Harking back to previous thread...Good rumens vs poor

[ozark_jewels]

I know ya'll are probably tired of my pics by now, but I am passing the time waiting for my other pages to load. Bear with me please. We were discussing a healthy-looking rumen, vs poorly developed rumen vs wormy belly look, at one time not too long ago on this forum. I said I would snap some pictures of my idea of a healthy, well-developed rumen and post them. I did get the pictures that day, but my camera wouldn't download. Well, I finally got the pictures and here they are. These are my milkers, none are pregnant. This to me, is a well-developed rumen. One that has had plenty of roughage and has developed more properly than some. This is the way I would like all my home-raised herd to look by the time they hit maturity. Still striving, as always.
This is my does on browse during the summer, they will actually be bigger once I start feeding hay as it gets colder(like I am now).













VS. these two does whom I bought and they were underfed when I brought them home. The spotted Sable saanan was very thin, and the white Lamancha was thin, but has room to expand as she is still growing. They, to my eyes, do not have what I consider a *good rumen development*.
They are not bad, but there is definate room for improvement.

[topside1]

Greatly appreciate the education. I must be doing something right, because all my does apparently have healthy rumens...Thanks Emily

[nehimama]

By what age would you expect a young doe to have developed a good rumen, Emily?

NeHi

[wardarden]

I have a question; So how do you tell the difference between a fat goat and one with a well developed rumen? Thanks so much for the pictures!

[mamakl]

Thanks so much for posting these pictures! Our 2 yo nubian doe was very thin and in poor health when we got her, now her belly looks like the ones in your pictures. I had been wondering if I was over-feeding her and she was fat! It's good to know that she's supposed to look like that!

(Yes I'm a clueless newbie... got my first goats this past summer! This message board has been my education!)

[lgslgs]

The big beach ball sized rumen looks a lot like our Big Sandy! We thought she was the browsing champion, but it looks like she's got some serious competition over at your place.

Love the photos.

Lynda

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by nehimama

By what age would you expect a young doe to have developed a good rumen, Emily?

NeHi

Hi Loretta, it totally depends on the doe, but I like to see it by two years of age. And thats totally up in the air with does that you buy because you may be changing their feed situation around enough that it may help them or may throw them off their stride..hopefully not.
What usually happens with my homegrown does is this: They start getting the good rumen look when they hit four months, they keep it all winter and get even bigger as they are bred. Then when they freshen around their first birthday, they go back to being a bit slender, but by the end of the milking year when they are coming two year olds, they get that rummen back again and keep it from then on. But then there are the slow maturing slender lines like a few of my Nubians from one breeder. They are a bit slower about everything...but man are they worth waiting for!

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by wardarden

I have a question; So how do you tell the difference between a fat goat and one with a well developed rumen?

Good question. A good rumen is just the stomach area....fat is over the ribs, behind the elbow and around the tail. You should be able to feel the ribs and they shouldn't have a thick layer of fat over them....just a thin layer between your fingers and the ribs. If your doe is jiggly or thick around the tailhead, thats fat. If you can see a bulge behind the elbow....thats fat.
I will admit, a couple does in those pictures are bordering on fat, especially the dark orange Nubian, and the light orange Lamancha. But they do not have bulges and no excess fat deposits. That is why when I dried them off, they were put on just hay. Because they are easy-keepers and if I feed them grain their whole dry period...they will look like tubs!
And I like my does to go into winter with a *bit* of a fat layer....they need it to keep warm and they will milk it off after they freshen.
And remember guys, this isn't written in stone, its just my opinion and what I want in my herd.

[dap]

So what about the 2 year old doe that goes back and forth between slender and that nice rumen on an almost daily basis? I swear, that is the way my doe is! Am I doing something wrong?

[paperboy-7]

nice pic will help newbies understand ill bet you dont have to trim many hooves w/those rocks merry christmas to all

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by dap

So what about the 2 year old doe that goes back and forth between slender and that nice rumen on an almost daily basis? I swear, that is the way my doe is! Am I doing something wrong?

When do you feed hay?? If you feed hay in the morning and not at night, she will have an empty rumen in the mornings and will look slender. Or vice versa.
I feed free-choice hay so they can eat when they want, so I generally don't see what you describe.

[dap]

Hmmmm, I have hay available at all times...Maybe I am offering to much of the show goat feed, twice a day, so she isn't eating enough of the hay? I will see what happens if I cut back. Its weird though. This morning all of her hay is gone, (and she doesn't usually eat much of it) and she is in season. DESPERATELY!!! I wonder if that has anything to do with her eating all of the hay she had available?

[Jcran]

Hey I'm using that one!!!! I just have a "healthy rumen!" I am much happier now!