Here at Hawks Mountain Ranch, we strive to raise the healthiest and highest of quality Pygora goats we possibly can.  Not only through our selective breeding program, but also through good herd management practices. 

Here's some of the ways we achieve this:

  Bio-security farm practices~
We ask all visitors that visit our farm to sanitize their footwear or wear our protective footwear before entering our barns or pastures.  

We post bio-security signs around our farm and secure our barns and gates against any unauthorized entry.

Before visitors can come onto our property, we make sure they have not been out of the country in the past month. 

  Testing for CAE and CLA~
Our Pygora goat herd tests negative for CAE (Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis) and CLA (Caseous Lymphadenitis). 

   Up-to-Date vaccinations, wormings, hoof trimmings~
We annually vaccinate each animal for Clostridial types C and D and Tetanus.  All of our animals are wormed 2 to 4 times a year along with hoof trimming to ensure sound hooves, legs, and overall conformation.

   Permanent identification of all animals~
Each Pygora kid is permanently identified with an ear tattoo shortly after birth.  We believe permanent identification of our animals is a very important part of herd management.  Especially in keeping track of over 100+ Pygora kids born on the farm this year!  Click here on how to tattoo.  The PBA registry also requires all animals be tattooed either in the ear, tail web, or flank.  

Before each goat is 1 year of age, an USDA ear tag is inserted into their ear.  

   Quarantine of all animals coming on our farm~
All animals that are new to the farm or have left and come back to our farm, are placed into a quarantined area that is segregated away from all other animals.  We allow no common fence lines to avoid nose-to-nose contact.  All animals are in this special pasture/paddock for up to 2 months at which time they are retested for CAE and CLA, foot dipped, wormed and inspected for external parasites and treated as necessary before they are returned back with the rest of the herd.  

  Voluntary Scrapie Free Certification Program~
All our animals are enrolled in the VSFCP and are identified with an ear tag flock identification #OR48 which is registered with the USDA.   Our herd is inspected annually by a state or federal veterinarian and all animals are accounted for and their disposition is then recorded.

  No outside breedings~
We no longer offer stud service either on or off our property not only for health concerns but also as part of our enrollment in the voluntary scrapie free certification program.  

  Condition score animals~
We continually observe our animals and do a "hands on" condition score to ensure our animals are in their prime condition possible.    

  Protein test our hay~
We randomly test our hay to ensure the quality of hay we are feeding our animals.   We will adjust our feeding program depending on the results of the test.

  Pasture management~
Over the last 2 years a strong emphasis has been made on our farm to improve the quality of our pastures.  Soil samples have been taken and the proper fertilizer applied.  A combination of this and over-seeding our pastures this year has resulted in a high yield of lush green pastures.   We recently cleared out more land for pasture, had the soil disked, fertilized, harrowed, seeded then harrowed again.   I think we are the only people in Oregon that are actually excited to have it rain!

  Sound fencing and gates~
We use 54" high field fencing and do routine walks around our property to ensure safe and secure fencing.  We fix any gasps that might allow a goat to squeeze through as the "grass is always greener on the other side".    At the same time, we also check our pastures for any noxious weeds.   We use 12' gates to make it easy to drive our tractor or vehicle into the pastures.

  Predator control~
We use guard llamas to protect our sheep and goats.   We have been very fortunate to not have had any losses due to coyotes,  mountain lions, or stray dogs wandering into our pastures.  We have lost several chickens, cats, and dogs, over the years though but nothing within our pastures.

  Kidding practices~
We encourage our Pygora does to kid naturally out in the pasture.  We believe leaving them to kid in their natural environment that they are accustomed, helps cuts down on any stress to the doe which can cause prolonged and/or problem birthing.  Once the kids are born, we move them into a kidding pen inside the barn where they each receive individual attention and are permanently ID'd.  Each kid and dam is inspected and any notes are recorded on the dams individual pen card that hangs on the front of the kidding pen during their 3 day stay. 

  Special care of our Pygora kids~
A special area is set up in the barn that only the kids have access to so that they don't have to compete with the bigger goats all the time.   They can come and go as they please while keeping the bigger animals out.  They have their own lamb creep feed, hay and fresh water to themselves.   The nursery area is also nice for catching up the kids at vaccine time.    

The kids are given a selenium and vitamin E shot and navels are clipped and dipped in iodine to prevent navel ill.   They are ear tattooed for permanent identification at this time and photos taken.  Each kid is weighed and weights are recorded over the next 3 days during their stay in the kidding pen.   Once the kid is gaining the proper weight, the dam and kids are turned back out to pasture and their pen card is filed for future reference.  

We disbud our Pygora kids.  It is very important to disbud them as soon as horn buds are felt (usually between 3-7 days of age) as we find this helps to prevent "scurs" from developing at an older age.   We recheck each kid again at about a 1 month of age and will redisbud if any horn growth is noticed.   

  PBA Registered Pygora Goats~
We are members of the Pygora Breeders Association and all of our Pygora breeding stock is registered with the PBA registry.  This registry is a very essential part of the Pygora goat breed.  Pedigrees are documented and recorded and each animal must produce fiber before it can be permanently registered.   As a courtesy to our customers, we take care of all animal registration and transfer of ownership fees for you.

If you are purchasing a kid before 6 months of age, chances are his/her fleece has not fully come in yet.  You will receive a pre-registration certificate (will all registration fees already pre-paid by us) and when the kids fleece grows in, they can then be permanently registered.   All our kids are guaranteed for permanent registration.   

When your kids have come into "full fleece" (usually around 6-8 months of age), you can then submit a fleece sample and  a color side view photo along with the original pre-registration certificate (don't lose it or an additional fee may be required) and mail it to the PBA registrar.  Your goat will then will be fleece typed and a permanent registration certificate mailed to you.

If you have any questions, I would be happy to help you.  You can find more information about permanently registration at the Pygora Breeders Association website at:  www.pba-pygora.com

  Our breeding stock comes with a guarantee~
Your satisfaction is important to us.  If our breeding animals fail to produce viable offspring for you after their 2nd breeding season, we will replace that animal for you.   

Thank you for taking the time to read through our herd management practices.  We take lots of care and pride in raising our animals and hope that by sharing our experiences with you, it will help you in raising strong and healthy animals that you will love and have around for a very long time! 

~Lisa~

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E-Mail Us: lisa@hmrpygoras.com