New Arrivals (Part 1)
We have had an explosion in new inhabitants at Em Nau. On Friday 03 May 2013 Sierra (one of our Toggenburg/Nubian cross doe) had two little does. The does, we call Erave (sounds like E-rah-vay) and Erame (sounds like E-rah-may) are the most beautiful little things. We expect them to have some “cousins” over the next few weeks as a number of our other does are just about ready to kid. The expected arrivals will be either full Nubian, Saanen/Nubian cross or Toggenburg/Nubian cross - dependant on the mother.
The other additions we have had are two new calves, not born on Em Nau, which arrived on Monday 13 May 2013. We have decided to name these two Freda (who is a Friesian cow) and Benny (who is a jersey bull). The first night they were with us they bellowed most of the night due to missing their mothers as well as being a little hungry. The next morning we succeeded in getting them to latch on to Daphne (our house cow) to have a big feed. Daphne was a little put out to start but after the initial shock of having two strangers latch hold she obliged in feeding them and stood patiently by to let them finish.
This fostering will be good in a number of respects. Firstly it will help improve Daphne’s milk production, hence providing more for cheese making and feeding the two “newbies” and secondly it will save Heather and I the chore of milking Daphne in the afternoons during the cold winter months. We plan to let the calves feed off Daphne in the afternoons and after milking in the mornings and separate them at all other times. Other things that have been happening around the old homestead have been the commencement of the goat enclosure extensions, the planning for the chook-mahal which will be built in (hopefully) the next couple of months. Until next time enjoy your dash.
In : Goats
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