what would you do?

**mygoat** · #1 11/07/07, 06:11 AM

I have two does that will be butchered after freshening this year due to CAE. But, I'm in need of their milk supply, as I bottle raise kids and have no other dairy does.

So, I'm in a position to purchase a few dairy does (a couple crosses and a couple purebreds) bred to a nice 100% boer for only 75.00 ea. Problem is, they aren't tested for CAE or CL... though they are abscess and CAE symptom free herd... which I know isn't a guarantee either way.

I asked if I could bring them back if they tested positive for either CL or CAE. She said no. So, in the case of a positive for CAE, the positive would have to be separated and have the same end result as my other does. If CL, they'd be put down asap.

The new does would be isolated from the start and will go through three tests (probably a blood test for CL/CAE upon arrival and 3 months later, and a CAE colostrum test at kidding) before I"d even think about putting them in my existing herd. Do you think it's worth it?

Alice In TX/MO · #2 11/07/07, 06:26 AM

If there are other sources within driving distance, then no, it's not worth it.

Buy healthy goats instead.

Trey · #3 11/07/07, 07:05 AM

See if she will let you pay to have them tested while they are at her farm?

homebirtha · #4 11/07/07, 07:34 AM

I would at least insist on a test before you bring them home. If the seller won't let you pay to have them tested before purchase, I would definitely pass.

susanne · #5 11/07/07, 08:11 AM

donna did you learn from your last experience when you bought cheap?

instead buying a couple goats cheap and risking the same mess or even worse, if you bring cl on your farm, buy only one or two goats from a healthy herd that is testing. if you can't afford it this year, save money up and buy some next year. in the mean time, raise the kids on store boought cows milk.

Feral Nature · #6 11/07/07, 09:38 AM

I agree with susanne. Raise the kids you have now on store bought whole cows milk and buy stock that you know is healthy later on. Why risk bringing home more problems from a herd that may very well be infected? It would just make things worse than they are now. The greatest pleasure of any journey is in the planning so take your time and window shop for the goats you really want.

**mygoat** · #7 11/08/07, 04:35 PM

I would buy healthy expensive stock, if I could find any. No ads up online.

And susanne, are you talking about my doe that brought CAE into my herd? she wasn't cheap... she was a 400.00 doe, and was as a deal, they needed to downsize due to his health. She was from a well known show herd, too. However all the rest of my goats are 'cheap' and were clean.

I'm going to head over to MDGS and email more breeders. Hopefully I can find something!

devdragon33 · #8 11/08/07, 07:15 PM

mygoat. I know someone up here around me that sells boer/nubian crosses and Kiko/nubian crosses. I believe they test. I have their number if you are interested. They are from St. Louis area. PM me if you want their info.

manygoatsnmore · #9 11/09/07, 01:52 PM

Donna, have you checked the Yahoo goat groups and posted there asking for dairy does from CAE/CL free herds in your area? I'm sure there are multiple herds in MI that test annually and can show you the test results so you know you are getting healthy, clean goats. Unless the $75 goats are tested and negative before leaving the farm, I'd pass and go with the whole cow's milk - the cost overall will be less than possibly ending up with another positive doe. No matter what doe you ultimately choose, you will be heat treating colostrum and pasteurizing the goat milk, right?

**mygoat** · #10 11/09/07, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manygoatsnmore

Donna, have you checked the Yahoo goat groups and posted there asking for dairy does from CAE/CL free herds in your area? I'm sure there are multiple herds in MI that test annually and can show you the test results so you know you are getting healthy, clean goats. Unless the $75 goats are tested and negative before leaving the farm, I'd pass and go with the whole cow's milk - the cost overall will be less than possibly ending up with another positive doe. No matter what doe you ultimately choose, you will be heat treating colostrum and pasteurizing the goat milk, right?

For the kids, I will be heat treating and pasteurizing. Actually, I think I'll be canning the milk, but I hear that even heat treating positive colostrum can be a bad idea, too.

And, I'm embarassed to say, I"ve never understood Yahoo groups, lol... do I have to sign up for something?

I've got in contact with an alpine breeder only an hour away, and she has 8 (FF, I'm assuming) that she needs to downsize... She says she doubts blood tests but would be willing to test them for me before sale, so no biggie. she's on the "CAE alternative list", whatever that is.

She also informed me of some other rather interesting things, and I'll start a new thread about that.

Mrs. Jo · #11 11/09/07, 03:52 PM

Frankly, I wouldn't use the cae positive milk on the kids. I'd pull them, and bottle them on whole cows milk from the store. Also consider getting the colostrum from a cae neg doe and heat treating it and using that instead of your own.
Why risk it?

**mygoat** · #12 11/09/07, 04:04 PM

The only milk I have from the positive does is canned, which I hear is safe to feed. Please correct me if I'm wrong! LOL

But I'm not going to be feeding positive colostrum/pasteurized milk from my current does other than the canned milk... that's why I"m in the market for new does that are negative, of whom I will use the colostrum/milk from to raise kids. I will raise kids on storebought cow milk if I have to, but I REALLY don't want to have to if I can avoid it. It was expensive to raise two mini babies on two years ago, I can't imagine the cost of raising 2-6 full size kids on storebought milk! eek!