In 1997, Holly and Matt Linck's daughters, Rachel and Shelby, were attending school at Southside, Bee Branch, Ark., and were involved in 4-H. They had pastureland that was mostly browse at their 40-acre farm on Harmony Mountain Road near Choctaw, Ark., and the girls wanted to get involved in showing livestock.
"Rachel wanted a heifer," Holly said, "but Shelby was hesitant of cattle. So we settled on goats since they could serve a dual purpose of show and help clear the property. It was pretty much goat heaven. We could utilize existing forage and raising them would be more cost effective."
Both girls showed market goats throughout their 4-H careers. "Shelby also branched into the breeding business," Holly said. "After researching, we decided we needed the Boer breed to be successful. We purchased our first breeding stock and show wether from Red Taylor and Dick Ethington who were both helpful. Through hours of research and years of trial and error, we've developed a foundation of animals that I feel offers producers the kind of does that provide the quantity and quality of milk and excellent mothering instincts."
CONTINUING THE BUSINESS
Rachel and Shelby live away from home and attend college. Now, the business is mainly run by Holly, with roughly 20 acres divided into differing lots which are used for rotational grazing and/or for housing select groups such as kidding goats. The goats feed primarily on native browse and grasses with some supplemental commercial feed and hay, dependent on weather and status of the animal breeding or kidding season.
"Goats can be more susceptible to parasites if grazed in too large of numbers for the site," Holly explained. "But with rotational grazing, co-grazing with a different species, the jenny, selective worming schedules and some inherent resistance, we've managed to keep our herd healthy from parasite problems. Before leaving our farm, each year's kids are dehorned, if market wethers, wormed and given C/T shots with booster to prevent clostridium perfringins, overeating disease and tetanus. I use a strict bio-security program; meaning new animals are quarantined for a minimum of two weeks to ensure they're not contagious. This has been effective."
Predators haven't been a problem for Holly. Her fences are web wire and hot wire. Their jenny, Clementine, grazes with the goats, a deterrent to predators. The family dogs are used to help work the stock.
"I've sold my animals primarily through private treaty," Holly said. "A few times I've participated in pen sales through organizations I belong to."
Since 2000, she's been a member of the American Boer Goat Association. She is a member of the North Arkansas Meat Goat Association, the American Meat Goat Association, and the International Boer Goat Association.
"This year the kids that were sold to 4-H and FFA members for market and breeding classes at the shows have done very well," Holly said. "Due to this I've had requests to move my breeding schedule up, so I'll have a few late February babies and the rest in March and April. This could be expanded to include May. The market goat project is the fastest growing in 4-H and FFA."
"In the beginning," Holly said, "I crossed Shelby's one registered Nubian doe for the milk production. This doe had four generations documented on her production rate. I wanted to ensure that my does on field would have more than adequate milking ability to raise multiple kids. This trait continues."
