WELCOME TO DEAN HILL
About our farm.....We purchased our farm in 2001 and are located in the rolling hill country of Middle Tennessee. At first we raised only cattle but, after several years of bush-hogging, we began to get serious about incorporating goats into our operations. Not only are goats an excellent means of clearing pasture land, the demand for goat meat has increased tremendously here in the United States as well. So, we restored and repaired some fencing, built and shored up existing barns, enlisted the aid of my mother-in-law (retired goat farmer extraordinaire) and researched goats and the different breeds available. In 2010, after much research and travel, we chose Kiko goats.
We purchased our first dozen Kiko goats and turned them loose in a pasture with enough grazing for ten times that many. We have since purchased many more, selectively culled the herd and added some from our own breeding program. At last count we are over fifty does and still growing. We have 100% New Zealands, purebreds and some commercial does as well. They are happy and growing and making war on weeds! Whether you are looking for breeding stock, information on owning and caring for goats, or are just interested in life on the farm, we invite you to take a look around our site. If you have any questions or comments, please email us. We look forward to hearing from you and thanks for stopping by! Contact us. We'd love to hear from you!Dean Hill Kikos
98 Dean Hill Rd Pleasant Shade, TN 37145 Charles and Sherri Reece cell - (615) 388-3774 email: [email protected] The tobacco barn "up-do"
BUCK COLLECTION 2016
|
CHECK OUT OUR 'CURRENTLY FOR SALE' PAGE AS WE HAVE RECENTLY UPDATED!Looking forward to Spring 2025As we are getting older and we are continuing to be blessed with more grandchildren, we have decided to take a break from kidding in November and December as we have done in the past. Also, not fans of kidding during the low temperatures of January and February, we decided that March would suit our needs better at this season of our life.
We did a few select ai breedings that will be due mid-March and are hoping to bring back kids from RDH Indian Outlaw, Isaiah's Fire and RDH Strike Gold. The super nice doe below received a straw of RDH Indian Outlaw as she kidded a buckling and doeling last year both in the top three for weaning weights. If you are interested in information regarding our potential kid crop 2025, let us know! Breeding with PurposeWhen we began raising kikos, we had very little experience with them. Fortunately, we found what we were told about kikos is true. They are parasite resistant, they do have good feet, they do make good mothers, etc.....
Even with the top-notch herd of mothers we have, our goal is always towards improvement. Better weight gains, higher kidding rates, and increased overall herd health. Selection of replacement does is important to the future of your herd. While it isn't possible to be certain what kind of mother a doeling will make, you can get an idea if the odds are in her favor by looking at her mother's history and what her sire's lineage brings to the table. Are they known for producing does with good udders, sound feet, heavy milkers? Ask questions of your breeder. Know what you need and be an informed buyer!
Once your moms are proven and solid, then breed towards your goals. Buck selection is key in building a better kiko!
Constant focus on size can leave gaps in resistance. Focusing on color and resistance can create a decrease in overall weaning weights. Keep detailed records. And while there are very few perfect goats, there are goats that are 95% perfect! Aim high!! Try to build the perfect goat. Find what areas need improvement and select replacement mothers and bucks that can help you reach your goals! To see if we have something you are looking to add to your herd, please take a look at our Herdsires page and the Herd Mom page. And if we can answer any questions for you, just give us a call or send us an email. We love talking goat!! ROHO'S BIG DARLIN'Our Big Darlin' is the largest doe we have ever laid our eyes on! Never has parasite problems or hoof issues. Did we mention she is big? This picture was taken on the road in front of the tobacco barn. No trick photography, she is flatfooted on the road eating off of a one ton flatbed.
|