International Arapawa Goat Association

IAGA Profile:

Arapawa goats on my farm

Marilyn Burbank ~ My Farm

My menagerie and I share 21 acres in Southern Oregon, USA. 'Tis a mixed lot, not only of animals but of landscape. The nonplanted fields grow a mixture of grasses, some native, but most introduced, native broadleafs, and some vetch. The remaining 10 acres are mixed forest consisting of Ponderosa Pine, various Oaks and Pacific Madrone trees. There is also an understory of Manzanita, Ceanothus, Willow and the ever prolific blackberries. ALL wonderful treats for the goats..!!!!

In summer the goats practice agriforestry

In the summer months, the goats practice agriforestry. Along with their guardian dogs, they live among the trees and the understory eating all these wonderful treats and creating a “fuel break” in preparation of dreaded fire, our constant fear in the hot summer. There is also grass so they really do have their pick of the best of the best.

My goat herd of 30 is as mixed as this land with a few remnant Cashmere (my oldest doe is Spanish/Cashmere at 18½ years), a couple of Nubian wethers, and, of course, the Arapawas. This is the first summer that I've put all of the goats together as one herd, and I must say, it has been a most interesting process. It took about three weeks for them to negotiate an armed truce. Even though there is a pecking order in each herd, I found that all come together in one common group to battle outsiders. So there were three groups that had to settle in their places. They have done so and even though there are still three distinct herds they do well together, which will make it much easier for me in the winter as they can all share the big barn instead of being in three different fields and shelters.

Looking towards the goat shelter in winter

A mule, llamas, chickens, geese, cats, birds, other dogs along with a myriad of wildlife make up the remainder of my menagerie. My farm is surrounded by wildlands so we have an abundance of deer and mallard ducks that come to share in the chicken food, birds of prey, coyotes, fox and the other small critters that live in a forest and meadow land. Not so many in these later years, but we used to have an impressive herd of elk that “hung” out in my fields.

If you're bottlefed in the kitchen, you have to help with the dishes

I know that there are cougar and bear in the surrounding hills, but I have not been bothered. The livestock guardian dogs do a great job of keeping harmful predators away. In the 25 years that I have been here, my only losses have been a few free running chickens that would not stay in their yard.

Marilyn (right) with Betty Rowe on Arapawa Island

My focus for the past five years has been the Arapawa goats and one of the best gifts to come from that was my friendship with Betty Rowe. I feel very privileged to have been a guest in her home and to have shared with her a mutual respect and love for all living things, especially her goats. This farm will continue in the effort to conserve and promote the Arapawas. To that end, we will make another attempt this fall at AI’ing with semen collected from David Hughes’ farm in Lyttelton, New Zealand, as well as stay the fight with DoC to conserve the Island goats, and to promote this unique breed as an asset to any farm.

My farm and my menagerie are a lifelong dream come true. I have been truly blessed with a lifestyle that includes bouncing baby kids, extraordinary livestock guardian dogs, companion equines, a barn to muck out, and pasture ornaments. God has been good to me and mine and I thank Him every day.