It sounds like you have officially entered the goat world....Be fore-warned,and it may be too late, You will have lots of questions and even more answers...some will contradict each other...some will be from people who really don't know but have read something somewhere eg. your vet....some will be useful but you won't know which ones.
The only way for you to be sure is jump in the pool and find out for yourself....In a few years after a few cycles You will be the pro answering the questions.
NOW.....IMO....I would never buy an animal that had ANY issues....PERIOD...If you are starting a breeding herd it is not worth it to start your foundation on an animal that isn't perfect...healthy...well built...exactly what you are looking for. Anything less and you will be sorry down the road. Yeah a good billy may be expensive but remember all your kids for the next few years will be from him....probably never better ...Start with the best you can afford...maybe a proven older animal and try to get your own billy out of him.
Worming...I worm 3X a year with Fenbendazole....that is it...I do rotate pastures as much as possible...and I do top dress my lactating ration with DE...I don't think I have a problem and my vet is a true large animal vet and cares for sheep and goat herds as well as horses.
Vet...get one that knows what he/she is talking about...someday you will need an answer right away and need someone that you can count on to give you the right one.
Wethering...if you plan to sell your billies as market animals have your vet castrate them as early as she will allow then separate them after weaning and feed them a ration designed finish animals...they will grow much faster to market weight.
Disbudding....the first vet visit when she castrates them have her dehorn them all.
Guard animal...I have a donkey that hates everything except "her" horses and goats. I don't like dogs in the pasture.
Good luck sorry the post is so long...
The only way for you to be sure is jump in the pool and find out for yourself....In a few years after a few cycles You will be the pro answering the questions.
NOW.....IMO....I would never buy an animal that had ANY issues....PERIOD...If you are starting a breeding herd it is not worth it to start your foundation on an animal that isn't perfect...healthy...well built...exactly what you are looking for. Anything less and you will be sorry down the road. Yeah a good billy may be expensive but remember all your kids for the next few years will be from him....probably never better ...Start with the best you can afford...maybe a proven older animal and try to get your own billy out of him.
Worming...I worm 3X a year with Fenbendazole....that is it...I do rotate pastures as much as possible...and I do top dress my lactating ration with DE...I don't think I have a problem and my vet is a true large animal vet and cares for sheep and goat herds as well as horses.
Vet...get one that knows what he/she is talking about...someday you will need an answer right away and need someone that you can count on to give you the right one.
Wethering...if you plan to sell your billies as market animals have your vet castrate them as early as she will allow then separate them after weaning and feed them a ration designed finish animals...they will grow much faster to market weight.
Disbudding....the first vet visit when she castrates them have her dehorn them all.
Guard animal...I have a donkey that hates everything except "her" horses and goats. I don't like dogs in the pasture.
Good luck sorry the post is so long...
