Selenium testing

[christij]

Has anyone taken part in any selnium testing on thier goats?

I ask this b/c I had my first vet visit today and prior I had asked him if anyone treated their goats with Bo-se. He said I was the first one to ask him this. He drew blood for CAE testing and gave my my does and buck a health check. (So far everything is good! ) We talked more about selenium and copper since I have goats exhbiting copper issues. He said he would do some reading on the selenium and give me a call back.

He left oh around 9:30 and I have a call at 12! He read some material in the latest goat and sheep book and put in a call to Missouri U to talk with a Dr. who recently completed a study on feeder calfs. It showed that 10-15% (?) showed a deficiency in selenium. However, this gentleman did not reccomend proactive treatment. Instead to run a blood test on does in the 3rd trimester of PG and then on the kids at the same time it is reccomended to supplement.

It cost $50 to run a batch but he wasn't sure of the batch breakdown. I only have 3 does currently and am in my 2nd year of raising goats so I am still figuring out my short and long term plans. I know my biggest issue is copper but liver biopsy is expensive and invasive.

Anyhow, I am beginning to ramble.... my vet seemed very interested and excited to have someone intrested in this area/management and says he would love to work with me I if I want to test.... I myself am interested....

Any thoughts from the group?

[Patty0315]

He should be talking with Dr Mary Smith at cornell in Ny . She is the leading goat expert . I give bo-se 2 x a year and everyone is doing fine. Problem is if you wait til the end of pregnancy it could be to late for some things. you increase # of babies with proper levels . You have healthy deliverys and kids at birth.

As for copper levels you can only check them if you have a dead goat. The will not take sample from a live one.

find a good breeder near by who has been in goats a long time. Most are willing to share there management skills. If this persons herd looks great with no problems try following there management program.

Patty

[Patty0315]

Buy the book Goat Medicine by Mary Smith it will be the best 100.00 you will ever spend.


Patty

[deafgoatlady]

Christi, It sounded like that I know that vet. I am not postive. Who is he??

[christij]

Yes you know him.

Patty, I will pass the name along to him. I plan an overall evaluation on water and soil to see if that will give me a big picture - it's something I have been meaning to do. Shame on me for not doing it sooner.

Everything that I read says to ask your local vet about Bo-se so I did. Ozark Jewels is the closest breeder (3-4 hours) from me that I know uses Bo-se. But locally I don't think I have met anyone that does.

[Patty0315]

I would talk with her and try the same management plan. Most of the US is lacking .

Get Goat Medicine for your own book shelf ...you will never regret it .

Patty

[ozark_jewels]

Christie, I had not used Bose my first several years in goats, and while I didn't have "problems" with low selenium, I could tell a huge difference in the girls the year that I *did* start using Bose. They slicked off their winter hair faster, they concieved more multiples, and they had very easy labours. They just did better. And no, the vets in my area didn't think I needed to use Bose either.....but I think from the changes in the herd, that it was most certainly needed.

[christij]

So if one's vet has been advised that not to use as a proactive measure do I just keep asking vets until one prescribes it or do I work to prove it is a needed element in this area for goat management? And look for materials that support this - one of them being as Patty suggested follow up with Mary Smith? The book he is using is not by her. I believe it was a gentleman Burke? Purg? I can't recall exactly.

[ozark_jewels]

I've found the best way to get anything from vets around here is to walk in like I know exactly what I want, tell them I need Bose, and if they ask what for, I tell them my dairy goats. I've never had one turn me down, even if they didn't know me. Vets elsewhere may not be as nice, but an assured attitude *always* helps.

[christij]

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

I've found the best way to get anything from vets around here is to walk in like I know exactly what I want, tell them I need Bose, and if they ask what for, I tell them my dairy goats. I've never had one turn me down, even if they didn't know me. Vets elsewhere may not be as nice, but an assured attitude *always* helps.

Says my experienced goat friend! If I had an ounce of the knowledge you do I could probably pull that off! He said he wants to work with me b/c he can see that I care about my goats and how they are managed. And of course I chuckle and say you haven't seen where these girls come from or met the lady that raised them - now those are some well managed good looking goats.
He says he wants to work with me and I was reading over on the other dairy goat forum about Bo-se and some comments over there got me thinking. So I am going to gather what I can and present it to him. Then since I haven't used Bo-se yet b/c I don't have access maybe we can compare this year and then use it next year and compare results.
Of course if you or a few others lived my area I probably wouldn't have these delimmas!!!
If I can get him interested in the care/management of goats that can only be a good thing for other goats and their owners in my area right?

[ozark_jewels]

You just come on over next time your down here and I'll get you a couple bottles.

[Bearfootfarm]

I don't think you could hurt a goat by giving a normal dose of Selenium.
But you may hurt the Vet's feelings if you dont let him do the EXPENSIVE testing before he gives you the prescription LOL
I think they often "recommend" testing simply because they get paid to do it

[deafgoatlady]

Christie, I know the vet a lot longer than you. If u made him mad. He will get really moody. I know how he is. I have a lot of friends said that he gets really moody if u ticked him off but he is a good vet but too pushy thou.. That is why I use him ONLY for e.r. That is all. I use the other vet becuz he is more laid back and willing to learn about goats. My mother in law's best friend who was the ONE who taught him about the goats. So. Good Luck with him.. He push me couple times and I wont listen to him and didnt do what he wanted me do to and 2 months later he found out and he got really moody. I DONT CARE.. I rather to use him for E.R. Not visit with goats. NAH. He is too expensive vet.. So Good Luck with ur decision..

[christij]

Sounds like I could be taking someone up on their offer to save myself the hassle.

[xoxoGOATSxoxo]

Is Missouri soil deficient in seleniem? Michigan is. You get alot of white muscle disease here if you dont give BoSe shots.

[deafgoatlady]

xoxogoatsxoxo, According the map that in Missouri are not deficient. I dont give my goats bose shots. I live in Missouri. But I do give minerals that have stuff in it and BOSS have selenium as natural.. I do know that there is a girl who lives south of Missouri and She gives bose becuz she said it seems helps her goats to have more than 1 baby. I have never done the bose. U know what I mean.

[red hott farmer]

I have 4 does who are preggie now. When do you guys give the Bo-se? at what point? please let me know. this would be so helpful to know.

I live in GA A selinum deficient area.

[christij]

Red hott Farmer -- you give PG does a shot at 5 weeks and two weeks before EDD. Bucks at the beginning of breeding season. Kids born with weak legs are given it as well. I think it also has a milk withholding time.

[xoxoGOATSxoxo]

I give BoSe subQ, and at the same time as christij. And yes, it does have a milk withholdign time.