Our Goal:
Elegant Dairy Goats capabable of long, productive lactations. This is what gives us the opportunity for a successful, sustainable source of milk to meet the goals of our homestead artisan cheese micro-dairy in the making.
We don't kid around - Goats are our business
At Bulletcreek Ranch, a small family owned and operated goat ranch in the far Southeastern Mountains of Tennessee, we pride ourselves on offering quality animals raised with an emphasis on natural feeds and health care. We are not organic, but use as little medicinal intervention as possibly by offering our goats an environment that gives them the opportunity to be naturally healthy. Our goat's romp and play in the sunshine, climb natural rock piles and manmade toys, and roam the woodlands and pastures, browsing unfettered under the watchful eye of their trusted LGD (Livestock Guardian Dog). We use rotational grazing techniques and supplement forage with un-medicated feed and free-choice minerals. Our goats are not barn potatoes, unless they choose to lounge around on a drizzly day in the comfort of their ample shelters.
Most of our kids are dam-raised with a lot of daily handling and TLC. Dairy bottle kids offered for sale are available at two weeks of age. If dam-raised we begin weaning at three to four months of age, depending upon the kid's development. The entire herd has been tested CAE negative by ELISA on two different labs. We do not offer stud services to outside does and hold private Linear Appraisals, and have found this practice, along with limiting our show ring exposure and incoming animals into the herd, we have been able to maintain a healthy and happy herd.
We promote the goat being a goat. Because we encourage this natural lifestyle there are a few things we require in our breeding program.
- Soundness, with good legs and feet
- Depth and length of body, to carry their kids well
- Ample milk production in both meat and dairy breeds
- Hardiness against both illness and parasites
- Does that bounce back from kidding/lactation well
- Bucks that withstand rut without loosing condition
- Gentle, easy to handle temperaments
- CAE/CL free status
These requirements ensure quality animals for our future. Therefore, we do cull heavily, keeping several factors in mind. To aid us in our evaluation of our herd, we began using the linear appraisal process this year. We were well pleased when the entire purebred herd scored an 84 and above. We had three first fresheners at 84, one at 86. All the older girls scored between an 86 and 90.
These strong scores, along with the length of lactation, production level, and tractability of temperament will be key to our breeding program. We put no value on color, although we do have some spotted animals, we prefer to breed for quality and productivity above all else.
We breed animals that make us happy. It gives us a wonderful feeling to look across the fields and see bouncing, healthy, beautiful goats that revel in the joy of life. This is our splendor in the grass. We hope you will like what we are producing and will continue to follow us as we make our journey.
Please feel free to contact us about upcoming kids, we will have Grade, American and Purebred kids available at differing prices dependent on the quality of the kids.
