Gauteng Smallholder December/ January 2018 | Page 17

From page 12
SMART SMALLHOLDERS
with the last few kids being
born up to November. Once
the baby is born, it is left with
its mother for around three
days to ensure it receives
adequate colostrum. On day
four, the baby is separated
and the mother heads into
the milking shed for the first
time. For the next nine
months the goat is milked
twice a day.
Belnori’s Saanen goats
In 2016, Belnori purchased its on the farm. It also proved
first automatic feeding system. invaluable in that the kids
This freed up a lot of labour
were ready for breeding a
whole 2 months sooner than
when they had been hand-
fed. The system was custom-
built for Belnori and involves
a series of milking teats fitted
into the wall of the kids'
paddock. Behind the wall is a
tank and pump system that
Norman Belcher checks a vat of milk
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feeds the teats as the animals
suckle. The system also
regulates the temperature of
the milk.
The animals are weaned off
milk when they reach around
19 – 20kgs and are covered
by rams at around 35kgs.
Rina and Norman strongly
believe that the best quality
product will only exist if it
comes from the best quality
animal. Because of this, the
milkers at Belnori receive
eragrostis throughout the day
as well as 2,5kg of concen-
trate per animal. They are
cleaned and their paddocks
sterilised once a week. The
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