Why do meat goat breeders not test?

mysticklobo · #21 01/03/12, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chamoisee

What is it like with Angora goat breeders?

Most of the ones that I know don't seem to care.

One reason I got out of them, couldn't find tested stock and couldn't find GOOD stock without fighting for transport, since most of them won't ship.

FrogTacos · #22 01/04/12, 08:30 AM

I am bringing in my last (hopefully for a long time) 'off the farm' goat Saturday and fully intend to start testing in the next month or two.

I know my biggest mistake to date has been buying a goat with CL (on the advice of someone else that it was 'no big deal' - I had no idea what it was or how contagious is it.) I have her in solitary confinement but do plan on culling her right after she delivers. She had two abscesses, both were injected with formaldehyde - not allowed to rupture so hopefully none of my other goats will present with it.

Will wait for 2nd round of tests on the CAE (a year after the first round) - which will also put me about a year after having culled the CL one - hopefully by then I can officially label my herd as clean.

southerngurl · #23 01/04/12, 09:56 AM

Cae got so bad because of pooling milk to bottle feed, a practice done commonly in dairy breeds, not in meat breeds. I would think it's prevalence in meat herds would be quite low since they are mostly dam raised. Factor in likely culling of symptomatic animals over the generations and I would think a cae infected animal to certainly be in the minority even rare. Cl is another story, however.

dosthouhavemilk · #24 01/04/12, 10:08 AM

I purchased a known CAE positive Purebred Nubian doe earlier this fall for a song. I would have bought the other three if I could have been sure I would have gotten Purebred papers on them (and if the sellers had let me). I like to think the sellers would have chose me over the other place. The breeder of the original two sisters had come over and pulled blood for CAE testing. She had discovered she had positives in her herd and did the right thing by testing theirs. They came back positive so these sellers were selling them to start over with clean stock. Quite up front and honest about their condition. Here, Colleen's kids will be pulled and raised on CAE Prevention. She will be given a meat wether to raise or just be milked. The disease stops with her. The does I didn't bring home? They went to a Boer breeder who knew about CAE. He just puts them down if they start to show signs. Hate to think what happens to the doelings who have been infected by being raised on those dams. And all the kids that snitch. It is true that CAE spread faster in goats fed the pooled milk, but kids snitch and CAE is just as prevalent in meat goats as well most likely. With so few going symptomatic, it just doesn't affect their bottom line enough to warrant testing.
A number of meat breeders will buy in dairy does to graft bummers onto and use the milk to feed bottle kids. If it is a herd that does not test, well, the likelihood they might end up with a cheap goat with CAE is possible.
Again we go back to the economics of running a meat herd business. Another $4+ added to the bottom line for each goat. The big show breeders ought to be testing, but since CAE does not affect their bottom line quite as much, and it isn't required in most areas, why would they?
Demanding testing is the first step.

HappyFarmer · #25 01/04/12, 11:57 AM

We test. 7 years & running, clean as a whistle.

It's such a good feeling knowing there are no dehibilitating underlying issues going to pop up years down the road.

For anyone getting frustrated at looking for clean animals, remember patience is a virtue. Try contacting breed registries for names & go down the list. Or spend the extra money for peace of mind & ship them in, that's what we did. Yes it cost us, but ohhh it was so worth it.

HF

mekasmom · #26 01/04/12, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna1982

So has anyone else noticed a lot of them dont test?

I don't know of any meat breeders in this area who test for anything. The goats aren't handled like dairy goats are, so testing is seen as unnecessary because they are "disposable" animals for the most part. They are just going to be eaten anyway, so they don't worry about germs, and the goats have a short lifespan for them most part. That's different than dairy.
I personally don't like meat breeds simply because they aren't as easily handled as dairy, but that's just me. And I think because they do have a shorter period of usefulness for most people, they just aren't taught to love humans and be used to handling. A lot of people do believe they are less trouble than dairy breeds though. Everyone has a personal preference, I guess.

Donna1982 · #27 01/04/12, 04:33 PM

I don't love boers but I dont hate them. For me its I have been there done that but they are my boyfriends breed and he loves them with all his heart. So that is why we have them. I am a LaMancha girl 100%.