Goat Rant *long*

[Cara]

I'm not sure how much you paid for your buck, but i'd be dropping him off back where he came from whether they answered their phone or not. It wouldn't be worth the risk integrating him into your flock.

 

[Epona142]

How far is Leander from College Station? I know a lovely young woman with some gorgeous bucks for sale. I am buying three of her does and was sorely tempted by her bucks as well, but decided my Buckly was enough.

ETA: Oh, and if you're interested in a whole forum FULL of extremely helpful people, I'd try thegoatspot.net I wouldn't trade it for the world. They have been invaluable to me and have never failed to help. Just searching their forum is a big help as well. I feel your frustration, it always seems I have another question about my goaties, but it definitely sounds like people aren't making it easy for you.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Sorry you're going through this. Maybe you need to do a vet search. I think the buck's seller took advantage of you. I would return the buck, and if you don't get your money back, chalk it up as a learning experience. I saw this on recently on Austin's craigslist. It is for cashmere goats, but I think the farm is reputable. I did see your ad for a guy wanted for your nigerian girls. The second one is a recent post, maybe even the buck you bought.

Good luck.

http://austin.craigslist.org/grd/1004814550.html


ttp://austin.craigslist.org/grd/1009066699.html

 

[Laskaland]

Quote:

Okay that is just BIZARRE GROSS ODD AND VERY SICK. Thank goodness he never showed up...I hoope you didn't give him directions

 

[Chirpy]

First you are right... if you ask ten people the same question about goats you will likely get three or four different answers. I was so surprised at how varying the info is on goats. I still shake my head in wonder and hope I don't hurt mine either, as I'm learning.

Second - Kate (helmstead) is really knowledgeable and experienced. I would listen to what she has to say; follow her advice and as you learn more change it (if needed) to fit your situation. (For example: some people need to worm on a regular schedule, some do not.)

http://thegoatspot.net/phpbb/index.php is a great site (as someone above said). The people are so friendly and helpful. They have really helped me since I started and especially through a rough time a few weeks ago with a kidding gone bad.

I agree with Kate that your vet isn't goat savvy... most vets aren't. You need to call around and find a vet that is. If you know other goat owners in the area (doesn't matter what breed they have) ask them who they use as a goat vet.

Best wishes in your new goat endeavor. Sorry it's started out so badly for you.

 

[griffin45]

I am just going to add my opinion on worms and leave soremouth and the other problems to Kate.

For me this was common sense after I learned about browse/worm/poison. Goats are browsers not grazers. They like to eat "up" if at all possible. They will graze, if they have to. To me, not eating on the ground means less worms, but they still get worms. Most worm medicine is a poison. It is ingested by the worms, kills the worms and the worms then pass out the digestive tract. If you worm any animal that does not have worms then you take the chance of poisoning your animal, because the worms are not there to eat the poison. Cause and effect.

Have a great day!
Chris

 

[rufus]

Sounds like it is a lot cheaper to buy milk at the store.

Rufus

 

[EweSheep]

Kate is very knowledgeable about goats, even more than me.

From my pre vet college days, what I can remember is soremouth in goats and sheep is a BAD thing. They would not allow them in the flock and some would be put down. This information is a very long time ago and maybe things have changed since then.

Yep, we all go thru the learning curve as I did with my Nubian goats and they were fun as they could be but never again I would have goats....they are sneaky and Houdinis (for fences and feed bins)

 

[Epona142]

Depends on what you mean by cheaper.

Personally, I would rather have clean, fresh, raw milk. I have BEEN in dairies that provide milk to groceries stores, and trust me, you do NOT want to know what I saw. Not to mention by the time you get the milk, its old and so processed it's barely more than chalky water.

Anyways, I certainly don't care if people buy milk from the grocery store, this is only my opinion. I love my goats, and its not as hard as its being made to seem to the poor OP. Goats are tough critters most of the time.

So if you mean cheaper money wise, yes, its less expensive for me to run to the grocery store and buy a gallon of chalky milk.

But to me, its worth far more than money to spend time with my buddies and bring in fresh healthy milk that hasn't been processed to death and didn't come from a over stressed, over bred, filthy poor old cow.

**Disclaimer** NOT ALL Dairies treat their cattle the way I have seen from some major dairies. (I wasn't supposed to be in those dairies by the way!) I know a dairy just a little ways from here who takes GREAT care of their cattle! When I need milk that is not goat's, I go there. I just don't like buying products when I know there's a good chance the animal wasn't treated as well as it could have been; I'm sure some of you understand that.

 

[Haviris]

It can be frustrating. But it gets easy as you learn.

I've only had the one experience w/ soremouth, my vet considered it a minor thing. And my doe is now almost 2 (in Feb) and has been w/ the herd since she was around 2 months old. I kept her isolated until the sores were gone and none of my other goats ever got it, and she has never had another out break. So this is what I base it on, and I am not afraid of soremouth. Your buck should be fine once he's over it, assuming he's healthy otherwise.

I agree that your vet may not be the best goat vet! Goats don't tolerate anesthesia very well, so mostly they are not put out unless completely necessary! Finding someone that knows how to disbud can be tough, but you definately want someone that knows what they are doing. I hate disbudding, one of my least favorite parts of goat ownership, that and tattooing. I'd probably try to find a breeder in your area that can disbud for you, I know a few vets that do it, but they don't do a very good job, and most will use a disbudder ment for calves.

I prefer to band my boys, and I leave it til I have to do it, usually when the new owners come to pick them up, or once they start showing interest in the girls (happens faster w/ the minis). It's quick, it's easy, and I can do it w/out help. I will never understand why some find this more inhumane then the other methods.

Pasture rotation, and regular fecals would be great, in thoery. But most of us do not have that many pastures. I generally worm when I trim feet, or when I think they need it. I always worm right before I start breeding, and as soon as a doe kids. I try not to worm while they are pg, but sometimes I have to.

So just stick it out, it will get better! Somethings you just have to figure what works best for you and your herd!