I need some help regarding kid diet

[moosemaniac]

A friend of mine had some dogs and three very young dairy kids confiscated the other day. The kids were sent to a home where they know nothing about goats. They abruptly changed their diet from fresh whole goat milk, to a commercial lamb/kid milk replacer. The kids now have diarrhea. I did convince the organization to turn them over to me for fostering. I have them back on whole fresh goat milk.

The woman has a barn full of goats and other livestock all in terrific shape and none of those animals were siezed or even considered in danger. Basically, my friend was set up by someone who has been trying to get to her for a while now. We're working to take care of the problem.

I need some good articles on how the abrupt change in diet from whole milk to all commercial replacer was detrimental to those kids. They are in fine condition other than the diarrhea.

Ruth

[goatmarm]

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[fishhead]

You might look through the Langston website or do a search for goat research.

Good luck.

[moosemaniac]

Originally Posted by goatmarm

What reason did they give for seizing the goat kids+dogs, but leaving the rest of the livestock?

Filthy conditions. After several attempts at finding a violation, they finally managed to show up before she had changed paper in the puppy cages. Of course they were dirty! The goats weren't in a cage, but in a big tub with fresh shavings, but they were taken as well.

I have given them something for their tummies....Kayo.... but I'd sure like to help her out fighting those people. The lady that runs the organization that took them was charged with cruelty herself about a year ago. I'm going to the courthouse later to pick up copies of those records. But I'd like to be able to back up the fact that the diarrhea was likely caused by the abrupt diet change and not by the owner's lack of care.

Ruth

[moosemaniac]

Originally Posted by fishhead

You might look through the Langston website or do a search for goat research.

Good luck.

Ooooh, you just triggered a thought. Mary Smith of Cornell (the vet and author); I can email her. She might have something. She's always been so helpful.

Ruth