Meet

meet 

Quixote

The youngest member of our ruminant herd is Quixote, a LaMancha. Goats like Quixote are considered ‘milk goats’ and are products of the dairy industry. Most boys like Quixote are either disposed of, or slaughtered for food because they are considered an extra mouth to feed without being able to bring in a profit by giving milk. We are so lucky to have this charming boy in our family; he is very quirky and was likely kept with sheep before Terra… he has a few very sheep like mannerisms. He would also rather have his breakfast with our handicapped sheep, Maizey and her companion Mazel!

Ruminants like Quixote and Maizey have a hard gummy ridge instead of teeth in the upper front of their mouths, to help grind up the grasses they eat. They do have both razor sharp uppers and lowers in the back of their mouths, so be careful, that innocent nibbling can turn painful in the turn of a (goat) head  Meet Quixote!!! He is a LaMancha goat; a dairy breed that Spanish missionaries brought with them when colonizing California. LaManachas are especially cute, because they lack external ears!

Xote for short (pronounced Yo-Tee) is approximately 8 months old and narrowly escaped the butcher’s knife. A kind mother surrendered the boy to us this past weekend, as her son was no longer interested in his “backyard dairy.” All inquiries about taking him, were regarding using him as food.

This little guy is very shy; the neighbors caring for him did not treat him well, and it is apparent they dragged him around by his horns. However, within the short time he has been at Terra, he has become more curious, and eager to take a cranberry when offered! We hope that he will gain the trust of his human family, and learn that he is safe and loved in his new home.

Xote had never seen a vet, has foot issues, and needed neutering. Since his vet visit yesterday, he will be resting in his cozy little quarantine enclosure for about a month, until he is safe to be with our girls! Then he will join the rest of the herd, where they will undoubtedly compare horns… we wonder who will win