WOODBURY – As we hop into spring, the ag department hops into motion with the department’s newest additions, kids from Keepsake and Little Miss.
In less than a week, both of the mother goats popped. There are five kids in total. Keepsake was the first to deliver on March 18; she gave birth to an adorable doeling named Nostalgic Memory, which is a black traditional.
Ag production teacher Kathleen Gorman was present for the births.
“Keepsake did have a difficult birth,” said Gorman. “We did have to assist her, but her and her baby are doing good. When the doeling was born, she did need a little bit more help. I did find it funny that Keepsake gave birth on Little Miss’ birthday, which is the day we had our quintuplets. Little Miss is one of the five.”
Following that bundle of joy came Little Miss with her four kids who were born on March 21. She gave birth to two bucklings – Leo, a black tiger dapple, and Callahan, a red tiger dapple paint – and two doelings: Aeralis Australis, a black paint doeling and Revontulet, a brown paint doeling.
Gorman also assisted in the delivery of Little Miss’ four kids.
“Little Miss started late Friday afternoon,” said Gorman, “starting contractions at 6 p.m. and the first baby came out around 8:50 p.m. Her first three came out breached, which means they are coming out opposite of what you want – you want them to come out legs and head first – but the last buck came out in the right position. Everyone’s doing great.”
Due to Little Miss having four kids, the ag teachers Gorman and Marisa Bedron kept the two doelings with their mother so they can feed on her, and they removed the two bucklings and are bottle feeding them, but nine hours after they were born they sold the two bucklings to the Terry family, they take the bucklings home at night and bring them back in the morning for babysitting
Junior Christa Freel says how its fulfilling caring for all the kids.
“It feels fulfilling to be able to watch and help the babies grow.” said Freel. “The ag teachers really let the students take the lead in feeding, training and the rest of the basic care. It’s rewarding to see how the time and effort you put into them pays off in the end.”