Essential Oils & Dairy Goats

I have found Essential Oils to be invaluable in the health and husbandry of our animals, in particularly our dairy goats.

I have used Essential Oils for the following ailments with our goats with great success. I want to strongly stress the importance of using therapeutic grade oils on your animals. The oils we use are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade. I will list a few of the things we have treated with our oils and which oils we have used. If you want to learn more follow us on Facebook!

Fear/Anxiety                        Lavender, Peace
Mastitis                                Peppermint
Low Milk Production          Fennel
Infections Oregano             OnGuard
Hoof Care/Hoof Rot           OnGuard
Skin Parasites                     Melaleuca
Sore/Tender Udders/Teats  Lavender
Teat Wash/Dip                   Purify
Intestinal Parasites             Clove(not in pregnant/nursing animals), Oregano, Thyme,
                                           Lemon Grass, Wild Orange & Digestzen

If your interested in using your own Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils send me a message and I can tell you more or Buy Oils Here.

DHI Testing Supplies Have Arrived!

Our supplies to get started on DHI test came from Dairy One today!

The following pictures show what was included in our shipment.

The sample dipper, sample tubes, freezer packs and shipping container.

Dip Sampling must be done in a manner

that assures a representative sample from the

entire milk volume collected.

When milking twice a day you fill

half of the sample tube with the

first milking and the second half with the

second milking of the day.

If only milking once a day,

a full sample will be taken

from the single milking.

Be careful not to fill the sample tube to the very top.

There should be a little space (1/2 inch) from the top.

Samples should be kept at room temperature

and out of direct sunlight.

Samples should be shipped so that they arrive to the lab

no later than six (6) days after the test is performed.

The color of the sample tubes is random and in no way

does it matter which color tube you use.

When you ship your milk back

be sure to label the top of the sample tube

with the corresponding

sample # for that Doe.

You only send back sample tubes that contain milk,

keep your empty sample tubes for later use.

Does your Nigerian Dwarf Measure Up?

The Nigerian Dwarf is a Miniature Dairy Goat

They originated in West Africa and were

later developed in the United States.

According to the ADGA Guidebook

The Balanced Proportions of the Nigerian Dwarf

give it the appearance of the larger dairy breeds of dairy goats.

Does should stand no more than 22.5" and Bucks no more than 23.5".

Anything over is considered a Disqualification.

We have recently started Milk Test and measuring

our does is part of the testing process.

ADGA does not have an official

measuring device so we found

one for miniature horses

and it meets the requirements of ADGA.

Heights are also routinely checked at:

Official shows (as required by the judge)

Linear Appraisal (all)

DHIA milk test

One Day Milking Competitions

If a Nigerian Dwarf exceeds the maximum height at any age they are:

Disqualified from shows

Cannot score Excellent in General Appearance in Linear Appraisal

Cannot be ranked in Top Ten for production

Measuring Device

 

The only way to keep these great little goats

a miniature breed is to only use

those goats that are within

the height limit in your breeding program.

You can check the height of

goats your interested in

by checking out their linear appraisal score

if available, it is found under Stature.

This can be found on Pg. 12 of the LA SOP

or

The conversion is as follows:

20 linear equals 20". 

 Plus/minus 5 points for every inch. 

 A 25 stature is 21". 

 A 30 is 22". 

 A 15 is 19".



Dairy One Certification Exam

When we decide to go on milk test we had so many

questions, one of which was where do we send the milk?

Well you send the milk to an outside lab,

from recommendations from a few friends we decided to go

with Dairy One for our milk test lab.

So I got in touch with Dairy One,

they were very helpful and sent me the

Dairy Goat Technician Handbook

along with the Certification Exam and Instructions.

Let me just say that I feel like I am a

fairy intelligent person but

this test and handbook are so confusing.

I have reached out to others on milk test

and they have relayed to me that it's not

just me, its the handbook and the test.

Most people on milk test are milking cows

and so some of the information is geared more towards cows

so you have to get over that aspect of the test.

The other thing about the test that is frustrating is

that it seems the test was written by someone

that has been doing milk test for years so they

know the answers and the answers probably seem like common sense.

But if you  have never done milk test before, let alone seen how

things are done, the test and handbook can seem like

they are written in a completely

different language.

There are questions on the test that

the answers can not be found in the handbook.

My best advice is to reach out to someone that is on

milk test and have them help you if you find yourself

utterly confused.

The test consists of 17 questions,

mostly fill in the blank with a few true/false.

Then there is also a part where you

practice filling out the barn sheets and charts.

You are given a list of does and what is going on with

each doe and your supposed to chart each does milk weights

and any conditions affecting their record.

Another complaint I have about the test

is the size of the font on the charts.

It's really difficult to read the CARs and Status Codes

on the pages that were sent with the test.

When you send in your exam you have to send in payment

for the test which runs $20 if sent in prior to March 16th or

$25 if sent in after March 15th.

This is the prices and dates for 2016.

You have to re-test every year and

certifications expire in April each year

regardless of when you tested the year before.

For pricing with Dairy One look here. 

Or contact:

Kayla Turcsik: 1-800-344-2697 Ext: 2120

Email: kayla.turcsik@dairyone.com

Or

Kevin Henry: 1-800-344-2697 Ext: 2159

Email: kevin.henry@dairyone.com



Milk Test Scale & Certification

When you start on the milk test journey you will find

very soon that you must have a scale to weigh your milk on.

We made the mistake early on in thinking

that any ol' scale would do.

Unfortunately not.

The first scale we bought off of Amazon was a hanging scale

but when our scale certifier came out to certify the scale

for us he said he couldn't because it didn't meet NTEP requirements for certification.

So he pointed out several scales that would meet the requirements and we

finally settled on this scale by Torrey.

The most important thing to look for when

purchasing your scale is that it is a

Legal for Trade Scale.

TORREY LPC40L


Once you settle on the scale you want and get it in,
you need to have it certified.
If you are in Georgia you can reach out to the
Georgia Department of Agriculture


We originally spoke with
Jason Hitchcock Tele: 404-656-3605
Fax: 404-656-9648
Email: Jason.Hitchcock@agr.georgia.gov


He then put us in touch with
Mike Tanner
Michael.Tanner@agr.georgia.gov


You will need to have your scale certified annually.


You must also have your scale certified prior to sending in your
testing materials to start the milk testing process.
You will provide proof of certification with your test.

Target and Snap Dragon Confirmed Bred!

We did ultrasound pregnancy checks on Target and Snap Dragon and
they have both been confirmed pregnant, each with at least twins!


Both of these girls are due beginning in August.
Target is bred to Riser.
Snap Dragon is bred to Fletcher.


There are open reservations for kids on both of these does.
Check out our website to see the pedigrees on both sire and dam.
www.archersacres.com

LITTLE TOTS ESTATE ON TARGET

SOME DAY CAME MTZ SNAP DRAGON

Our Milker has come, almost!

We ordered our milking system from Simple Pulse and part of our shipment came today!

We chose Simple Pulse for the price, the great reviews and the ease of use and cleaning.

You can find more information about Simple Pulse here.

We went with the system that would allow us to milk two goats at once

you can see the exact system we purchased here.

Only part of our complete milking system has come in so far,

it actually shipped to us directly from Amazon

so I suppose you could order all of the items on your

own and create your own custom milker.

We choose to order ours from Simple Pulse because

honestly we don't know what exactly we need

as we are just getting started with using a milk machine!

You can find the Vacuum Pump we got with our

Simple Pulse milker on Amazon here.

So here is what came in our shipment:

Front of the Box

Side of the Box

Close Up of the Specifications of the Pump

Pump, oil, power cord and instructions

Pump Oil



Buck Kid Available

Buck Kid Available:

 Gold & White, Blue Eyes

DOB: 5/25/2016

SOME DAY CAME LK FLETCHER D1743384
SOME DAY CAME GR CAHUITA D1710917

...

ADGA Registration available.

Kid will be disbudded, tattooed, up to date on vaccines and de-worming.
Whole Herd Tested Negative Spring 2015, CAE, CL & Johne's.

Intact Price: $350 Wether Price: $75

  Can go as bottle baby or at 8wks/after weaning.

Dam is a first freshener, udder pics are at 10 days fresh, 12 hour fill.

http://www.archersacres.com/nigerian-dwarves-for-sale.html
http://www.archersacres.com/our-does.html
http://www.archersacres.com/our-bucks.html

Starting Milk Test- It's So Overwhelming!!!

I am taking the next step in proving my herds worth and

starting on Milk Test DHIR.

If you haven't looked into doing DHIR let me tell you

it is so overwhelming!

ADGA does have a checklist on their website but

I am planning to write up a really complete step by step

instruction blog post once I figure it all out myself!

So far what I have is the following,

(and not in exact order either):

• Choose a testing lab, we are going with Dairy One, based on a recommendation from a friend.
• Decide which testing program you want to do
• The test plans are in the ADGA guidebook starting on page 56 in the 2016 guidebook. The guidebook is on the ADGA website under publications.
• We are going with OS 40 AR, it seems to be the easiest for most newbies and is better than OS 40 ST because if for some reason you don't make 240 days/8 tests, you can always switch to ST... But you cannot switch from ST to AR.
• Get in touch with said lab and get a handbook
• Take the test to become a certified tester
• Find someone else willing to become a certified tester so they can do your verification testing
• Buy a Scale, don't make the mistake we made and just buy any ol' scale, make sure you get one that says "Legal for Trade", otherwise it can't be certified, at least not here in Georgia.
• Have said scale certified, we found a someone here.
• Get your herd enrolled with ADGA DHIR program

So, that's what I have so far.

I plan to make a more complete list with detailed steps,

but I honestly don't understand what I'm doing enough

at this point to give you more than this!

If your already on milk test please let me know if I have missed anything!

If your going on milk test or thinking about it let me know

and we can learn together!

One place that has been really helpful is a Facebook group I found, DHIA Goats.



Our Newest Addition, A KuneKune!

We are SO EXCITED to be adding the KuneKune Pig to our little homestead!

 

"The KuneKune Pig is a delightful breed of swine once near certain extinction.  They were only found in New Zealand and kept by the Maori people.  They are known for their extremely laid back, docile, friendly personalities." The American KuneKune Pig Society

 

 

She is registered AKKPS and AKPR

Jenny/TeWhangi lines

 

 

"The Kunekune Pig (pronounced "cooney cooney") is a breed known as the "Maori Pig" having been developed by the first people of New Zealand.  Being near extinction in their homeland during the 1970's, two animal preservationists, Michael Willis and John Simister, are credited with their conservation.  Since that time, the breed has gained recognition on both the North and South islands of New Zealand, in Great Britian and Europe, the United States, and, most recently, in Canada. The Kunekune Pig in America is finding a serious niche market for small farms, in sustainable farming systems, for permaculture, and with chefs, charcutiers, caterers, and in home butchery.

 

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS - Kunekune Pigs are relatively small in size with boars rarely reaching much over 250 pounds.  They are varied in hair color and hair texture with ears that are pricked or semi-lop.  Extremely docile in temperament, the breed is suitable for first time pig growers.  For a comprehensive description of physical characteristics, see BREED STANDARD.

 

FEEDING - Kunekune are known to many as "the Grazing Pig" being extremely efficient on grass and not prone to root or roam.  Pasture grasses work well with very little needed in the way of supplementation. Hay can be fed when pasture is scarce or unavailable. " The American KuneKune Pig Registry

 

 

http://americankunekunepigsociety.com/

 

http://www.americankunekunepigregistry.com/

 

Serama Chickens

We have been getting a lot of interest in Serama Chickens and hatching eggs.

Unfortunately we have sold our entire flock of Serama

due to work obligations and ironically, lack of interest at the time.

It seems when I was raising Serama I couldn't find anyone

interested in them and as soon as I sold off all my stock

I started getting lots of interest.

I am so sorry I no longer have them,

they are wonderful little birds.