Spring Cleaning........In February?!

We are taking advantage of unseasonably warm weather to clean the run-in shed where the ewes are housed. This was done so that it will be clean and dry for when they have their lambs. The goat bay will be cleaned after we move the does to the barn so it too will be clean and dry when we bring the does and their kids back from the barn to the shed area. We pile the manure to allow it to compost. On colder days you can see the steam rising from it due to the heat generated by composting. The heat and composting will kill any parasite eggs present in the manure. Once thoroughly composted (after a year or so) it will then be spread onto the fields.
Thank you for joining us at Norwal Farm.
Michael Walsh and Roger Norgel
#goatfarming #newfarm #texelsheep #iledefrancesheep #livestockguardiandog #pastureraised #sheep #dorper #farmtotable #llamas #pastureraised #suffolk #jacobsheep #sheepfarming #puppies

[@davilynwentzel9551]

Nice to take advantage of your warm weather.
I’m eager to see your adventures during kidding and lambing time.

[@norwalfarm]

You and me both!

[@cindyboard7816]

Mother nature can't seem to decide what season we need!😂

[@norwalfarm]

Agreed. We have Sandhill Cranes back already, about a month early!

[@craigpacker7171]

Hi, Roger. What's your colostrum plan? Did you get powdered colostrum? Or do you have access to frozen colostrum (e.g., from a goat farmer? I used to get frozen colostrum from my vet who raised goats and always had plenty on hand)? Of course, hopefully, you won't need any unless you're planning to tube lambs immediately at birth like Lynn and Arnie do.

[@norwalfarm]

Hi Craig, we just picked up some powdered colostrum today. Our plan is to tube feed them immediately like Lynn and Arnie do. It gets them off to a great start. Also, CL (casseous lymphadenitis) can be spread through the colostrum to the kids/lambs. Using the powdered colostrum will prevent that possibility.