Butchering does?

[mygoat]

I have two CAE positive does that I will be butchering almost immediately after kidding come spring. However, I was wondering if it would be smarter to wait a couple days after kidding to butcher so that the meat wouldn't be off flavored... Not to mention with new kid goat feeding schedules along with my other daily chores, I'm not sure I'll be able to get get to it as immediately as I would like...

The downside to waiting a few days would be that I would have to milk them to keep them comfortable and that would a contamination issue... Not sure what I should do. Any advise?

[susanne]

you don't need to milk them. don't touch the udder and they will absorb the colostrum and milk.

[mygoat]

Won't not milking them cause more stress on them? One doe is a heavy producer, the other marginal... but I can imagine the stress/discomfort of not milking those does... Maybe milk them just enough to keep them comfortable?

[susanne]

donna i would only check them. if the udder becomes very hard and the does are in obvious discomfort, then you can release a little bit.
but really, it is not necessary.

[collegeboundgal]

I 2nd the "don't touch the udder" vote. To do so would just encourage the milk production.

-Melissa

[goatsareus]

hmmm, I don't know what to tell you....but if they were my goats, I would have to milk them or deal with congested udders. What about butchering them now?

[HazyDay]

Originally Posted by goatsareus

hmmm, I don't know what to tell you....but if they were my goats, I would have to milk them or deal with congested udders. What about butchering them now?

They are bred, thats why she can't do it now.

[goatsareus]

why can't you butcher does that are not due until March?

[fcnubian]

Maybe she wants the kids from the does?

I also agree with dont milk them unless you HAVE to.

[HazyDay]

She said she wants to breed the Alpines more then the Minis, (says her website.) and is gonna raise the kids on a CAE prevention.

[HazyDay]

Plus I don't know her or if she has any reglion, but I do and killing any unborn animal is just wrong, even if the mother has CAE.

[Oxankle]

Hazy Day:

Do you think that they preg check all the heifers that go to the packing plants? What do you think they do with the ones they butcher and find to be carrying a calf?

What do you think becomes of the calf?
Ox

[HazyDay]

Originally Posted by Oxankle

Hazy Day:

Do you think that they preg check all the heifers that go to the packing plants? What do you think they do with the ones they butcher and find to be carrying a calf?

What do you think becomes of the calf?
Ox

Oh I know about that, but I just could never bring myself to killing a prego animal unless it will suffer for the rest of it's life. Even then I wouldn't shoot her, I would get a needle for her.

[Blossomgapfarm]

I'm with you, Hazy, on the pregnant animal issue. Good for you. Don't have a problem shooting to butcher a meat animal though.

As to whether to milk the CAE does, if they were uncomfortable (hard, hot, or painful udders) I would milk out just enough to put them more at ease.

[copperpennykids]

The first three days is colostrum, and then milk production begins. If she doesn't milk the does, they will produce some milk, but not very much, and hopefully by then she will be prepared to butcher them.

Don't forget, that in nature, sometimes the offspring die, and then the dams just reabsorb the unnecessary milk and colostrum.

Camille

[Mrs. Jo]

Don't worry about the udder or the comfort of the does. If they get no stimulation to the udder then they will not make unnecessary milk or colostrum.

If you are going to kill them then don't bother milking them. It's hard enough to put them down.

If you keep them much longer than a few days then their condition is going to deteriorate without the wormer's they would otherwise need.

Be sure to pull the kids away from the does to avoid any contamination from colostrum or other body fluids.

Get a 22 to shoot them with. It's really the easiest way to put them down, especially if you want the meat. It's over quickly, and you can move on to loving up those kids...

[mygoat]

I won't do the does in now while preggo because the kids have a good chance to be negative as long as they are properly handled at birth and through their lives. The positive does are isolated so contamination between herds is unlikely... maintaining them separately is not that difficult. Plus the kids are worth quite a bit, as well. I also want something from my two favorite does to kinda remember them by... at least a continuation of their bloodline in my herd. I'm rather excited for these kids, too... should be nice.

[susanne]

donna i'm absolutely sure you will do just fine.

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

Alex do you eat eggs? Cause unless the hens are caged commercial birds, most eggs are fertile...baby fetus chicks Num Num!

I can promise you, you will have to deal with either killing a kid at birth, a mom after or during delivery or abort her kids to save her in your goating experience. When you really start down the road of putting human emotions and morals onto your goats that you use for humans, your lost. They are livestock. Vicki

[susanne]

now, i would not call that fetus chicks. a fetus has already legs. when they are fertile and the egg was not keept warm i might call it embryo. some people pay more for it as they believe it has aphrodisiac properties still yummy

hazy it is okay to have feelings for your animals. even livestock deserves to be loved. i love my goats and i would never butcher a goat when she is pregnant. i have butchered kids and adults but always with respect.