December 2021 Issue |
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IN THIS ISSUE: |
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• Subscribe to Meat Goat Mania • Email Us • Onion Creek Ranch • Bending Tree Ranch • OCR Health & Management Articles • MGM Archive |
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Subscribe FREE now! Monthly issues with new articles and other educational information on meat goat health, nutrition, and management written by Suzanne W. Gasparotto of Onion Creek Ranch and Pat Cotten of Bending Tree Ranch. In all cases, it is your responsibility to obtain veterinary services and advice before using any of the information provided in these articles. Neither Suzanne Gasparotto nor Pat Cotten are veterinarians. None of the contributors to this website will be held responsible for the use of any information contained herein. |
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WINDSCREENS: EFFECTIVE PROTECTION FROM WIND, RAIN, & COLD On my Texas goat ranch, I have an 8,000 square foot open-sided goat barn with working pens , chutes, and vet building. Six pastures radiate outward from the west, north, and east sides. The pastures' shelters are the outer 14 feet of three sides of the structure. I knew when I had the open-sided building constructed that I would need to provide wind, rain, and cold barriers for the goats. I decided to go through several seasons to learn prevailing winds and weather patterns. I wasn't sure how I was going to provide rain and wind protection to the outer shelters. A fellow goat raiser suggested using fabric windscreens. It was a brilliant idea. I determined the areas that needed protection and divided the windscreens into manageable sections, based upon the building's metal supports, for ease of handling and installation. Measurements were taken from bottom of top metal framing to top of bottom metal framework. Measurements were recorded for each section. I researched windscreens and chose the most wind-resistant material density (180 gsm) and a brown-black coloration that blends with the metal structure. The material blocks 80% of wind while allowing excellent visibility through it, so the goats are protected from wind and rain but they also have good visibility of their surroundings. Heavy-duty plastic electrical ties were used to secure the fabric to the structure through the many grommets manufactured into the sides, top, and bottom of each panel. The very reasonably priced panels arrived in about two weeks. I keep them up year around, occasionally using a water hose with sprinkler head to wash the dust off of them. They are entering their fourth full season of service with minimal wear. I am very pleased with them. The goats love the windscreens. Often they are in their respective sections of windscreen-protected areas on bad-weather nights when I turn on the security lights. On windy or cold or rainy days, they stay inside too, making this structure useable 24/7, 365 days a year. The supplier I use is Humphrys Cover Sports. www.coversports.com 1-800-445-6680. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Suzanne W. Gasparotto 12.1.21 |
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Below is the working area of the barn before windscreens are installed. |
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