Chances are you will be greeted upon your arrival by the welcome committee: Shimmaree, Desi, and Lottie Da (the Pygmies), Bonnie and Clyde (the Babydolls), Machu and Picchu (the Boers), and Stella (the Cashmere).  Our flocks and herds, or "flerds", will always be changing/evolving/growing/diminishing depending on the season, but the original committee will always remain the same.  The following is a brief description and history of each breed, and we hope you enjoy them as much as we do!  Check back on our website or leave your contact information with Amanda if you'd like advance notice of expected kids and/or lambs!

Contrary to the popular myth, goats do not eat anything and everything.  For instance, they do not eat tin cans but are very interested in the wood pulp in the label, which can make them appear to be trying to eat the can.  Many common plants and "people foods" are toxic to goats and sheep, so we ask that for the safety and enjoyment of all that you don't feed the animals other than the treats made available for them.  Please don't throw any branches or trimmings over the fence, however safe they may seem.

We also ask that, for the safety of you and the animals, you do not enter the pens without one of the property owners present.  The afternoon feedings (affectionately called "goat-thirty") normally take place around 5:30 or 6:30.  Please feel free to join us in what has become a perfect way to end the workday! 

Pygmy Goats

The Pygmy Goat was originally called the Cameroon Dwarf Goat, and was exported from West Africa to zoos in Sweden and Germany in the 1950's.  From there they made their way to England, Canada, and the United States for use in zoos and as research animals.  They were eventually acquired by private breeders and quickly gained popularity as pets and exhibition animals due to their good-natured personalities, friendliness and hardy constitution.

Due to a Pygmy Goat's diminutive size they are easily handled by children and make excellent 4-H projects.  Requirements for housing, pen space and feed are much less than for the larger dairy and meat breeds.  Weighing in at 50 to 60 pounds and standing 20 to 25 inches tall, their milk is higher in butterfat (approximately 6%) than any other goat, and is also higher in calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron, while being lower in sodium.  Although not popular as a commercial dairy breed, each Pygmy doe will willingly give an average of half-a-gallon of milk a day at the peak of lactating -perfect for a family farm!

Boer Goats

The development of the Boer Goat in the early 1900's can be traced to the Dutch farmers of South Africa.  Boer is a Dutch word which means "farmer.'  The first full-blood Boers were brought into the United States in 1993.  Since that time a tremendous amount of interest in breeding Boer and Boer influence goats has exploded in the United States.

The demand for high quality, lean, healthy red meat is one of the driving forces behind the development of the American meat goat industry.  With an eager base of ethnic consumers, the demand for goat meat continues to grow in the United States each year.  The importation of goat meat into the United States is estimated over 30 million dollars annually.  Weighing in at 200 to 350 pounds, the Boer Goat is one of the most popular breeds of meat goat in the world.

Cashmere Goats

Cashmere Goats in the United States originated from feral goats found in Australia.  In the 1970's research began on goats producing cashmere down.  American goats were found to be producing down but not in enough quantity to make it economically viable.  In the 1980's cashmere producing goats were imported into the United States from Australia and New Zealand.  Through careful selection and breeding, the American cashmere industry was born.

Cashmere Goats weigh in at 100 to 150 pounds, and are raised for their fiber, meat, and ability to rejuvenate weedy pastures.  Because they are hardy, have a mild temperment, and are of large size they are very compatible with sheep and cattle.  The cashmere fiber is the goat's winter coat, and its growth is responsive to light.  It begins to grow around the summer solstice (June 21st), and ends around the winter solstice (December 21st).  Shearing takes place from December to March, when the goat naturally begins to shed its winter coat.  Small herds can economically be combed for their fiber rather than sheared.

Olde English Babydoll Southdown Sheep

The Southdown breed of sheep originated in the South Down (hills) of Sussex County, England. The English farms kept these sheep for their flavorful meat and fine fleece. In the early 1800s the Southdowns were imported to the United States. With the arrival of refrigeration larger meat carcasses were desired and the smaller sheep were crossed with bigger sheep to produce a larger animal. They are the Southdowns of modern day. Around 1990 small flocks of the original smaller South Downs were rediscovered and labeled Olde English Babydoll Miniature Sheep to differentiate them from the larger modern breed.

Because of their diminutive size, Babydolls make outstanding weeders for use in orchards and vineyards - they are only 24 inches tall when mature, and so can't easily reach tree branches or trellised grapes. Their small hooves help break the soil surface without compacting it. They move easily up and down hills, and can get into a field or vineyard much earlier than machinery can. And not only do they provide an organic alternative to pesticides and expensive mowing operations, their recycled grass (manure) helps improve soil fertility as well.  Weighing in at 70 to 150 pounds and standing 20-24 inches tall, their wool is short stapled and fine with a 19-22 micron count, which puts it in the class of cashmere.