Comments on: They’re Still Getting In: Another Field Study in the Continuing Human/Caprine Comparative Intelligence Project http://www.dougfine.com/2010/01/03/they%e2%80%99re-still-getting-in-another-field-study-in-the-continuing-humancaprine-comparative-intelligence-project/ Personal website of author Doug Fine Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:27:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Amanita Thorp http://www.dougfine.com/2010/01/03/they%e2%80%99re-still-getting-in-another-field-study-in-the-continuing-humancaprine-comparative-intelligence-project/comment-page-1/#comment-26693 Amanita Thorp Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:39:40 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/?p=627#comment-26693 Goats are forever the optimist- Where there is a will there is a way for the most capricious of beings! Fencing is always the issue indeed- after 30 or so years of continuous goat ownership SunStar's Horned Locust Division has become Vegetation Management and Land Improvement specialists. We do so greatly through a Management Intensive Browse situation where we have high density goat impact on small (3-5 acre) areas of land. Containment is key especially in the last hours of a pen when "the grass is greener" mentality co-opts the goatherdmind. We have found that electric fencing (netting) works. Like a good predator control dog it takes the right training- but is worthwhile. The key is th get a big enough fence charger to instill proper respect. Anything below 2.7 joules is counter productive training. Its worth a try to protect the needy, and prevent the inevitable frustration. Goats are forever the optimist- Where there is a will there is a way for the most capricious of beings!

Fencing is always the issue indeed- after 30 or so years of continuous goat ownership SunStar’s Horned Locust Division has become Vegetation Management and Land Improvement specialists. We do so greatly through a Management Intensive Browse situation where we have high density goat impact on small (3-5 acre) areas of land. Containment is key especially in the last hours of a pen when “the grass is greener” mentality co-opts the goatherdmind. We have found that electric fencing (netting) works. Like a good predator control dog it takes the right training- but is worthwhile. The key is th get a big enough fence charger to instill proper respect. Anything below 2.7 joules is counter productive training.

Its worth a try to protect the needy, and prevent the inevitable frustration.

]]> By: nina http://www.dougfine.com/2010/01/03/they%e2%80%99re-still-getting-in-another-field-study-in-the-continuing-humancaprine-comparative-intelligence-project/comment-page-1/#comment-24268 nina Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:49:49 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/?p=627#comment-24268 dear doug, there is a alternative to having a buck stay at you ranch or artificial insemination. if there is a goat farm willing to provide stud service within driving distance of you, you can tell when your doe is ready to breed by using a "buck cloth", also called a "buck rag" as explained in "goat song" by brad kessler" a cloth is rubbed over the smelly male goat to reek of him, and kept in a sealed jar. if you offer the doe a sniff, her reaction will tell you if she is ready to mate. then you drive her to the billy goat for an assignation. also described at http://www.goatview.com/september5dweezilbuckrag.htm. in fact, that site implies even if you want to use a.i., the smell of the buck rag will help the does go into heat. i have never raised goats, but i get dairy goat journal! hope this helps. nina dear doug, there is a alternative to having a buck stay at you ranch or artificial insemination. if there is a goat farm willing to provide stud service within driving distance of you, you can tell when your doe is ready to breed by using a “buck cloth”, also called a “buck rag” as explained in “goat song” by brad kessler” a cloth is rubbed over the smelly male goat to reek of him, and kept in a sealed jar. if you offer the doe a sniff, her reaction will tell you if she is ready to mate. then you drive her to the billy goat for an assignation. also described at http://www.goatview.com/september5dweezilbuckrag.htm. in fact, that site implies even if you want to use a.i., the smell of the buck rag will help the does go into heat. i have never raised goats, but i get dairy goat journal! hope this helps. nina

]]> By: OrgoCowboy http://www.dougfine.com/2010/01/03/they%e2%80%99re-still-getting-in-another-field-study-in-the-continuing-humancaprine-comparative-intelligence-project/comment-page-1/#comment-23404 OrgoCowboy Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:00:43 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/?p=627#comment-23404 That's the thing (I won't say "problem") with goats. They're the joy and bane of Ranch life. Mostly joy, though. By a large margin. That’s the thing (I won’t say “problem”) with goats. They’re the joy and bane of Ranch life. Mostly joy, though. By a large margin.

]]> By: Al Larabee http://www.dougfine.com/2010/01/03/they%e2%80%99re-still-getting-in-another-field-study-in-the-continuing-humancaprine-comparative-intelligence-project/comment-page-1/#comment-23356 Al Larabee Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:57:06 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/?p=627#comment-23356 The goats might really be smarter than us after all. I'm convinced that the two that I had made the rules and regulations for me to follow.They now reside in a heated barn on the east side of the Cascades.They liked roses and also rhododendrons.I do miss them though. There is not a cuter baby in the world than a baby goat. The goats might really be smarter than us after all. I’m convinced that the two that I had made the rules and regulations for me to follow.They now reside in a heated barn on the east side of the Cascades.They liked roses and also rhododendrons.I do miss them though. There is not a cuter baby in the world than a baby goat.

]]> By: OrgoCowboy http://www.dougfine.com/2010/01/03/they%e2%80%99re-still-getting-in-another-field-study-in-the-continuing-humancaprine-comparative-intelligence-project/comment-page-1/#comment-23235 OrgoCowboy Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:07:12 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/?p=627#comment-23235 I have no choice! (But I wouldn't have it any other way.) I have no choice! (But I wouldn’t have it any other way.)

]]> By: Joan Friedlander http://www.dougfine.com/2010/01/03/they%e2%80%99re-still-getting-in-another-field-study-in-the-continuing-humancaprine-comparative-intelligence-project/comment-page-1/#comment-23049 Joan Friedlander Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:58:24 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/?p=627#comment-23049 Doug, I'm glad to read that you're still fully and entirely entertained and engaged by the wily 4-legged creatures of your family. Doug, I’m glad to read that you’re still fully and entirely entertained and engaged by the wily 4-legged creatures of your family.

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