Re: Re: CAE/shawn

[Guest guest]

Re: CAE/shawn

So perhaps "naturally" would have been best. There would have been nobottles.

Belinda

Yes that would have been best............but, if we are to have milk for us and animals that are bonded to us when they grow up, Bottle feeding is a very helpful tool.

We have several does that kept their kids on them last year because we didn't need the milk. We are now paying the price. They are producing very little because their udder did not develop the capacity that it would have if we had milked twice a day and teats that are tiny (very hard to milk) because they were never full because kids kept them empty. If we really want a totally natural situation for goats or cows..............we would get no milk! So we have altered them that we may harvest some of the bounty. That changes everything in the system to a certain degree so we have to work with those changes that have been introduced ie. bottle feeding, unnaturally long lactations, unnaturally large udders, a unnatural drain on the goats system to produce the extra milk etc. etc.

We work to maintain as natural a system as we can but yet provide us with the nutritious food we need.

It is not a simple thing, and one formula will never fit as "the most natural or healthy" for all situations. What works in California, or Florida, or Tenn. etc. Just Plain WON'T work for those uf us in the north like say, Alaska. We have to have a deep consern for the health of our selves our land and our animals. Then we have to look at the realities we face and come up with the best solution in our situation and that should always be a growing maturing process it is not a place we arive at. It is a life long journey

just my 4 cents!

Matt Shaul

Cranberry Ridge Farm

Alaska

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