Was it bloat ???

midkiffsjoy · #1 05/07/06, 10:12 PM

The goats ran out of hay almost a week ago. Last time I put in a hay bale I accidently found an old septic tank that no one told us was there, so I had put it off for a couple of days. I've been feeding every day All Stock/Corn (I usually feed free choice coastal and then feed every other day), and yesterday sent mom to the feedstore for square bales (having given up trying to figure out how the heck to get another round bale in the lot). I put feed in the trough (a little more than usual) and then after everyone was done put some of the square bale in. It was weird hay, smelled really sweet. I figured it was just really bad quality hay, cause it's the end of the season. Looked like it was full of flowers. Mom now thinks it was alphalfa. It was 7.50 a bale, but its the end of the season and hay has gone up. My doe Diet Sprite HOGS feed, running everyone off, she always does....one of the reasons I put a little more than normal in. I had caught her several times being very aggressive. The moment I put the hay in the trough, everyone jumped on it. This morning I went out to feed everyone and found Diet Sprite laying in the center of the lot, on her side, with foam spewing out of her mouth. It was too late to do anything, she was already gone. Her stomach looked like she had been inflated with an air compressor. Was this bloat??? I think it was, but I just want someone who KNOWS theyve seen bloat before to tell me if this sounds like it.

Whats the youngest youve ever heard of kids being weaned??? Her twins are a month old (tomorrow) and already eat hay and feed, but I'm wondering how long I should offer them a bottle (they took it tonight......but they were NOT happy about it......I didnt even know you could get a kid thats dam raised to TAKE a bottle!)

Thank you Everyone.

cowgirlracer · #2 05/07/06, 10:34 PM

Sounds exactly like bloat. We had a nursing doe die of bloat last year (pig feed) and we were able to successfully get her kid onto a bottle. It was very sad, when we found her he was trying to wake her up and crying for her.

Anne
Cowgirlracer

midkiffsjoy · #3 05/07/06, 10:48 PM

I was really lucky in that I have a nubian/alpin wether that is doing his darnedest to mom them. They snuggled with him all day long. DS was my first dairy goat and one of the few that I own outright, and do not share custy of with other family members. I know that sounds stupid, because everyone shares the milk and cheese and everything....but it's nice being able to point and say "Thats my goat".

I vaced everyone this afternoon and am trying very hard to get pens finished so I can move them. The new pens are built so I can get the tractor through the gate (and away from ANYWHERE where there might be more "hidden" septic tanks) and I'm runnning in circles trying to get them done. Though the more I watch the other goats with the kids, the more I think it's not the best idea to seperate them in a kid pen, except to bottle feed. I have a small herd, and DS was herd boss, and all the goats seem to be in shock with their herd boss gone. It might be a different story for the kids when that wears off and the compatition for new head boss starts. Put I'll feel alot better when I get the new pens built, anyway.
Thank you Annie. It's a load off knowing I am probably right and not having to guess anymore. I was scared all day that they were all gonna start dropping like flies.

goatkid · #4 05/08/06, 12:06 AM

It sounds like bloat. Feed changes are hard on goats and the ones who are the piggiest are the most likely to get sick. If you can't get grass hay, replacing it with alfalfa is not a bad choice, however it's not wise to replace hay with grain. Too much grain makes goats bloat, especially corn. Be sure to have baking soda available free choice to your goats. As for the babies, they need to be bottle fed until they are at least 8 weeks old and 3 months is best. Goat's milk is the best and whole cow's milk second best. Using replacer isn't good for babies. It causes problems with scours and bloat in kids. The longer you bottle feed, the more they will come to accept the bottle. I lost a doe to bloat this year (no feed change either, but the doe was a little piggie). My babies eagerly take their bottles.

TexCountryWoman · #5 05/08/06, 11:33 AM

Hi Joy!

I lost my best LaMancha doe to milk fever when her triplet doelings were several weeks old. I was crushed. The doelings accepted the bottle but only after a day and a half and they were real hungry. (Actually, we were already bottle feeding one since birth as it was small and weak). We had to pull another doeling from anothe mamma as she also had triplets and this baby needing supplimental feeding. This doeling was several weeks old too and took the bottle on the first try. So now we are bottle feeding four. We use store bought whole cows milk. Start with small amounts of milk several times a day. One of the kids got black diarrhea that really scared me but it was from too much milk too fast. The diarrhea cleared up after she became accustomed to the bottle.

It does sound exactly like bloat on the goat you lost. I am real picky feeding my goats. i watch to make sure each goat only gets their alotted food amount as the boss goat will always try to get more. It is better to underfeed grain than overfeed. I break my feeding into two meals a day and measure it very exactly each time and never vary it unless i am going up on it on purpose because the are pregnant and then i go very slowly. It is all very precise.

I am so sorry about your goat. it is so heartbreaking. I agree, your other goats are probably in mourning over the loss of the one that died. My goats did that too when my doe died. They were so confused and seemed to ask me where she was. So sad.

Hang in there.