The Citizen, 2006-03-16, Page 301-888-273-5545
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006. PAGE A9.
Agriculture 2006
Never a down time when working with goats
Brand spanking new
Henk Van Schaik holds a goat he just helped to bring into
the world. Van Schaik and his wife Ellen have a goat farm
in Blyth with about 750 goats. (Heather Crawford photo)
.400*
Lunch time
Kids on the Van Schaik's farm in Blyth pile in for a drink.
Still they both believe the industry
is growing. "There is some interest
from young farmers to get started in
goats," Henk said. "I think it's a
really good [business] to get into
because you get to be around and see
your family. I get to see my girls and
they help out on the farm too. So I
think it's a good job if you can do it."
Continued from A8
"I don't think there really is a slow
time," Henk said. "There always
seems to be something to do.
A typical work day includes
milking twice a day, feeding and
bedding the goats as well as cleaning
the milk parluor.
During the time of year when the
goats are kidding there is always
more to do, Henk said. "Most days I
start at about 5:30 a.m. and I stay in
the barn until about 10 or 11 at
night."
At that time of year he is de-
horning, vaccinating and feeding the
kids on top of caring for the other
goats as well as keeping the pens
clean.
"I think it's labour intensive," he
said. "But they are a nice animal.
The kids like playing with the
[babies] and they are easy to
handle," he said. "I don't think you
could do this if you were just in it for
the money. It's something you have
to really love."
Henk said he would like to see
more involvement from the
government in helping with research
on diseases. "I get most of my
information from Europe," he said.
"Europe has a much bigger
industry than here in Canada and
they are way ahead of us," Ellen
said.
(Heather Crawford photo)
Did you know...
Agriculture is more than food to eat.
Cloth and textiles begin in the
barnyard as wool and in the field
with hemp. Corn is processed into
road de-icers, windshield washer
fluid, ethanol fuel, soap, toothpaste,
paint, varnish and sparkplugs to
name a few.