Yes, it’s that time of year again, that you’ll be discarding your Christmas Tree! Why not repurpose it and help a Farmer and their Livestock! Goats, and other animals love to munch on them, and consider them to be very good Tree-Eats! If You’re in our area please phone us at 902-907-0770 or come drop it off! If you’re not in our area, maybe you can find a farmer and some goats near You!
Our Goat, Eve, come to us this past Spring and has been giving a Quart, or so, of delicious, creamy, milk. Eve is an eleven year old Saanen Doe (Female) Goat who was last bred over two and a half years ago. She is loving, and gentle, and a treat to milk.
Although we know that Saanen Goats often only live to about 11 or 12 years. They sometimes reach the age of fifteen. We hope that’ll be the case for Eve.
Since we started using Human Grade Hemp Seed , for Livestock Feed, last month, Eve’s over all condition has shown remarkable improvement, including a nice thick winter coat, that has an incredible sheen. Although her milk seems to have dropped off a bit.
I really think the drop in her milk production has little to do with the Hemp, and more to do with the shorter days, cooler temperatures, and the probability that she may be coming in Heat. This is the time of year when standard size goats go in heat, and are ready to be bred.
Most goats, especially of standard size, go in heat from about November through January, about every three weeks if not bred. Whereas, non standard size breeds like our Nigerian Dwarf Goats can come in heat pretty much year round! That’s what happened to Nanna, our Nigerian Dwarf Doe. She come in heat, and was bred, in August.
Believing Nanna to be pregnant, I chose to dry her off in October. It’s also the reason we got our third goat, Ella. Ella is also a Nigerian Dwarf and she’ll be old enough to be bred in May, 2022 and hopefully freshen and have her kids by October 2022. Thus, the plan is, next year Ella will start milking just after we dry off Nanna; next year.
The whole breeding, milking, drying off, freshening, and kidding of a Goat, or Goats, can be a Science unto itself.
So, at the moment, Nanna is dry, and not milking, Ella is to young to be bred and milking, and Eve has been milking for over two and a half years! Usually a Goat needs to be bred annually to produce milk.
Now, I may be wrong, and stand to be criticized a bit, but because Eve is such a good goat, and in such good shape, I hope to breed her on her next heat. Hoping that will happen this month. To that end, and seeing a slight drop in her milk production I’ve made the difficult decision to dry her off, and give her the best chance of having a successful pregnancy. Although drying Eve off, at a time we have no one else milking, is a difficult decision, I think it’s in Her best interest.
It’s also a decision that leaves us looking for another Milking Goat. Or at least wondering where we can get Goat Milk, which is easier on my digestion and creates fewer stomach issues for me.
Unfortunately, finding Farm Fresh Goat Milk isn’t easy! Unfortunately the Government, or perhaps the Dairy Industry itself, makes it very difficult to buy Farm Fresh Milk of any kind! Even at a time some Dairies are being forced to dump their milk! It’s not because of lack of demand, despite what some may say! Anyway, that’s a whole other issue! Or is it!?
Anyway, I’ve decided to do what’s right for our Goat, Eve, even if that leaves us without milk, and in a situation where we’re probably going to look for another Milking Goat, and preferably a Saanen Buck to breed Eve!
So, awhile back I saw an Ad for Human Grade Hemp Seed. The benefits of Hemp Seed and Hemp Hearts seem to be many, and I’ve even heard of one fellow who grinds the hemp seed and mixes it with Spelt to make flour to bake with. The Health Benefits alone seem to be staggering, and Healthline says, “Though hemp seeds have only recently become popular in the West, they’re a staple food in many societies and provide excellent nutritional value.”
So, seeing it’s used by so many people, not only for themselves, but for feeding livestock also, we figured that would be a good place to start!
So, now, our Group of Ten Friends has been feeding Hemp for about a week and a half now. Together we feed Chickens, both meat birds and laying hens, Muscovy Ducks, Pigs, Goats, Cattle, and even our Dogs like it! We’ve had positive feedback from nearly all of our friends. Although it took us a bit of time to figure out how to use it.
Personally we’ve noticed the condition of our Goats coats improve! Our oldest milking goat, Eve, has definitely had an improvement. Her coat has a visible sheen and I think her over all condition is improving. I’m mixing her Milk Generator with the Hemp, and moistening it, and serving it semi moist. Wet, they don’t like it, and to dry they aren’t to fond of it, but slightly moistened it all gets cleaned up!
We’ve also started mixing it in with our Layena and serving it wet to our hens, and also to our Muscovy Ducks. They totally clean it up! Leaving little, if anything, behind to attract Rodents! Which is a definite plus!
HempTrade.ca claims, “Hemp used in livestock feed is a very significant opportunity as a source of high quality protein, energy, fibre and other nutritional benefits.”
Further claiming that, “Products from hemp seed are well suited for poultry, swine, horses, beef and dairy cattle.”
Certainly our early observations indicate hemp’s high protein, omegas, and other factors, seem to be an excellent match for our livestock and poultry!
When it comes to our Hens, we and our friends using the hemp, have approximately 35-40% Laying Rate. 35-40% Laying rate seems good considering we’re heading into shorter days, colder temperatures, and molting season!
Especially, considering I’m reading on Atlantic Poultry FaceBook Groups that many people are seeing lay rates as low as 10-20%.
Personally I contribute our higher lay rates to the higher protein in Hemp; typically about 25% Protein.
See, hens require protein to help grow feathers, especially during and after molting, and that usually causes a drop in egg production, or Laying Rates.
I believe having the hens utilize the higher amounts of Hemp Protein means less stress on their bodies, allowing for a more steady egg production.
Most feed, from Feed Stores only have feeds in the 15-20% range. Making hemps higher, usually about 25% protein, the better choice! Another definite benefit is the more affordable cost of our feeding Hemp!
If you’d like more information about our experience with hemp, feeding hemp, and our feeding regime at Briden Farm, please contact us at 902-907-0770.