This year we are getting into packgoats. Spencer and I went backpacking last year into our favorite haunt and carried 50# packs each. Believe me 50# is too much. I heard that Carl Malone went elk hunting and drug a whole elk out by himself!! A 50# pack would not be too much for carl but for me .... well.
Last year I went to the Salt Lake County Fair. We found out about using Goats for pack animals. Clay Zimmerman from Tooele had his pack string there and thats when the light went on. Teresa and I are farmers at heart. We lay awake at night and dream of moving to the farm. Some rural place where you need binoculars to see the neighbor. So we are taking the plunge. We now have 5 goats and a 2 horse trailer that should haul 8 goats.
I have built corrals and made my own rope haulters. We still need to get some packs for the boys but that will come in time.
Our first goat was an Alpine billy that we named Goober. Goober came to us intact. Intact means with all of his reproductive equipment. Intact also means that all of the hormones, hormonal behavior and scents come "INTACT". The Billy Goat is a smelly animal. He has some disgusting behaviors such as.... Peeing on his own face. If your want to have a goat with a health urinary tract and one that has the most growth potetial, you need to let the boy be intact for the first 8 months to a year. Goober made it to 8 months and we decided that we did not want to deal with his eu de musk any longer so we purchased the banding tool from IFA. The evening that we were to put the band on Goober came. Along with the banding there is a necessity to giva a combination tetanus C/A shot. With the shots taken care of I had my daughter Witney and my son Ethan hold on to Goober so that I could install the band on his tesitcals.The story gets longer. Upon finding out that Goober was well endowed so much so that the bander would not fit over the testicals I sent Ethan into the garage for a straight razor. Witney was NOT ready for what came next. I was not ready for what came next. I had read on the internet about castration but had never done it before. After making large incisions in Goobers scrotum my lack of confidence went out the window. With Witney crying and Ethan and I shaking and Goober passing out I finally got the testicals exposed enough to remove them. Surprisingly there was very little blood and Goober woke up and was taken to his house. Whitney ran in the house and cried to Teresa. It was an experience that will not soon be forgotten!!
Goober did heal up well with a round of antibiotics that was to my amazement available at IFA. We have another buck (Glacier) who will need the same operation come April. I doubt that Witney will allow it.
