Have not posted any updates regarding the ranch since before and after my vacation in December 2013. I've been preoccupied with other areas of my career. It wasn't easy trying to tackle each one. But now, I have it somewhat under control. We'll see how long that lasts.
I've been slowly working up the ranch with, my niece, Arissa's help. It's not easy working a full time job as a Site Safety & Health Officer, teaching full time at the college, and managing a part time ranch. Something will give, and it's usually the one that's given the less time. But, we've reprioritized. and the ranch is now our main priority. We're hoping to start getting some products out to make this ranch sustainable on it's own.
Anyway, since I've been back from vacation. I learned that one of my sheep rams died due to fly strike. It was the white one, Tom. Since he moved up from the South, he's been like that though. It was sad to learn of his passing. The brown ram is doing a lot better. Has always been doing better the his brother since the move last year. It's still a discovery period with the sheep. Learning new things about them everyday.
Our karabao lost some mass while I was gone on vacation. So getting him back up to re-gain the weight was a challenge. A lot of it was due to the forage we have on the ranch. Not much protein to provide him with what he needs to stay fit. So we've been supplementing Alfalfa Hay, since before I went on vacation. It helps, but it's still not enough. We've raised his hay intake up from 10 lbs to 20 lbs, to help supplement his diet. That seemed to work. I've also been relocating and replanting some grass with high protein around the cleared areas of the ranch. Hopefully, this will help improve the grass forage within the ranch area. Yes, Gera our karabao is on rotation through the different paddocks that I've identified on the ranch.
Several of my ranch followers, I guess you can say...potential clients, has been asking me to expand my chicken operation to sell farm fresh eggs. There is a demand out there on the island. I do have a flock of Rhode Island Red Egg layers that I acquired from another rancher last year, around August. Even with the hens I have. I don't have that increased number to properly meet the demands from the market. I've done this before with Muscovy Ducks. I was told, "Raise them, and I'll buy it". So I raised over a hundred ducks and drakes for this supposed roasting duck market. It turned out to be a flop. I will not let that happen to my ranch again, especially to the animals. You can only feed so much on a fixed budget.
From personal experience, We, at Matua Ranch, will go slow. We'll build up slowly to properly raise the best egg layers we have on the ranch. We will follow a manageable breeding plan to breed, hatch out, and raise the best chicks for our region. So in the future, we will be able to sell meat products due to our high culling rate.
I just read a post from a part time chicken farmer on island. He posted on one of the Facebook Groups that I'm subscribed to. He is having issues meeting demand and fuel costs. If he doesn't get it under control. He's going to start taking short cuts to meet his market's demand. I've met to many farmers, who start up good, only to go under, because their market demand was to high to manage.
During my Monday Safety Briefs at work, I always tell my work crews, "Go Slow, Go Smooth, Gets you Fast. When you work slow...you're actually working smooth. Then smooth gets you fast. When you work fast, you get into an accident, then work stops...production stops".
ESTA
Keep Smiling
