Hello, I'm in Franklin

Hello everyone, We live in Franklin on a small block and my passion is milking goats (saanen). I hope to learn lots in these forums - when I find out how to use them.
Beginning question : I have just been given an orphan lamb and it is a polled Wiltshire. Its dam had a brass tag in its ear with a number and "Okahu Falls" and its sire is Wiltshire too. Is there a central registry for Wiltshires? My goats are registered and if I am to diversify into Wiltshire sheep too, I'd like to be registering them also. Anybody able to advise me?

Welcome 2D
I am not sure, but not that i know of in regard to register
check with Wiltshire on this site , they are sure to know for certain
I will shoot them a text and let you know when they answer me

Thank you for your reply, Stu R.
I'm puzzled that I can't find a breed registry for Wiltshires. If there isn't one, how do you know that it really is a Wiltshire?

Hi 2D, I am currently in Franklin but on the way out to Waikato.... with the boundary changes. Yippee!

i think tigger from here is a wiltshire fan so she will probably have a heap of info to share. PG and Yakut are good for local goat info...

apart from that, enjoy! Its a great forum and we all have good conversations on both sides of the fence!!

Hi 2D. In NZ there is no easy way of knowing if what you have bought from someone else who has bought it from the breeder actually is what the seller told you it is. I've been caught out quite a few times, even with a breeder who didn't know the parentage of the animal that I bought. She told me one thing, which as the animal got older it became quite obvious that it wasn't the breed I had paid for.
You could phone PGGWrightsons and ask the stock agent if they know who uses the Okahu Falls name. You will then need to phone the Okahu Falls livestock manager with the tag number, who might be able to tell you everything about that animal.

Welcome 2D, hope you enjoy the forum (and Franklin)

I believe the Wiltshire breeders did have an association, which became part of the NZ Sheep Breeds a few years ago. While Wiltshires are not listed on their website, I'm sure they could point you in the right direction. Here's the link for contacts:

www.nzsheep.co.nz/site/contactus.htm

Hi 2D.What a wonderful choice the Saanan is ,great milkers,great temperment and easy to handle breed ,without the "flighterness" of some of the other breeds,do you just milk for the house or do you "sell" the milk?..............Dont forget to post some photos of you favorites.................T.O.R.

you wouldn`t be a db tractor man would you. tkf

Hello Swaggie,
You lucky thing! We're affected by the Great Auckland Grab too - but we've been unlucky enough to be put half in Auckland and half in Waikato !!! Literally, the land has been divided between the two. Needless to say, the bit with the house on has been given to Auckland.
Thanks for the info about who knows about Wiltshires. I shall try asking Tigger.

Thanks, Longridge. I shall try what you suggest.

Thanks, Pumpkin Girl,
I looked at the site you gave me and have contacted them because they don't have a listing for Wiltshires, so I'll let everyone know what they tell me.

Hello The Old Ram,
Yes, my goats are all Saanen. I've had these for many years - I think I'm an addict, actually. I did sell my milk for a while, as petfood as I'm not registered "for human consumption" through a shop, but by the time I had bought the bottles, bottletops, labels and printed the labels, and the not inconsiderable commission the shop wanted, I found it was more lucrative to bring up calves. So that is what happens to the surplus milk.
I'd put on some photos if I could work out how to do it. I need an instruction manual I think because I've never participated in this sort of thing before !

No sorry, TKFarmer, we don't have a tractor because we're too hilly and not big enough. We do have a Power-Pony, which has some drawbacks but is lighter on the paddocks than a full sized tractor.

Hi 2D, the first time Itried I could not get it and someone on the site explained it like this...................at the bottom ,click on "go advanced"..........write message............click on "paper clip"............in the box click on "choose file"..........select photo and click on "open"...........click on "upload"....when loaded click on "CLOSE THIS WINDOW" and submit reply.

Attached files [IMG]http://app.lifestyleblock.co.nz/images/converted_files/334830=5955-1st lamb.jpg[/img]

2D;334817 wrote: Hello Swaggie,
You lucky thing! We're affected by the Great Auckland Grab too - but we've been unlucky enough to be put half in Auckland and half in Waikato !!! Literally, the land has been divided between the two. Needless to say, the bit with the house on has been given to Auckland.
Thanks for the info about who knows about Wiltshires. I shall try asking Tigger.

I am looking forward to the change in council being over and done with, so sick of hearing ''but you will be in waikato in a couple of months and we don't know" business.... its gone on for long enough and those that should know, should. Either that or cancel the whole darn thing until every official does know....[!][!]