Let’s just back up a bit. I feel I need to remind all of you that we have DAIRY goats. Meaning we want them to produce milk. Well, in order to make milk they need to have at least one baby. With goats (maybe other animals too) we call it “freshening”.
In order to have babies they need to have……hmmm……how do I put this? Ok, how about this: They need to have a rendezvous of a very close kind with a young buck.
Nigerian goats come into heat every 21 days. All year long. However only a few months out of the year they come into what is called a “standing heat”. What that means is they won’t run from the buck. This typically coincides with rut season for bucks. Convenient that way. Some does are quite obnoxious about it. Very loud, trying to get the bucks attention. Typically these are the younger does. Subtlety is unknown to them.
With an older doe they tend to be more coy. That would be Halle Berry our four year old doe. On Sunday we noticed an interest in the bucks that hadn’t been there the month before. Batting of the eyelashes, showing off of her figure, trying to let them know she is interested without acting like a tramp, laughing at their jokes. Ok, maybe I am applying a little too much personification to Halle. Anyway, she appeared to be in heat. Since it only lasts two maybe three days we thought we should arrange a date.
Enter Jasper.
Our friends at MisFit Farms have a gorgeous two year old Nigerian buck named Jasper. Since our plan for our goats is to milk them, our goal is to breed strong milking lines. Well, Jasper’s Grand Dam is still the record milker for Nigerian goats. We decided that we wanted Jasper to the the baby daddy for Halle’s babies.
Isn’t he handsome!
On Tuesday I took Halle over the “spend some time” with Jasper. I’m really not sure what to say, other than I’m glad I’m not a female goat. You see, with goats you want to make sure “it takes”. So you leave them together and the buck shows his love multiple times. Multiple. Times.
The doe is ready for this. I was not. The words “Goodness, leave her alone” might have escaped my lips a few times. It’s confusing. I brought her there for this “date” and yet “Goodness. Leave. Her. Alone”!
I don’t think she minded.
I felt like I should be offering them a glass of wine. Maybe a cigarette.
So, this is my life.
At 47 years old I never imagined I would be a chaperon at such a “date”.
Still in shock,
Karen
PS: In case you are wondering about the piece of wood hanging from Jasper’s neck, it is to keep him from jumping the fence. Apparently that is how he impregnated all MisFit’s girls last year.
WOW!!! Talk about wam bam thank you mam!!! Did he even offer her a blackberry cocktail or anything?
I know. Such an animal!
Oh how I laughed. That was a good one Karen. Thank you for taking us on the journey with you. Hoping the shock has worn off. Keep writing. Love you.
Laughing so hard! Hope it took.
Oh, Karen, how you make me laugh! How much fun Jasper and Halle had! I am sure it will take. My mom and dad didn’t think it was appropriate for me to see the “coupling”. I was around 12. I knew what they were trying to protect me from and knew it was stupid. I knew it was normal. Jasper is handsome and Halle is a babe. Animals are sooo fun and amazing. Even animals know when it is the right one!! And the right timing!! Karren