Feed: We feed free choice Orchard Grass hay or and Orchard grass mix. Yes I grain everyone. During the winter especially, to help maintain good body condition. We use a cob , Diamond V yeast and a small hand full of Calf Manna.Free choice loss minerals and kelp. On average they receive 3/4 of a pound a day unless they are in milk. Some of my milker's will top out at 6 lbs. a day as they milk heavy and I prefer they not lose an excessive amount of body condition.
Vaccinations: We vaccinate with cd&t, Lysigen and pasturella. Kids start there vaccines at 12 weeks. Does are boostered 30 days before kidding. Bucks and dry stock are boostered yearly.
Kids: I know a lot of people will not agree with this. But I do dam raise some of my kids, not all, but some. As we maintain a tested negative herd this is in and of itself a form of disease control. It is very rare for a doe to allow a kid other than their own to nurse. I do also bottle raise some on raw milk. IF you wanted a kid from a doe I would be willing to bottle raise and pasteurize the milk. Kids are vaccinated and have feet trimmed regularly. They are handled often and frequently.
UPDATE: As we are participating in DHI for the first time this year(2012). ALL kids will be pulled and bottle/lamb bar feed.
I would be more than happy to discuss what we do in more detail at any time.
