Progress report for FW22-403
Project Information
This project will explore different methods of kidding (birthing) goats in a multi species program of grazing. Research will track the pros/cons of Intensive kidding vs Extensive kidding programs. Intensive kidding is known to be high in labor, costs of feed and health maintenance of does and kids. This results in a lower profit margin from kid sales which threatens economic sustainability.
It is not known how or if an Extensive method will increase live kids raised from birth to sale or how it will reduce labor and costs of kid goat production in and Open Range program of multi species grazing. It is believed that an Extensive program of kidding does out in two connected traps will reduce cost of feed, labor and result in kids that are able to follow their mothers earlier, resulting in a higher percentage of live kids surviving until market.
An increase in marketable kids while reducing labor and cost inputs should create a greater profit margin for a sustainable multi species grazing program. This project is designed to determine if the losses of kids, cost of feed and labor can be reduced in an Extensive kidding program. Reduction of these factors should result in an increase in kids making it to market sales thus creating a greater profit margin for sustainable multi species grazing program. The pros and cons of Extensive vs Intensive kidding management will be disseminated to the Ag community via Social Media, Multi Species Grazing workshops and rancher to rancher.
- Design and build two kidding traps adjacent to each other and a working set of pens for identifying and moving pregnant goats to kidding traps as needed.
- Document, record and rate all births possible and compare whether Intensive or Extensive kidding programs produce the greatest number of live kids.
- Track feed and labor costs of each type of kidding program to see which is the lower in cost and labor to determine total cost of production of marketable kids.
- Monitor kidding traps for soil improvement and grass restoration during non- kidding season when traps will be rested.
- Identify the best type of kidding program ranchers can adopt to create an additional sustainable source of revenue as well as improving their land. Share the information discovered through educational programs and social media presentations.
| Timeline of Project Objectives/Activities | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Year 1 | Project Year 2 | Project Year 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Activity Description | June-Aug | A-S | S-O | O-N | N-D | D-J | J-F | F-M | M-A | A-M | M-J | J-J | J-A | A-S | S-O | O-N | N-D | D-J | J-F | F-M | M-A | A-M | M-J | J-J | J-A | A-S | S-O | O-N | N-D | D-J | J-F | F-M | M-A | A-M | M-J | J-J | |||
| Objective 1: Construct traps for kidding - Breed Dec-Jan | XX | XX |
XX |
XX |
XX |
XX |
XX |
XX |
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| Move does w/30 day kids to traps Yr 1 | XX | XX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Objective 2: Monitor does for kidding, bonding | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Objective 3: Quantify results of kiddings and costs | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Objective 4: Disseminate information through educational outreach | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Progress/Final Reports | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | XX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cooperators
- - Producer
- - Technical Advisor
- - Producer
Research
Objectives:
- Design and build two kidding traps adjacent to each other and a set of working pens for identifying and moving goats to kidding traps as needed in Extensive Kidding program.
- Document, record and rate all births possible and compare whether Intensive or Extensive kidding programs produce the greatest number of live kids for the lowest input.
- Track feed and labor costs of each type of kidding program to see which is the lower in cost and labor to determine total cost of production of marketable kids from each kidding program.
- Monitor kidding traps for soil improvement and grass restoration during non- kidding season when traps will be rested.
- Identify the best type of kidding program ranchers can adopt to create an additional sustainable source of revenue as well as improving their land. Share the information discovered through educational programs and social media presentations.
Materials and Methods:
Experimental Design
- Design and build two kidding traps
Two “kidding traps” were designed and constructed to help determine the advantages or disadvantages of Intensive Kidding programs vs Extensive Kidding Programs. They have been constructed in a 1,000 acre pasture to be designated as the Kidding Pasture. Construction is scheduled to be completed by March 15, 2023.
Due to major fires in Mora and San Miguel County in 2022, as well as COVID ramifications, materials and labor needed to construct fence have been in short supply. Materials were ordered in July of 2022 and finally received by September 2022. Local fence contractors were unavailable due to prior commitments for fence rebuilding in fire ravaged areas.
Working with the local community of ranchers, landowners and individuals interested in multi species grazing programs has allowed the project to progress toward finishing Objective One. The traps currently cover 75 acres total and be designated as Trap#1 and Trap #2. Final construction of 35 acres will begin upon final funding of project. Traps have been constructed using OK Brand premier hinge joint field fence. The fence has 10 horizontal wires spaced in variable intervals. The vertical stays are 12" apart and the fence height is 47 inches. This wire fencing covers three sides of the pasture as well as pasture divisions. It is connected to existing woven wire fence on fourth side.The existing woven wire fence is being reinforced with Electric fencing at heights suitable for kid goats.
The traps are adjacent to each other with gates to allow movement of does and kids as needed. A night pen for entire herd is adjacent to kidding traps and also serves as sorting pens for movement of does nearing parturition. Net fencing used to deter predators and secure kids inside of traps was chosen to also keep goats from getting stuck in fencing. The existing 4th fence line with existing net wire is being reinforced with 1 to 2 strands of electric fencing to discourage challenges to older fence line and help educate goats to respect electric fencing. Electric fence will be located above kid height for safety of kids. The size of 100 acres is necessary due to the fragility of NE NM lands. Portable water tanks have been purchased and will be set in place for watering in both traps. 250 gal water tanks will be connected to each tank.
2.Document and record all births possible and compare whether Intensive or Extensive kidding programs produce the greatest number of live kids.
Due to the delays in materials and construction of kidding pastures, we were unable to move 30 day old 2022 kids and does into kidding pasture to monitor during the months of August thru October of 2022.
2022 kids were all born in intensive kidding program. Does along with their 2022 kids that were born in May and were moved to pasture in August at 60 to 90 days old. Upon release into pasture, all goats were herded to encourage cohesiveness of herd and encourage kids to follow their mothers and the herd. The 2022 kid crop is going to sale after this report is due so data from the 2021 kid crop is being supplied for this report in charts and spreadsheets.
For kidding season two (April 2023), 30% of K&C goats will be entered into the Extensive Kidding program. 70% will continue in Intensive kidding program. Does are currently being observed for parturition signs. By mid March the Extensive group will be moved into kidding trap #1. This trap is approximately 10 acres with plenty of cover. They will stay in the 10 acre trap for one to two weeks of age. They will then be moved to trap Trap #2 where they will stay until they are 30 days old. At 30 days old they and their mothers will rejoin the main herd in the 1,000 acre kidding pasture. In the third year, 50% of the kidding does will be used in Extensive program. As does near parturition they will be moved into Trap #1 to await birth of kids. Traps will be checked multiple times daily to check for birthing problems or bonding issues. Evaluation Sheets to collect information on kids as they are born and grow have been developed.Kid Eval sheet WSARE 2022.
At 10 days old, doe and kids will be moved to Trap #2. After 30 days in Trap #2, they will be released back into Kidding Pasture and herded with remaining herd using a modified system of herding. The remaining 70% of does will be the Control herd and entered into the Intensive Kidding program currently being used on Turner Ranch. Second year 50% will remain in Intensive Kidding program. The Intensive Kidding program places does nearing parturition into a 2 acre corral with existing shelter and barn. Does are kidded in corrals and any problems identified are addressed. Bonding problems will result in does and their kids being put into small pens (jugs) to ensure health and safety of kids and encourage bonding process. Each doe entered in each of the programs will be listed and documented for potential birthing problems and bonding problems. As kids are born in each program, they will be tagged with mother’s ID and listed in same program as mothers. Their time to get up and nursing will be rated on a scale of 1-5 and their general health and strength and ability to follow their moms will also be identified and rated on a scale of 1-5 via a scale of success sheet to be designed. The documentation of live kids turned out will also be added to data collected. Kids from respective programs will be tracked from birth to sale. Points of comparison will be documented via photos and video as well as rating sheets and charts.
3. Determine total cost of production of marketable kids
The 2022 kid crop has not gone to sale as of this report but all costs have been tracked and documented. 2021 kid crop was raised in Intensive kidding program and data on all feed costs and labor inputs plus live kids sold, kept or died/lost have been tracked. This data is shown in attached charts and spread sheets. Value of 2021 kid crop. Avg cost vs exp WSARE 2022. Total Income vs Exp WSARE 2022
Work sheets have been developed for each kidding program to track feed, medical costs. Feed usage WSARE 2022 Bonding issues, general health, well-being of kids and does are reported in Kid Evaluation sheets (above) and final market numbers will be determined at final sales of yearly kid crops. This will enable us to determine which program results in more marketable kids and the lowest input of resources possible. Videos and photos will also be taken and used for future educational material as well as social media presentations.
4. Monitor kidding traps
Kidding traps and kidding pasture will be monitored for soil improvement and grass restoration during non-kidding season. Set points are being established with attention to terrain for before, during and after kidding season photos. These will be compared with set points outside kidding pasture. Goats will be fed a modified version of hay bale grazing while in traps. Once identified photos of set points before kidding season and after will be taken for demonstration purposes and future educational materials.
5. Identify ways in which ranchers can adopt the use of goats for multi species grazing and benefit from Intensive or Extensive Kidding Programs.
Using the research from this program as well as the previous WSARE funded project, “The use of goat herding techniques to reduce the effects of predation while improving rangeland health in the high plains of New Mexico”, the best techniques for re-introducing goats into a multi species grazing program will be disseminated as described in the educational outreach plan below.
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 2022 kid crop will be included in next yearly 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.
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.
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.
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.
Research Outcomes
Research to date on this project consists of the designing and construction of kidding traps and recording/evaluation of revenue vs expenses for 2021 kid crop raised in Intensive Kidding program. The 2022 kid crop expenses have been recorded but evaluation is pending final revenue receipts for 2022 kid crop. Said kid crop is due to be sold mid to late March depending on market reviews. While research is still ongoing, it is believed that the outcomes of this research will provide suitable recommendations for Extensive kidding practices for a sustainable multi species grazing program.
Due to major fires in Mora and San Miguel counties in 2022, along with shortage caused by COVID restrictions, materials and labor availability have been in short supply. This caused delays in construction for Objective 1. Materials ordered in July of 2022 were not received until end of August 2022. At that point, local fencing companies were contracted out to jobs in fire ravaged Mora and San Miguel counties. While contracting professionals for the job you need doing is advisable, it has worked out more than once that your local community and neighbors will come through in a pinch. Working within your community, whether they are skilled or not, brings about opportunities for education and comradery (as well as great meals and memories). By using work weekends for education and sharing of knowledge, we were able to continue to meet our objectives. Meetings during work weekends, social media announcements, and One-on-One outreach within the ranching community (and interested land owner and individuals as well) offers opportunities for connecting and growth. Presentations sent to interested organizations have also been utilized towards fulfilling the educational outreach plan.
Results obtained from 2021 kid crop expenses and revenues show a low profit margin for large (over 100 hd) Intensive Kidding programs. Numbers of goats needed to effectively create a multi species grazing program for large open range pasture/land improvement as well as additional marketing income need to be 100 head or more. The feed costs and labor cost are high and live kids to market numbers are low in Intensive Kidding programs for large numbers of goats. The kids pay for themselves but the margin of profit for the kids does not cover the cost of containment for the Does in K&C's Intensive kidding program. The results of this research to date is based on feed prices from 2021. Prices on alfalfa cow hay alone have increased 28% from $250/ton to $320/ton current quotes. This is for 3x4x8 bales of striped alfalfa.
With the cost of feed increasing faster than the revenue received from kid crop sales, any profit is now questionable in an Intensive Kidding program for a successful multi species grazing operations. Continued research for the 2023 kid crop raised in an Extensive kidding program will help determine the best program to use to reduce costs while increasing revenue and profit margins.
Education and Outreach
Participation Summary:
As of March 2023, the first objective of designing and creating a kidding pasture with 2 kidding traps has been met. The methods used in sharing the information gained from objective one have been in the form of three impromptu work weekends, one on one sharing, social media postings and power point presentations sent to interested organizations. While many participants were familiar with building 5 strand barbed wire fencing, only 1 person (out of 11 people attending work weekends) was vaguely familiar with net wire installation. Through hands on learning, sharing of knowledge of goats in multi species grazing operations and the type of fencing needed a community of learners was created. Participants included Daniels Ranch of Wagon Mound, NM; Sol Ranch of Wagon Mound, NM; Ft. Union Ranch of Watrous, NM; Tucker Ranch of Watrous, NM; local residents interested in the aspects of multi species grazing and individuals interested in creating future prescriptive grazing services for ranches as a business. The weather, especially the wind, was tough, but the stead fast heart of those in agriculture kept the project going through the cold and wind. Through the dedication of this community of ranchers and individuals in agriculture, objective one was completed and knowledge shared (along with some good mid-day meals)!
Objective one, the building of two kidding traps with a combined acreage of 100 +/- acres was completed and knowledge was share over 3 weekends with 11 local ranchers and individuals interested in goats and multi species grazing programs. Completion of objective one was delayed due to material and labor shortages as well as weather and seasonal cattle operation needs. Pens are now ready to populate with big bellied does ready for kidding season to begin.