Ranch Happenings

Wednesday, 01 April 2009 05:10


Pima Ranch
Click to enlarge
What do you get when you cross a game hen with a Polish rooster?  No- its not a joke.  You get baby voodoo chickens!   Ok..so I call these things Voodoo chickens because the dad looks like every rooster ever used in movies about Voodoo.  (not joking here)  I added the picture shown here because it looks like the mother is saying "And then I kicked the big bad cats butt and it never ate her babies again!"   I somehow think these little chickens will be serious survivors as she hasnt lost a single one yet.  Chicken births just tell me that despite what the weather man says spring is here for the most part.  Even though Im still wearing hooded sweatshirts and using my electric blanket at night.
Hard to believe that I dont have anymore goats to kid this spring.  February was the popular month here and they will all start start weaning in May.  Incase you havent looked lately, check out the newest addition 4m Mugsys Gauger 7092 (she hasnt earned her nickname yet) on the doe page.  She was purchased at the Spring Classic Sale in Yale Oklahoma.  This was the same sale where I witnessed a goat sell for $41,000.  Yes - I said that correct.  The good thing about such a deal is that the new owners will donate all 2009 stud fees to the American Cancer Society research foundation.  That should create some good Karma for the new owners.   Who would have thought you could write about good Karma and Voodoo chickens in the same blog?   With that said, Im going to sign off and get some things done today.  Take care and may your kidding season be healthy and profitable!

What is a Boer Goat?

The Boer goat was developed in South Africa in the early 1900s for meat production. Their name is derived from the Dutch word "Boer" meaning farmer. The Boer goat was probably bred from the indigenous goats of the Namaqua Bushmen and the Fooku tribes, with some crossing of Indian and European bloodlines being possible. They were selected for meat rather than milk production; due to selective breeding and improvement, the Boer goat has a fast growth rate and excellent carcass qualities, making it one of the most popular breeds of meat goat in the world. Boer goats have a high resistance to disease and adapt well to hot, dry semi-deserts. U.S. production is centered in west-central Texas, particularly in and around San Angelo. The original US breeding stock came from herds located in New Zealand. Only later were they imported directly from South Africa.

Boer goats commonly have white bodies and distinctive brown heads. Like the Nubian goat, they possess long, pendulous ears. They are noted for being docile, fast growing, and having high fertility rates. Does are reported to have superior mothering skills as compared to other goats. Mature Boer bucks weigh between 110-135 kg (240-300 lb), and mature does between 90-100 kg (200-220 lb).