Herd Health
Our goats' health is very important to us. Whenever I purchase new goats, I always ask a lot of questions about herd health, because I don't want to bring an unhealthy animal into our herd. So, here are the answers to the questions I normally ask before I purchase goats from anyone. If you have questions not answered here, please ask!
- We maintain a closed herd. We attended our last show and bought our last goats in June 2008. Since that time, none of our goats has left the farm, and there have been no new goats on the farm. In 2009, after more than one year with no outside contact, we tested our herd for CAE, CL, and Johnes, with all negative results.
- Our goats receive free-choice Sweetlix MeatMaker goat minerals and baking soda in separate feeders, so they can eat as much or as little of each one as they require.
- We are enrolled in the USDA's scrapie eradication program.
- Illinois is a certified TB-free and brucellosis-free state.
- Our goats have never had any type of abscess.
- We follow the FAMACHA and "smart drenching" protocol for dealing with parasites. This means that we only use a dewormer when goats are exhibiting signs of anemia. Copper-oxide wire particles (also known as COWP or copper boluses) are our first choice for treatment. If that doesn't work, we will use a chemical dewormer. We have tried Hoegger's herbal dewormer in the past but found that it does not work very well for a goat that is already anemic. We are currently experimenting with diatomaceous earth and Shaklee's Basic H as preventatives.
- All kids are disbudded, and wethers are castrated before sale.
- Although we originally vaccinated all goats for CDT, we have changed our protocol and no longer do this. We stopped vaccinating our own goats after about three years, and in 2009, we stopped vaccinating kids we sell. Vaccines are simply against our personal philosophy, but if you want to vaccinate your goats, we will be happy to explain how it's done and where to buy the supplies, which cost $5 to $10 for vaccinating 1-20 goats.
If you have any other questions about our herd health, please don't hesitate to ask.
