So . . . anybody else here raise livestock?

indianasmith · July 12, 2008, 09:43:15 PM

I was just wondering. My wife and I have been raising Boer Goats for about three years now, and we love it. They are curious, gentle creatures and really don't stink like goats are supposed to. These are meat goats . . . many of our young ones we sell probably wind up in fajitas . . . but the permanent breeding herd we keep are all named, and they are our pets. Here they are moving through the pasture . . .

And here is our mighty stud goat, Leon the Magnificent.

CheezeFlixz · July 12, 2008, 10:39:06 PM

Growing up on a farm, it never left my blood I have several acres and have raised a few things, chicken and cattle mainly. Hogs stink, use to have sheep and goats, I think we've raised it all, even had buffalo, beeffalo, emus, peacocks etc.

Looked at putting in some commercial catfish farm ponds and crawdads. I have a neighbor that does freshwater shrimp.

Right now my work load prohibits really do much farming, a couple of large gardens and a few animals is all I can manage right now.

In a few years when I'm to tired to build houses I'm going back to full time farming, always enjoyed it always will.

Matter of fact got my first sweet corn today, Candy Corn and Peaches & Cream usually have had it for a few weeks but had to replants do to flooding. And let me tall you, just plain without anything on it, it's fantastic ... frankly some of the best I've ever grown. Last year we had a drought, this year has been nearly perfect my garden is running over, big time.

Menard · July 12, 2008, 10:53:50 PM

Quote from: CheezeFlixz on July 12, 2008, 10:39:06 PM
Growing up on a farm, it never left my blood...

Hey Indy

Did you know that Cheezey majored in animal husbandry in college?

...till they caught him at it

(try as I might, I couldn't resist working that one into this conversation)

indianasmith · July 12, 2008, 11:03:43 PM

Virtual karma to Menard for that one!!!!!

RCMerchant · July 12, 2008, 11:09:28 PM

The only livestock I ever raised was children....

I still have two left,though. (cue weird horror movie music: Oooooooooooooooiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeoooooo.....)

CheezeFlixz · July 12, 2008, 11:47:15 PM

Quote from: Menard on July 12, 2008, 10:53:50 PM
Hey Indy

Did you know that Cheezey majored in animal husbandry in college?

...till they caught him at it

(try as I might, I couldn't resist working that one into this conversation)

Looky there more high intellect from Little Bopeep.

Newt · July 13, 2008, 12:50:13 AM

Horses. Since the early 1970's. We currently have 17 of them, 6 of them 'homebreds'. Horses may be in a sort of grey area when it comes to being livestock; they're more like pets if they are not for eating (and mine aren't) but all the requirements for raising and keeping them put them in the livestock category. Close enough?

sprite75 · July 13, 2008, 02:17:45 AM

My dad and a couple of his brothers own dairy farms together with Holstein cows.

RCMerchant · July 13, 2008, 07:21:29 AM

On a more serious note....I live in farm country. To smell pig sh1t is to smell the country. When I was young I helped feed cows and pigs (mostly pigs). I would help butcher them too. And trying to catch a loose pig is quite a trick. Butchering them was a job I knew how to do...but wasn't wild about.

I like chickens,though. Messy nasty critters,but for some reason I think they're cool. Except for mean roosters...My neighbor Charlie....(quite a long time back,) had a real mean one. If you got too nosy he would attack you.

Jack · July 13, 2008, 07:44:32 AM

I grew up next door to a dairy farm and used to spend all my time hanging out with the kids over there, riding out little Honda dirt bikes around. I've always admired the peacefulness of that lifestyle. A lot of my daydreams involve owning a little dairy farm out in rural Minnesota. Almost thought of buying one once, but my wife let me know - in no uncertain terms - that she was not a farm girl.

Youv'e got a beautiful farm Indiana - just one question:

What the hell is on that goat's butt?

It looks like he's been drinking laundry detergent and now he's having a little trouble peeing.

Derf · July 13, 2008, 08:26:53 AM

I grew up on a farm, and as a small child was chased by calves and turkeys (mean buggers), scratched up by rabbits, and was probably overly cruel to chickens. I don't think I was cut out for raising livestock. I'd love to live in the country again, with the nearest neighbor about 10 miles away, but I doubt I'd do too well with raising anything but my kid and my cat. Still, very nice looking place you've got there, Indiana. I've got some friends west/northwest of Austin that raise emus and goats (or at least they used to; I've lost touch with them), but I have never felt that desire myself.

indianasmith · July 13, 2008, 08:28:00 AM

That is another white goat behind him, Jack!!!!!

Jack · July 13, 2008, 10:00:26 AM

Oh, okay. Sorry, I get a little confused sometimes

Menard · July 13, 2008, 10:04:52 AM

Quote from: Jack on July 13, 2008, 07:44:32 AM
What the hell is on that goat's butt?

Just think of the worst possible reply I could make to that and sign my name to it.

You get extra credit if it involves mention of Cheezey.

Eyesore · July 13, 2008, 10:05:36 AM

I was raised on a ranch. My Dad and Granddad ran a few hundred head of cattle, mostly Limousin and Angus. I don't know much about goats though, but I do like birria!