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12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
4 H FRETTER-ER
A BUCK GROWS UP
ADAPTING
AGAIN, THE SKY IS FALLING
ALL YOU NEED IS ... CARDBOARD
AMANNAMEDJED
AND THEN IT GOT COLD
AND THEN IT WARMED UP TO ZERO
ANGRY GOAT FARMER
ANTIQUE GOAT FARMING
ANYTHING BUT THAT
ARE BUCKS EVER BABIES
AROMA THERAPY
ARTFUL DODGERS
ARTIC FRONT
AUTUMN BOQUET
B U B - B U B - B U B
BABY BACK EXCUSE
BABY MONITORS
BACK TO NATURE
BAIT
BARKING AT GOATS
BARN SOUR TRUCK
BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED
BE HAPPY
BEAUTY MISTAKES
BEHAVIORS
BEHIND THE GATE
BEING IN DE'NIAL
BIG 10-4 GOAT FARMER
BIKINI WEDNESDAYS
BILLBOARD GOAT FARMING
BILLIES & STICKWEEDS
BLIZZARD OF 92
BLONDE GOAT FARMER
BLONDE HUMOR
BOTTLE BABIES
BOTTLE BABY TALK
BOTTLE BABY WITHDRAWAL
BOXING SUNBEAMS
BRONCHITIS.
BRUISE OR DIRT
BUCK LOVE
BUCKETHEAD
BUCKS IN STOCK
CALLING YOOOOU
CAN'T TOUCH THIS
CANE I DO IT?
CARPAL TUNNEL HAY
CATCHING PEARL
CHICK CHICK CHICORY
CHOCOLATE PLUM
CHRISTMAS KIDDING
CHUCK
COLD IS OUR FRIEND NOT
COPPER AS DIETARY SUPPLIMENT
COUGH DROP WORMER
COUNTING
CREEP FEEDING KIDS
CRUMPLED
CUD CHEWING CONTENTMENT
DAYCATIONS
DEAR FAVORITE RELATIVE
DELOUSED
DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW ...
DOES ON KIDDING
DOWNSIZING
DR JECKLE, MR HIDE
DRAMA QUEEN
DRENCHED!
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
DUCT TAPE.
DUMPSTER RAIDERS
EARPUGS
EGG SHELL MASSACRE
EMMITT
EMPTY NEST SYNDROME
EQUIPMENT OPERATORS - DANCERS
ESCAPE ARTIST
ESCORT SERVICE
EVALUATION OF FEEDLOT RATIONS
F A T G O A T S
FALLING SKY
FARM WALK
FARMER C S I
FEED COMPARISON
FEEDING MANAGEMENT OF A GOAT HERD
FEEDING PREGNANT DOES
FEEDING THE GOAT
FEEDING VALUE
FEEDING VALUE OF WHOLE COTTONSEED
FEEL LIKE A NUT
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE
FIRST YOU TAKE YOUR SOCK
FLOATING MUSHROOMS
FORKS IN THE ROAD
FULL OF BULL
G G
GATE ATTACK !!!!
GIRL WATCHER
GLIDING
GLOBAL SUPPORT CENTER
GNAWED AND BASICALLY CHEWED
GOAT ADDICTION
GOAT CELEBRATIONS
GOAT FARMER SONG
GOAT FARMER WEIGHT TRAINING
GOAT FARMER'S CREED
GOAT FARMING CAMP
GOAT HOLIDAY GIFTS
GOAT HUNTING
GOAT KLEENEX
GOAT LANGUAGE
GOAT OLYMPICS
GOAT PROFILER
GOAT SCIENTIST
GOAT WHEELS
GOAT WRITER
GOATS RULE
GOOD GRIEF
GOT RUNS?
GOTTA WORK KIDS
GRAND CANYON OF CHILDRESS
GREAT KIDDERS
HAULING GOATS
HAVE MILK WILL TRAVEL
HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE
HAY MONITOR
HE-BE-GEE-BE'S
HELP! HELP! HELP!
HELP! I'M IN THE BATHTUB
HELPING HOOVES
HERD OF TURTLES
HERE COMES KIDDING TIME - A CHRISTMAS TUNE
HOBBLE, HOBBLE
HOLIDAY TRADITIONS (A GROANER)
HOME DECORATOR
HORNLESS
HOT CHOCOLATE
HOW TO BUY GOATS
HOW YOU FEELING?
HUGS
HUNDERD YEARS
HUNTING LUMBERJACKS
I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE
I FEEL PRETTY
I PREFER LONG EYE LASHES
I REALLY DO HAVE A HOME
I'LL HOLD HIM BACK
I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT
I'M STILL HERE?
INDIAN SUMMER
INNOCENT 1ST TIME KIDDERS
INTERNET AUCTIONS
INVESTMENTS
IRON WILL
IT TOOK TWO
JINGLE BELL GOATS
JOKE - GET A JOB!
JOYFUL
JUMPY LITTLE SNOWBIRD
JUST 1 MORE GOAT
KEYSTONE KOPS
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KID IN A BOX
KID MILK FORMULA
KID SENSORY OVERLOAD
KIDMARES
KNUCKLE SANDWICHES
LADYLIKE BUCK SELLER
LANGSTON FEED FORMULA
LAST BUCK STANDING
LEFT OVERS
LETTERS
LETTERS FROM THE FARM
M. D. GOAT
MAD AGGIE
MANIPULATE WHAT?
MASTER BLASTER
MAYBE THIS TIME
MEAT GOAT HOME STUDY COURSE ANNOUNCED BY PENN STATE
MEMBER ME
MIND CONTROL
MINERAL SUPPLEMENT FOR GOATS
MR. SNUFFY
MUSHROOM HUNTING
MUTTER MUTTER
NAMING GOATS
NANNY BERRIES ~ DEAR FAVORITE RELATIVE
NEW "KID" ... SHOWING
NEW HAY IN THE HOUSE
NEW KIDS.
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
NORMAL
OCTOBER KIDDING
ODE TO ODOR
OH, MY
OUCH
PANIC ATTACK!
PASTURE FEEDING
PAW PAWS
PHILOSOPHY OF HYPOCRISY
PHONE CALLS
PHONE CLASS
PICK POCKETS
PIRANHA PEN
PLANT POISIONING
PLAYING DEAD
PLEASED AS PUNCH
PLEASING GOAT CUSTOMERS
PLOP
POOF POOF
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
PRESENTS
PRISCILLA THE HUN
PRO WRESTLER OR PUPPY
PROBLEM WITH SALT BLOCKS
PROFESSIONAL POO CHECKER
PSYCH ME OUT
PUTTING ON A SHOW
QUIPS & QUOTES
QUIPS-N-QUOTES II
RAISING RUMENS
REAP THE WILD WIND
RECORD KEEPING
REDNECK TANK TOP
REFEREE
REQUESTS
ROAD TRIP 2003
ROCK ON
ROLL'UM ROLL'UM
ROLLIN', ROLLIN', ROLLIN'
RUB DIRT ON IT
S-T-R-E-S-S
SANDWICHED
SAWDUST.
SCHEDULING
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SECRET AGENT
SHAGA GOOBLE SHAGA BLIP
SHANNIGANS & KID SLOBBERS
SHORT TIGHT STEPS & OTHER ODD EVENTS
SHOTS
SHOULD EVERYONE VOTE
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
SMART GOATS
SMUDGED
SNAP, CRACKLE, POP
SNATCHED BALD
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SONG OF THE FROG
SPIES, SECRET AGENTS, SPOOKS, AND OTHER GOATS
SSSNAKE
STAMPEDE!
STARGATE BOERS
STEAM-IRON SANDWICHES
STEP BY STEP
STICK IT WHERE
STOMPING ORANGE STRINGS
STUCK AGAIN
STUDENT ANALOGIES AND METAPHORS
STUPID IS...
SUNSHINE BOO BOO'S
SUPER HERO
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SUPPER AT SEVEN A.M.
SURVEY SAYS
SURVIVING KIDDING
SWASH - BUCKLING BUCKS
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
TALKING POCKETS
TATTOOING
THANK GOODNESS FOR MUD
THE $37.50 BUCK
THE 2003 DARWIN AWARDS
THE COWBOY WAY
THE DACHSHUND AND THE LEOPARD
THE DANGERS OF GUM BOOTS
THE FARM WOOKIE
THE FLYING GOATZANIES
THE FRAGRANCE OF HAY
THE GAME'S AFOOT
THE GOAT WHISPERER
THE MOB SQUAD
THE MORAL BUCK
THE PET CHICKEN
THE PIED PIPER
THE PLAN
THE SCARECROW GOAT SELLER
THE SMELL OF MONEY
THE TALKING GOAT
THE TARP ANNIHILATOR
THE THINKER
THE TICK
THE TRUTH ABOUT DOGS
THE V WORD
THE WINDY TAX
THE WORM HAS TURNED
THEN THE KNEE DOCTOR SAID
THIS END UP
THUMP, BANG, WHOOP, AND HOLLER
THURSDAY, THURSDAY
TIE THE ROPE TO THE HAMMER
TOO MUCH FENCE
TORNADO ALLEY
TORPEDOS AND TIDAL WAVES
TOSS THE BLOCK
TOY TRUCK
TRAINING HUMANS
TRUE LOVE
TUBE FEEDING, TUBING 1
TUBE FEEDING, TUBING 2
TWITCHY HANKEY
UGH DAYS
UNCLE ARTHUR
UNWITTINGLY
USING CAFFEINE WISELY
WALK LIKE A TURTLE
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
WALK THIS WAY
WANNA BUY A GOAT (WINK, WINK, WINK)
WARNING LABLES
WAS THAT 65 OR 66?
WAS THAT CHRISTMAS?
WAS THAT THE WIND
WATER BUCKET TOAD
WAY TO THE HEART
WEANING WEANERS
WEE GOAT FARMERS
WELFARE GOATS
WHAT A DAY
WHAT DAY IS IT
WHAT'D YOU SAY?
WHATSTH THISTH
WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU VEGETABLES.
WHERE'S THE BRAKES
WHOOWEE
WIDE LOADS
WILD GOAT MILKING
WINTER FEEDING
WINTER LIST
WOE, DISPAIR...
WRONG.TURN!
YOU CALL HIM WHAT?
YOU COME HERE, NO, YOU COME HERE, NO…
ZAPPED!
MOB SQUAD

Lately I’ve noticed a new buzz word over the internet about goats - mob grazing. Well, not only concerning goats, but using cattle or sheep or even chickens or a combination of all of them for mob grazing. These people are very excited over their new word and are telling everyone what they have invented, both word and deed. I got so tickled I had to go out and tell the girls in the herd about it. What a good laugh we all had.

Lee thought this up over ten years ago and I’m sure people had been doing it long before this. I mean really, who likes to brush hog, buying the equipment, taking the time, trying to find special tires for their equipment so the long thorns do not keep making continuous flats, and then what a waste of roughage. I’ve even seen people thinking bulldozers are the way to go to clear off land and sure it does, but it takes the top soil off too. And, then you have to figure out how to get anything good to grow on the land you just used a dozer on.

Now, I bet you are getting what I’m talking about, grazing with goats or combination of livestock to clear an area out. No, it’s not rotational grazing. This is quite different. This is extreme grazing. You pick a small area of land and put a mob of goats on it for a few hours to half a day, then move them on to the next small area of land that needs clearing off. We use 80-100 adult does, but you could even do this with ten or twelve, just make the area smaller.

You have to remember that in mob grazing, your are striving for happy, healthy, fat goats. They are getting fat on browse and/or grass, brush, weeds. People call goats browsers, supposedly they like to eat anything that is shoulder high to them, but I know our goats like variety. They will graze on grasses and then they get bored and look for weeds, brush, tree leaves, etc. So, they can take care of grass pastures, not just browse. When other mob grazers use cattle, they remind others to throw in a few goats with those cows, because cows will not eat weeds or brush, unless you’ve starved them and that is not what mob grazing is about, never starve an animal into eating the area you want ate down.

You have to know what the goats will and will not eat. I’ve seen people put a bunch of goats on a small place to be ate down and the goats refuse, because what the people had chosen was poisonous to the goat, so they refused to eat and the owner actually made them stay there for days trying to force them. They were thin, starved, unhappy animals, and the few who broke down to eat what the goat farmer had put them on, died from the poisonous plants. So, know what your livestock can safely eat before you mob graze and do not force them to stay in an area they aren’t clearing to your satisfaction. They are the wise ones here, listen to them.

Another thing we mob graze is our backyard. Okay, so I don’t like to mow. Anyway, remember, if you keep a couple of dogs in the backyard, the goats will not eat where a dog has gone to use the bathroom, so don’t force them to stay in there to eat a nasty spot. Now, I have seen goats move dried horse dumplings aside with their noses to graze in that area of the dried dumplings, but never do they want to graze close to dog piles, dried or fresh, so don’t force them. Once again, listen to your goats.

We mob graze the individual buck pens. One of our bucks in his big pen cannot keep his place looking neat, so we move him out for an hour or two and put 80-100 does in there and they clean it up real nice. Remember, if they leave things standing, then they weren’t suppose to eat it. And, that big of group will trample down anything inedible, so the place looks much better after they have been there and they got to eat stuff that makes them fat and happy.

We are set up with a two strand electric fence in a lot of areas, like around the barnyard, woven wire for the buck pens and baby pens, so the goats can be confined to small places for an hour or two easily and then moved to another place that needs mob grazing. I’ve seen pictures on the internet where the people used cattle panels and made 12X16 foot areas and then put 6-10 adults plus a few baby goats in it and made them stay a couple of days. That is not mob grazing, that is starving. That many should not have stayed in that small of space for more than an hour. The goats did not look healthy at all.

Also remember when your goats like to eat. My goats are leisurely creatures of the morning. They like to laze around in the mornings, maybe pick up a nibble here and there, but mainly enjoy a siesta until about 4 p.m. in the evening, and then they become the mob grazing machine that we love. They will eat until dark and then are ready to go home to bed down.

You say this sounds like a lot of work continuously moving the goats. Well, for us, they are in a big pasture to graze around and when we want a particular place that is getting overgrown, we take our mob and hit those areas, just as I mentioned, the backyard, the barnyard, individual pens. Then we go onto the more serious things of areas filled with iron weed where there should be grass. They get to hit all these different areas for an hour or two and it’s wonderful how they can swoop in and quickly clean up a place.

Our Mob Squad are grand ol’ gals, willing to follow us where ever we want to put them. They know they are in for a treat when we say, “Come on, girls. Come on babies, it’s mob time.”

THE END


 

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