Updated July 13, 2006
The Farm has purchased two female Nubian Goats from the Tindall Farm in Uxbridge..
" Porsche" & "Rose" arrived July 5th and are already entertaining visitors.
Porsche & Rose in Francey Barn
Photo: Julian Loke
July 14, 2006
Registered Name: Tindall Galaxy's Porsche
Date of Birth: January 12, 2004
Registered Name: Tindall Galaxy's Rose
Date of Birth: March 31, 2005
The Nubian goat breed was developed as a dual purpose animal. They produce both meat and milk. The Nubian is seen as the Jersey of the dairy goat breeds. Their milk has a higher percentage of butterfat. They were developed in England by crossing native British goats with the Jumna Pari goats of India and the Zariby goat of Egypt. Because of its origin the Nubian is more heat-tolerant than most breeds. The Nubian has a tendency for having multiple births and they will breed out of season. The Nubian has long ears that hang down and a Roman nose. They can be any color combination. For example, they can be from strawberry roan to brown with white polka dots to pure black with grey ears. During the summer months the Nubian's have a very short, sleek coat, unlike the Toggenburg, for example, who's coat is much longer and coarse. Nubians tend to be VERY vocal. They cry when you come into the barn, they cry when you leave the barn, they cry when they want to be fed... The average mature doe is 150 pounds and the average mature buck is 170 pounds.
I. DESCRIPTION
A large, distinctive looking goat with long, drooping ears which bend forward toward the lower jaw. The nose is Roman and the forehead prominent. The tail turns upward. Both bucks and does are hornless, having only subcutaeaous knobs. The females have no beards. Nubians have short hair which may be almost any color, including spotted.
II. GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE AND HABITAT
The strain originated in the Nile valley.
III. DIET
Goats are known for their ability to prosper on poor pasture. They are vegetarians that prefer browse to pasture. To reach high branches they stand on their hind legs.
IV. LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE
The normal litter is two kids after a gestation period of 21-22 weeks. Goats are sexually mature as early as 6 months old. The normal life span is 8 to 12 years.
V. SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
They are agile climbers due in part to the hair which grows between their hooves and gives them traction on smooth surfaces.
VI. INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION
Goats were domesticated by man before 7500 B.C. They have developed into animals that do well in areas where cows and sheep could not survive. Nubians were introduced into England in the 1860’s, but did not thrive and were crossed with English stock. Anglo-Nubians retain most of their Nubian characteristics and were first imported into Canada & USA in the 1900’s. They are not prolific milk producers (6 and 1/2 quarts per day), but their milk is exceptionally rich (5.2% butterfat) and is used in many parts of the world in place of cow’s milk. The Nubian doe is often called “the Jersey of the milk goats.”
Farm Animal News is contributed by Ruth Armitage, Coordinator - Events, Permits, Programs, & Volunteers, Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation, Riverdale Farm in partnership with the Friends of Riverdale Farm. For more information email farm@toronto.ca or phone 416 392-6794. Fax 416 392-0329.
Farm Animal News
updated May 20, 2008
SPRING 2008 LAMBING & KIDDING ..con't
MONDAY MAY 12, 2008 - EVENING (930pm)
NUBIAN GOAT (DOE) "ROSE" gave birth to triplets - three kids (female)
* assisted by Farm Foreperson, Curtis
WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2008 - EVENING (1000pm)
NUBIAN GOAT (DOE) "PORSCHE" gave birth to triplets - three kids (2 male, 1 female)
*assisted by Farm Foreperson, Curtis
"Moms" are accepting visitors in the Lower Francey Barn.
Spring flowering plants, shrubs, & trees are providing an assortment of splendorous colour to see as you follow the paths throughout the Farm.
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assisted by Farm Foreperson/Gardener, Curtis, & the Riverdale Farm Garden Club Members
A Sow & her newborn piglets will be arriving at the Farm in the late afternoon on Sunday.
Our thanks to Tom Hutchinson (Wooly Acres Farm, Indian River ON) for lending us his sow/piglets & two cotswold sheep/lambs to have on display at Riverdale Farm.
updated May 12, 2008
SPRING 2008 LAMBING & KIDDING HAS BEGUN
Birth Announcements:
SUNDAY MAY 11, 2008 – EARLY EVENING (600-700pm)
SUFFOLK SHEEP (EWE) “WINNIE” gave birth to two lambs (female-white, male-white with black markings)
* assisted by Farm Attendant, Danna.NUBIAN GOAT (DOE) “PETAL” gave birth to one kid (female)
* assisted by Farm Attendant, Danna.
More birth announcements & pics expected soon - stay tuned.....
updated April 22, 2007
Birth Updates
Shetland Sheep-Ewe "Sheeba" gave birth to twins (2M-black) lambs on April 17th
Dorset Sheep-Ewe "Lola" gave birth to single (1F-black) lamb on April 18th
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Holstein Dairy Cow "Roxie Red"
Photos: Farm Attendant, Kathryn |
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RABBITS Captain & Slim
Photo: Farm Attendant, Kathryn
April 15, 2007
Tamworth Pig-Sow "Ginger"'s 7 Tamworth Purebred Piglets (3-F, 4-M) - born Apr 6th
Photo: Farm Attendant, Kathryn
April 15, 2007
Updated April 17, 2007
Kidding and lambing highlight the arrival of Spring at Riverdale Farm
Nubian Goat-Doe "Rose" gave birth to twins on March 16th
Nubian Goat-Doe "Porsche" had triplets on March 29th
PHOTO: Farm Attendant Kathryn
April 11, 2007
PHOTO: Peter Queen
April 7, 2007
PHOTO: Farm Attendant Kathryn
April 11, 2007
PHOTO: Farm Attendant Kathryn
April 11, 2007
Five chicks hatched from our hens' incubated Brown Leghorns and Light Sussex eggs on April 4th have been adopted by our Silver-laced Wyandotte Hen.
PHOTO: Farm Attendant Kathryn
April 11, 2007
Suffolk Sheep-Ewe "Mabel" gave birth to twins (1F-white, 1M-black) on April 2nd
PHOTO: Farm Attendant Kathryn
April 11, 2007
More births...
Suffolk Sheep-Ewe "Winnie" gave birth to twins (2M-black) lambs on April 12th
Photos: Farm Attendant, Kathryn
Aptil 15, 2007Cotswold Sheep-Ewe "Cedar" gave birth to single (1F-white) lambs on April 13th
Photos: Farm Attendant, Kathryn
Aptil 15, 2007Dorset Sheep-Ewe "Susie" gave birth to twins (2F-white) lambs on April 15th
Photos: Farm Attendant, Kathryn
Aptil 15, 2007
Due soon...
Dorset Sheep-Ewe "Lola" due to lamb soon
Shetland Sheep-Ewe "Sheeba" due to lamb soon
Suffolk Sheep-Ewe "Elsie" due to lamb soon
Suffolk Sheep-Ewe "Marcelle" due to lamb soon
Tamworth Pig-Sow "Ginger" returned to Riverdale Farm from the Farm of her owner, Tom Hutchinson, with her seven young piglets on April 15th.
Tamworth Pig-Sow "Ginger" - 4 years old, weighs about 500 lb.
and her 7 Tamworth Purebred Piglets (3-F, 4-M) - born Apr 6th
Updated March 26, 2007
Nubian Goat "Rose" gave birth to twins (male & female) on Fri Mar 16th, 830am. Farm Attendant/Gardener, Curtis, assisted in the delivery. Curtis suggested that "Rose's" newborns be named "Petal" & "Thorn".
Nubian Goat-Doe "Rose" & her twin kids "Petal" & "Thorn"
Day-old newborns taken Sat Mar 17th
Photo: Farm Attendant, Kathryn.
Our Nubian Goat "Porsche" will also give birth in March. Goats are entertaining visitors in the Farm's Lower Francey Barn, 900am-500pm daily.
The goats original owner and breeder, Jim Tindall, recently provided a workshop at the Farm for City Staff from Toronto PFR Animal Display Facilities (High Park, Centre Island, and Riverdale Farm) re goat care pre-during-after birth.
Both goats competed at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair last Fall '06. Rose won a 2nd place blue ribbon for milkers age 1-2yrs and Porsche won a 5th place green ribbon for milkers 2-3yrs. Jim Tindall prepared the goats for showing and cared for both throughout the two days of competition. Farm Foreperson, Hakim, and Farm Advisory Council Animal Management Committee Chair, Pauline, also assisted at the Fair.
