CAE thoughts/discussion

HappyFarmer · #**101** 04/12/11, 11:48 AM

I wasn't going to post to this thread again, but heck one more.

As far as I'm concerned anyone who has read this thread, or heck even HT goat forum in general for any length of time, and chooses NOT to test, insist on clean animals, etc., deserves what they get.
Being a member of the forum & claiming ingnorance or being naive is not an excuse if you've been here for over 6 months. Diseases are discussed very frequently.

CAE ( others too) is a real problem. As far as I'm concerned if someone doesn't provide a link, anyone reading the board has google at their disposal. This many posts under 1 topic should be a key indicator of an important subject.

Just my $.02
HF

Alice In TX/MO · #**102** 04/12/11, 03:08 PM

I will add that herds that you expect to test, may not.

I called a well known goat milk farm near Austin, Texas, to ask what they do with their excess kids. They sell milk and cheese at local farmers markets, so I expected them to say "Yes" to the testing question.

Although they sell kids at a very reasonable price, they don't test.

I was appalled.

LoneStrChic23 · #**103** 04/12/11, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I will add that herds that you expect to test, may not.

I called a well known goat milk farm near Austin, Texas, to ask what they do with their excess kids. They sell milk and cheese at local farmers markets, so I expected them to say "Yes" to the testing question.

Although they sell kids at a very reasonable price, they don't test.

I was appalled.

I understand that! I contacted a breeder here in Texas who had a doe I REALLY wanted for $450. They show a lot, claim to be a clean herd on their site....We emailed back and forth, the woman was very chatty, friendly and wanted me to come out to the farm for a day visit. I asked about current CAE test on her herd, and said that if she didn't have one on the doe, I would put a deposit on her pending negative results and would even pay for the test.....Never heard another word back.... The abruptness of her sudden silent treatment tells me everything I need to know. I've since had my mom email her inquiring about goats listed for sale.....she also had the same chatty friendly person, and in the 3rd email when my mom inquired about CAE testing, she never heard back from the breeder...

Sadly I know a member here who bought goat's from this breeder and I'd bet ya money the goats she brought home stand a high chance of testing positive if ever tested.

CaliannG · #**104** 04/12/11, 07:05 PM

~nods emphatically~ I contacted a dairy near Austin about goats for sale... they had some fabulous bloodlines, yadda, yadda, yadda....

Amazingly, when I asked about current testing, SUDDENLY *all* the goats were sold, every single available goat GONE in one fell swoop.

Hmmmmmmmm.....

MrsSurplus · #**105** 04/13/11, 07:27 PM

Okay...at the risk of seeming (being?) totally obtuse...if I have a closed herd that tests negative, why would I need to retest every 6 months or yearly? I don't actually have a buck, but I'm wondering if it's worth getting one next fall (obviously, a CAE negative buck) so that my girls aren't exposed to potential positives. In reading this conversation it sounded like some people routinely test their negative herds.

Also, someone (several someones?) mentioned looking at the records for any goats you're considering buying. Obviously, pedigree would be included. Milk record...and CAE testing. Anything else?

Thank you all!

Alice In TX/MO · #**106** 04/13/11, 07:36 PM

I test yearly. Never had a positive. It's for the peace of mind and for buyers.

CaliannG · #**107** 04/13/11, 09:08 PM

If I wasn't going to SELL any goats, I probably would not test a closed herd. Or maybe I would.

BUT...there are other things also. I am already going to test yearly for other things. We have White-Tail deer here, and they have an AMAZING lack of respect for fences. They just go where-ever they want without even a "By your leave?".

So, considering sometimes where they want to go is my woods, my pond, my pasture, and that they can pass on disease to goats...I would probably test yearly even if I didn't sell, for my own peace of mind.

It is more than just for me. MY tests are shared information. The government collects those results (not MY results, specifically, but results such as "How many people tested in this county? How many postives? How many negatives?"), and they help to make databases and form statistics that help all of us.

And seriously, ALL of the tests I do, plus even the pregnancy test, is less than $45 a year per goat. That is not hitting my bottom line all THAT hard, and it is not such a huge vet bill for their health. My CATS don't have that low of a yearly vet maintenance.

Alice In TX/MO · #**108** 04/13/11, 09:09 PM

Caliann, do you test for brucellosis?

CaliannG · #**109** 04/13/11, 09:25 PM

Oh yes! My vet signs for me to do so. I also test for TB...not that I think they have a chance in heck of having it, but just because. If the State ever decides to REALLY crack down on milk and those that have goats, they will NOT be able to come after mine using an excuse of possible disease.

MrsSurplus · #**110** 04/14/11, 05:21 PM

So, do you just do all the tests at once - doing it all with one blood draw?

CaliannG · #**111** 04/14/11, 06:50 PM

Well, since I use two labs, it is two vials, but one draw, yes, all at once, once a year, about a month before kidding season starts when I am doing all of their BoSe, yearly vacs, etc.

birdiegirl · #**112** 04/14/11, 09:16 PM

Which labs do you use Caliann? I use biotracking for my CAE tests, but I am wondering which lab to use for the remaining tests.......I am in Texas also.

CaliannG · #**113** 04/14/11, 11:29 PM

I use Bio-tracking and WADDLs (Washington U lab). You even get a break on shipping with WADDLs.

Qvrfullmidwife · #**114** 04/15/11, 09:37 AM

Remember for Brucellosis and TB tests to be considered "valid" you cannot do it yourself--it takes a vet drawing blood and sending it off, a vet administering the TB then reading it several days later.

And what Calliann says is true--the desired testing will rarely exceed $45 or so a goat per year. It does tend to add up, though, if you have more than a handful!

Heritagefarm · #**115** 04/15/11, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliannG

I also test for TB...not that I think they have a chance in heck of having it, but just because.

Because why?

CaliannG · #**116** 04/15/11, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heritagefarm

Because why?

[sic] Testing for TB.

**************************************

For one, TB testing is required for all dairies. I don't have a dairy NOW, but if I want one, already having a history of a clean herd works in my favor.

For two, TB testing is required for transporting goats over state lines or Internationally. Over state lines, it is part of the "Veterinary Check and sign off" most of us ignore. However, I can accredit my herd and *legally* sell over state lines and internationally.

For three, why not? I am already having the vet there to sign for the Brucella test, it's no big deal to have her to the TB also.

For four, the paranoid, anti-government person talking here...if you read through the old laws concerning TB ( I mean the REAL old ones, from over 50 years ago), you will find that at ANY time that the government suspects a possible TB outbreak, they can come out and round up, and destroy, all "dairy animal suspected of infection".

Wish I could remember EXACTLY which law that one is in.... but when someone else pointed it out to me 20 some-odd years ago, it stuck in my head. "They can?" "Yep, they can. See, read this right here."

Now, not that I think they WILL in this day and age....but you never know what may happen, especially with all those corporations funding laws that crack down on the small producer. It doesn't take genius for someone to suggest, "Hey, why don't we have our lawyers comb through all the laws we already HAVE and drag them out of the attic and use them?"

The fact that I am paranoid and I do not trust the government not to do such nonsense...well, if they ever DO come here, *I* have current tests.

~grinz and winks~ You will get my goats when you pry their teats from my cold, dead fingers....or something like that.

Protecting my rights to keep and milk goats?

Heritagefarm · #**117** 04/15/11, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliannG

The fact that I am paranoid and I do not trust the government not to do such nonsense...well, if they ever DO come here, *I* have current tests.

But I thought you were a socialist?

CaliannG · #**118** 04/15/11, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heritagefarm

But I thought you were a socialist?

That is not a discussion for the goat forum. However, allow me to demonstrate:

Socialism is not a form of government. It is an economic system. Socialism thrives just fine under a democratic government, a representative republic, a monarchy, a dictatorship, yadda, yadda, yadda....because it is not a form of government. It is separate from government.

~smiles~ It is why I get so angry when people call Obama a socialist. *I* am a socialist. Obama isn't even CLOSE. He is such a capitalist that it isn't funny.

Difference between socialism and communism:

In socialism, the means of production is controlled by the workers.
In communism, the means of production is controlled by the State (which could run under any form of government).

I am a socialist. Not a communist. Not a capitalist. Not a monarchist.

And, this really doesn't belong here. If a moderator wants to delete this, I am not going to utter a word of complaint.

Oat Bucket Farm · #**119** 04/15/11, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heritagefarm

But I thought you were a socialist?

What does that have to do with disease testing?

Qvrfullmidwife · #**120** 04/16/11, 10:22 PM

"Now, not that I think they WILL in this day and age."

Unfortunately I think that they not only CAN, I believe that they HAVE not only in Europe but also in this country. I also believe that they likely WILL. Like Calliann I look to testing to protect me...and my 2nd Amendment rights. ;-)