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The OMF herd is usually thirty to forty strong with the population temporarily growing during kidding season. Our herd's foundation is built on many of the most influential bloodlines comprising the Nigerian Dwarf breed and we are breeding for well conformed animals that show and milk!

Our goats are cared for with stringent health and management issues in mind allowing them to reach their full potential and of course we give them lots of love and attention.

We spend a certain amount of time each day just "Goat Gazing", which is one of the best ways to know what your goats "normal" daily behavior is. That familarity with their normal routine means that health issues are noticed before they become a big problem.

OMF McDermott nuzzling with her dam Stonewall's Mountain Splash

Penny Wise in the daffodils

Our goats get a fresh supply of well water each day (two times daily and piping hot in the cold weather months). We offer our entire herd (free choice and year round) powdered Atlantic kelp, goat specific loose minerals at this time we think Sweetlix is the best) and sodium bicarbonate as a rumen buffer helping them to best utilize their feed.

Our herd also receives year round a good quality orchard grass or orchard grass / alfalfa mixed hay ensuring that they always have the appropriate amount of long stem roughage in their diet. They also have access to a large pasture that includes a wooded area that they love to go snacking / exploring in.

We feed Blue Seal feeds and think that their products are superior to any other brand that we have at our disposal.

The milking does get a mix of Dairy Goat Pellets, EZ Pells, BOSS, shredded beet pulp, steamed flaked barley, alfalfa pellets, Sunshine Pellets and flax seed.

During the cold weather months we increase the amount of grain that we feed in order to help them maintain conditioning and stay warm.

The bucks grain contains ammonium chloride for urinary tract health. We believe "the less grain the better" for bucks and wethers which is why we cut back on their grain ration once the cold weather subsides.

As a method of preventing urinary calculi we wait as long as possible to wether our buck kids. Wethering is usually done approximately four days before their scheduled move and usually between eight and ten weeks of age.

Tabitha browing through the wildflowers

OMF Exclaim with the golden gloves

Our current kid rearing method is combination dam raising / bottlefeeding that works well at socializing kids yet allowing them to be raised in the herd by their dam therefore building a strong immune system at an early age.

Once a month each goat is brought into the barn for a hoof trim and a "physical" of sorts. At that time we look through his or her personal medical record to see what vaccinations or supplemental care is needed. This allows us to keep accurate, up to date records on each herdmember. When an animal leaves our herd this medical record accompanies them to their new home.

As our goat caretaking knowledge continues to grow we've realized the need for aggressive copper supplementation. Several of our goats tested borderline deficient through blood tests (not as accurate as liver biopsies but can be done without euthanasia). Since then we have started experimenting with copper bolusing and have found it to promote stronger immune system function and more productivity as a result.

We've maintained a negative CAE,TB and Brucellosis herd, testing regularly since 1989 our entire herd. We've never had a case of Caseous Lymphadenitis or Johnes disease and we only bring goats into our herd from farms that follow the same strict management as we do. Besides our whole herd testing, we also test any adult animal that enters our herd for CAE, CL and Johnes disease before they are released from quarantine.

In 2005 we enrolled in MeCHAP (Maine Cattle Health Assurance Program), a state testing program for Johnes disease and we are happy to announce that everyone tested negative.

In 2006 we decided not to take part in the MeCHAP program feeling that we wanted to instead do whole herd ELISA testing for Johnes. (The MeCHAP program involved AGID testing and after further research we have determined that the ELISA test is more sensitive than the AGID test). Our whole herd tests were negative yet again in 2006 for CAE and Johnes Disease (ELISA done through WADDL).

OMF Dubonnet nursing Radian
Crispy and Hugo in the kitchen

We also spot fecal tested twelve members of our herd for Johnes disease in 2006 and plan to continue doing this in the future feeling that the best herd management that we can provide is to choose the most aggressive testing program available and therefore offering prospective clients peace of mind with their purchase.

In February of 2007 and May of 2008 we CAE, Johnes disease and Brucellosis tested our entire herd (ELISA at WADDL) and everyone once again tested negative.

Kids of weaning age that are leaving for their new homes, have been wethered (if they are not being sold as breeding bucks) have usually been treated for coccidia and worms, received their initial and booster Clostridium perferingens type C&D / Tetanus Toxoid vaccinations as well as a supplemental Bo-Se (vitamin E / selenium) injection. They are also disbudded and tattooed between 5 to 10 days of age.

When Old Mountain Farm goats move to their new home they are accompanied by a detailed record of previous medical care and maintenance and a promise from us to be as helpful as possible in the future should the goat's new owners need mentoring. We are fortunate to have made many friends over the years, due to this continuing level of involvement with goats leaving our farm.


All photography by Cheryle Moore-Smith except where noted.
©Cheryle Moore-Smith All rights reserved.

 Last updated 7-15-08