
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Over the years I have sold kids from Bathurst to Bundaberg and all areas in between. I recently flew three kids to South Australia. I try to get as much information from potential buyers as I can and have even refused to sell to people that I did not think would give the little ones a good home.I try not to get too attached to them but it's hard when they totally rely on you for food, shelter and cuddles. It's especially hard to part with a more mature animal but of course, as I've been told, " You can't keep all of them."
A couple of years after I started with the miniatures, we purchased the one hectare block next door. It's given us the extra area to keep the goats comfortably. We also have common land behind us and the back gate is never closed. The goats go out for a feed and then come back home. Sometimes they're gone for ten minutes and sometimes for half-an-hour. It was a real help during the drought. We are becoming expert at building fences and houses. However, we have learnt that you can drive a goat to water, so to speak, but you can't make him drink. We have many more shelters than goats but when it rains, someone always gets wet. We have gone out in the middle of the night to help a doe give birth. We have gone out on a rainy night to make sure everyone is under cover. We have gone out in the middle of the night....but you have all been there.
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The last nine years have been a real learning curve for me. And to think that when my husband first bought goats home, I was less than interested.I have suffered both the highs and lows with the animals. The joy of seeing my first kids born tempered by finding a stillborn next to its mum. The joy of having new owners ring me to say how happy they are with their purchase. The absolute agony of having a goat put down because he had cancer. The joy of seeing the bottle fed babies come running when they see you. The devastation of finding a goat dead after he has hung himself. The list of highs and lows goes on.
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Breeding miniature goats has put something into my life that's hard to describe. Sure, I'd love to have the higher grades right now. But with time and patience that day will come. In the meantime, I'm committed to breeding smaller, healthy goats. The road ahead may be a long one, but when you love the animals as I do, it certainly is not a rough one.
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In 2008 we, along with Denbarja Stud, took the little ones to various shows to show the people just what we're all about. We went to Toogoolawah, Esk and the Brisbane Show. At the Laidley Show we had judging of the miniatures where I am proud to say that the animals in my care did very well. In 2009 we hope to be able to show the miniatures at more shows. For the last couple of years I have taken some of my kids along to the Laidley Christmas Carnival where they are always a hit.
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We never go on holidays and don't want to. The animals need looking after. Many friends have offered to feed the animals to allow us a holiday. I'd worry that Misty was missing out (again), and Stormy loves her slices of bread in the morning, Pom Pom needs to be given her barley away from the others and....no, no one else could be trusted to feed them. Holidays are out!
But I would not change a thing!!!! |
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