R and J Farms

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

There’s something special about the farm in the early morning hours.

The goats are milked, most of the chores are done, and the sun is just starting to light up the day. All that’s left on the morning checklist is feeding the bottle calves before the kids head off to school.

The days start early, but mornings like this make it all worth it. ❤️🐐

09/01/2026

Tell me you raise calves without telling me you raise calves, I will go first!

🍼🐮

09/01/2026

He just loves his bibs!

09/01/2026

Got some new inventory for in the store :)

09/01/2026

Henry has gotten so big since last year! Sadly he’s our only big toad left. One eye Fred got ran over in the drive way last fall.

08/31/2026

This view never gets old!

08/31/2026

08/30/2026

Yesterday’s post about Holly learning to drive a truck in the field brought back so many memories for people. It got me thinking…

What was your favorite memory growing up on a farm, or even just visiting one?

Some of my favorite memories were spending hours with my cousins in the hay mow, way up above the cows. We’d build forts out of stacked hay bales, make secret hideouts, and stay up there until someone came looking for us. Looking back, they were simple moments, but they were some of the best memories of childhood.

I’d love to hear your favorite farm memories in the comments. 🐄🚜🌾

08/30/2026

🌱 Why We Wrap High-Moisture Round Bale Hay for Dairy Goats 🐐🥛

One question we get asked a lot is why we wrap some of our hay instead of making dry hay bales.

The answer is simple: quality feed matters, especially when you’re feeding dairy animals.

When hay is baled at a higher moisture level and wrapped, it goes through a controlled fermentation process. This creates what many people call baleage. When done correctly, baleage offers several advantages:

✅ Preserves More Nutrients – Plants continue to lose nutrients the longer they sit in the field drying. Wrapping allows hay to be harvested sooner, helping retain more energy, protein, and overall feed value.

✅ Improved Palatability – Many goats find properly made baleage softer, leafier, and more appealing than overly dry hay. More feed consumed means animals can better meet their nutritional needs.

✅ Reduced Leaf Loss – The leaves of legumes and many forage crops contain the highest concentration of nutrients. Dry hay can lose a significant amount of leaves during baling and handling, while wrapped forage helps keep those nutrients in the bale.

✅ Less Weather Risk – Instead of waiting several extra days for hay to dry completely, forage can often be harvested sooner. This reduces the chance of rain damaging the crop and lowers the risk of nutrient loss from weather exposure.

✅ Excellent Feed for Lactating Does – High-quality forage is the foundation of milk production. Properly fermented baleage can provide highly digestible nutrients that help support body condition, rumen health, and milk production.

✅ Less Dust – Wrapped forage generally produces less dust than very dry hay, which can be beneficial for both livestock and the people feeding them.

A few important notes: Baleage must be harvested, wrapped, and stored correctly. If moisture levels are too high or bales are damaged and allow air inside, spoilage can occur. Quality management is critical.

At the end of the day, healthy goats start with quality forage. Grain can supplement a ration, but good feed begins with what goes into the hay feeder.

🐐 What do you prefer feeding your dairy goats—dry hay, baleage, or a combination of both? Share your experience in the comments!