Extensive vs Intensive Kidding practices of goats in multi-species grazing programs in North East New Mexico

Research results to date for objective 1 have been hard won. Delays were encountered due to local fires, material and labor shortages, weather and other  seasonal projects with the cattle. Materials were ordered as soon as project funding became available but took 4 months to receive. By the time materials were received, fence contractors whom bids were initially received from, were committed to projects rebuilding fences destroyed by the Calf Canyon/Hermit's Peak fires of Mora and San Miguel counties.  Local ranch employees were then hired to help start the fencing project. Fall cattle projects then came into play and fence building hit the back burner. Then winter weather came into play and further delays were encountered. As soon as weather allowed, local youths were hired to clear existing back fence lines. These fences were 80 yrs old and completely overgrown.

As weather permitted, local ranchers, goat raisers and individuals interested in learning more about goats in multi species grazing programs joined in to help. Work weekends were created to help complete the fence building objective.

Local ranchers from Daniels Ranch, Sol Ranch, and Ft. Union Ranch joined Turner Ranches to learn more about net wire fence construction and multi species grazing operations. Besides the local ranchers, individuals raising goats locally, and those who were interested in starting their own multi species grazing programs joined to help. We even received help from past Quivira Interns who were interested in starting a prescriptive grazing service. Despite the weather, in three work weekends, the job was 95% completed. Final stringing of back fence line with electric fencing and the placement of 2 more gates and the goats can move into the new Extensive Kidding pastures.

Objective 2, the documentation, recording and rating of all births to compare Intensive vs Extensive kidding was not able to be completed for the 2022 kid crop as the 2022 kid crop had not been sold as of this reporting date. The data from the 2023 kid crop is being included in this year report. The data retrieved from the 2021 kid crop is being used to determine the number of kids from the 2021 (Intensive Kidding) kid crop that made it to market, the numbers kept and the numbers lost to either sickness or predation.

In 2021, 125 kids were born out of 92 does. That was a 125% production rate from does. Many of these does were first time birthings so only singles were produced. They were born beginning in March 2021 thru May 2021. These kids were tracked from birth to sale in March 2022. Of the 125 kids produced, 65% (81hd) made it to sale. 12% (15hd) of the 2021 doelings were kept for replacements and 23% (29hd) of the kid crop were lost. Of the 23% of kids lost, 62% (18 hd) were killed and 38% (11 hd) died from illness. Value of 2021 kid crop. The average value was determined to be $128/kid. When comparing the average expenses for does and kids, the following chart shows the costs of kids, the cost of does and the sales income received from the sale of the 2021 kid crop.Avg cost vs exp WSARE 2022. This graph shows that while the average cost of raising each kid is covered by the average sales price of each kid, the combined expenses for does and kids kept in confinement is not covered by the average sales price of each kid. This is mainly due to the high costs of feed necessary for an Intensive Kidding program.Total Income vs Exp WSARE 2022.

In 2023, K&C had 104 (including breedable does, bucks and yearling replacement does) head of BoerX open range goats. Out of that 104, 92 were breeding age does. Out of the 92 breeding age does, 77 (roughly 74%) bred for 2023 kids. As of 4/1/23, 45 (58%) does were entered in the Intensive Kidding Pens with the remaining 32 (42%) does being entered in the Extensive Kidding Pasture. The IKP group produced 57 births with 56% making it to auctions; 19% were kept as replacement doelings; 13% were problem births and put on bottles and 12% died after birth. The deaths in this group were mainly due to illness or suffocation (due to late spring snow). The EKP group, 44 births were recorded with 59% of them making it to auctions; 16% were kept as replacement doelings; 9% were problem births and put on bottles and 16% died after birth, mainly from suffocation due to late spring snow. Those kids were under 1 month old. It was noted that kids in the IKP group needed medications to overcome illnesses while the EKP group received no medications due to lack of illness in the EKP group. Both groups of kids were de-wormed and vaccinated equally. It was also noted that the EKP group had a slightly higher percentage of kids make it to sale than the IKP kids. Kids were given ID tags representative of their kidding group for ease of tracking and future revenue results. This resulted in the IKP group (57 head of does) having a 127% production rate of which 89% were either sold or kept as replacements. The EKP group (32 head of does) had a 138% production rate in which 84% were either sold or kept as replacements. The IKP group had greater problem births resulting in 14% of their kids being put on bottle. The EKP group only had 4 problem births resulting in 9% of their kids being put on bottle. The IKP group of kids earned $3,194 for the year or an average of $99.81 gross per kid. The EKP group of kids earned $3,012.5 for the year or an average of $115.87 gross per kid. The results show that the IKP does earned roughly $56.04 per doe while the EKP does earned roughly $94.14/doe. Again, in 2023, the kids marketed from the EKP group totaled  59%  of EKP kids produced. The IKP # of kids marketed totaled 56% of kids produced. Gross revenues per head for the EKP kids was 16% (at $115.87) greater than for the IKP does and kids (at $99.81).

IKP kids born 2023, Extensive kids chart 2023,Ext Past kidding production 2023, 2023 revenue from kids, Expenses on 2023 kids, Rev less Exp 2023 kids v2

Data for Objective 3, the tracking of feed and labor costs of each type of kidding program was determined for the 2021 Intensive kidding crop. This average expense was determined using cost of goat feed only. Feed Exp goats dogs WSARE 2022. We know, that due to the increasing cost of feed and hay these numbers increased in  2022.  Just hay for 2023 expenses will see a minimum of a 28% increase according to recent calls for hay($250/ton in 2022 vs current costs of $320/ton). Feed for Livestock Guardian Dogs was not included in computation. It takes roughly 18 kids goats to pay for the yearly feed expense for 11 Livestock Guarding Dogs. These dogs more than earn their keep as we see increases in predators in our local ranching communities. Coyotes were previously seen running as individuals and currently, packs of 8 to 10 coyotes have been identified as running in packs locally. Feed Exp goats dogs WSARE 2022.

The 2023 feed costs  between 4/1/23 were based on hay usage only to determine difference in usage between IKP and EKP groups. Cake was fed equally between both groups so it was not included.

Starting 3/15/23, ten bales of Sanfoin/grass hay ($210/bale), 6 bales of Triticale hay ($85/bale)  and 58% of 3 bales of an additional bales of Sanfoin grass hay were fed to the IKP group. These were 3/4/8 bales and were fed at a rate of 1/2 bale per day. The cost of hay for the IKP group averaged out to $2,975 in hay spent on the IKP group between 3/15/23 and 6/15/23. On 6/15/23 the combined groups were sent out to graze in 1,000 acre pasture. The EKP group, between 4/1/23 and 6/15/23 (again at turnout to 1,000 acre pasture) was fed 5 Sanfoin hay ($1,050);  3 Triticale bales of hay ($255) then 42% of an additional 3 bales of Sanfoin hay (264.60) for a total cost of roughly $1,570. Medicines were only used on the IKP group of kids for illnesses. There were no illnesses noted in the EKP group of kids. Kids from both groups were also de-wormed and vaccinated. Total cost for the IKP group was $2975 feed + $270 meds/wormer/vacc. Total expenses for IKP kids was $3,245. Total revenue for IKP kids was $3,194. That results in a loss of $51 or $1.00 per head deficit.  Total expenses for EKP group was $1,570 + $117.45 in de-wormers and vaccines for a total expense of approximately $1,688. Total revenue for EKP kids was $3,013 less total expense of $1,688 resulting in a $1,325 yearly profit or $30.12 profit per head on kids. These numbers reflect the possibility for an Extensive Kidding Program to create a sustainable kidding program for multi-species grazing operations.

Objective 4 research, monitoring kidding traps for soil improvement and grass restoration, is currently underway as we identify the best locations, due to terrain, to set monitoring locations inside and outside of traps. Attention to water drainage and soil are being evaluated for best placement of monitoring spots.

In 2023, t-posts were set up for monitoring the results of hay bale grazing. Triticale hay, Alfalfa hay and Sanfoin/grass hay were all three used to determine which hay offered the greatest retention of moisture, deposit of organic matter and opportunity for pasture re-growth when not in use for Extensive Kidding Program. It was determined that the best hay to deposit litter and organic material was the Triticale (which is a semi cane hay). The areas of bale feeding are marked and will be monitored throughout the project. Resulting data will be disseminated in final project report. 

Objective 5 activities, the identification of the best type of kidding program ranchers can adopt is currently being researched and determinations to date are being shared through one on one activities with local ranches and individuals interested in multi species grazing operations. A Facebook page has been developed with connections to many restorative grazing groups and other interested parties to share the journey of this project. Also, Power Point presentations have been developed and have been distributed as they are created to interested individuals and groups.

As of 2023, the preferred type of kidding program looks to be the Extensive Kidding Program. During 2023, 3 workshops were held for ranchers, farmers and other individuals interested in starting a Prescriptive Grazing Service in Taos, NM and West Pueblo, Colorado. Two of the workshops were workdays consisting of hands-on working of the goats and kids from each perspective group. Handouts were available at 1 of the workdays and the workshop. The handouts consisted of goat care information as well as a printed out version of the WSARE 2022 Power Point Presentation submitted with the 2022 report. Evaluation sheets were handed out and filled by participants. Multiple email correspondence was included in the outreach consultations for interested parties. It is of great interest at the number of people interested in starting Prescriptive Grazing Services in Taos, NM and West Pueblo, CO. Workshop included discussions on funding opportunities for beginning Farmers and Ranchers thru the USDA.