found a goat to buy!

christie · #1 05/27/08, 10:44 PM

So now it starts -panic
okay The doe is 3or 4 yrs is raising kids now, I want her doeling but they want her, Theyre old enough to be weaned, so I can get her at any time..
My intentions were to find a doe raising baby so I could only milk her 1x day.
So when I bring her home w/out baby, I have to milk her 2xs aday right? Can I eventually slowly get her to a once a day schedual, or at that point will I not get enough milk to even make it worth it? I only want a couple qts!

2} They are 4hers so they say the doe is up to date, but they were not really familiar with the cl/ cae. How do I test her for that? Or does a vet?
She will be my 1st goat so I want to start on the right foot..

3} I am also considering another milking doe from another farm. How should I introduce the 2 ladies? They will be sharing a space/ paddoc/ pasture? What do I need to do this correctly?

4} Milking??
What do I need to get started? Wash, wipes, bucket, filters, teat spray anything else?
I probably won't have a stand any time soon. Any advice on how NOT to get my teeth kicked out? Tie them short with food?
How do you store your milk in your fridge? Mason jars? Anything better? What do you freeze milk in?

5}They feed blue seal goat feed is that good?
I read a lot on minerals- So I went to tractor supply and they had lots of minerals to choose from- Any better then others?
Do goats need to eat baking soda? Do I leave it out with the minerals? How long can it stay out?

6}Deficiencies- Selenium, vit. B ectt.. How do I know what they may need?
All advice will be great..

The doe seems nice and friendly has triplets, and they want all of them. They said she throws awesome babies, thats why they're keeping them all. They are just in it for the showing, So are showing the younger stock and are willing to part w/ her after much of my pestering. So other then the fact she is feeding triplets, I ave no idea how she milks. The owner squrted some out in front of me,and she didn't mind. Her udder looked good, I really have to see her again..I feel like I am having a baby of my own w/ all the nervous research to wee hours in the Am.
I guess this is enough rambling for now..
Thanks before hand!!

Zone · #2 05/27/08, 11:36 PM

#2 Question..... Answer: You can either have a vet draw blood and send it in for the testing, or you can learn how and draw your own blood and send it in to one of the labs that test for that.

THE FOLLOWING ARE A FEW OF THE LABS THAT DO THE CAE TESTING And various others....(Hope this helps):

CAE testing

WSU - WADDL
Washington State Diagnostic Laboratory
P.O. Box 2037
Bustad Hall, Room 155N
College of Veterinary Medicine
Corner of Stadium Way & Farm Way
Pullman, WA 99164
509-335-9696
The WSU lab is considered the "gold standard"- they run a kinetic enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for CAE virus).

Pan American Vetinary Laboratories
Ruminant Veterinary Diagnostics

Pan American Vet Labs
166 Brushy Creek Trail
Hutto, Texas 78634
800 856-9655

Ovine Progressive Pneumonia, Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), Caseous Lymphadenitis, Paratuberculoiss (Johne's Disease), Brucella ovia/melitensis. Although Pan Am also uses a ELISA test for CAE, it may not be as sensitive as the WSU test.

UC-Davis.......California Veterinary Diagnostic Lab System
West Health Sciences Drive
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA 95616.
(916)752-7577
Serologic test for CLA, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Caseous lymphadentitis.)

Patty0315 · #3 05/28/08, 06:49 AM

If it were me and I had to have this doe I would pull blood while she was still at there farm at my exspense. Have a deal in writing that you are buying her as long as she is cae and cl neg.

Patty

Alice In TX/MO · #4 05/28/08, 07:12 AM

The website www.fiascofarm.com is a gold mine of info for new goat people

Here's a link to their "so you want to get a goat" page. It will help you make some decisions.

http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/getting-your-goat.htm

Also browse their goat care pages.

DQ · #5 05/28/08, 07:22 AM

you could still milk her once per day just make sure you are prepared to slowly adjust her to it so she so doesn't get too full.

Goat Servant · #6 05/28/08, 05:53 PM

Christie baking soda is good for their tummies they will eat it when needed. Its always damp around here so I don't leave it out tho. Minerals will cake up too so I bring out some daily & get mobbed.
and Patty made a wise point!

**mygoat** · #7 05/28/08, 06:19 PM

If they're not familiar with CL/CAE I would be leery of buying from them. Of course, they are in 4H so I'm not surprised... And also not surprised that they're leaving the kids on the dairy doe until sale - has she ever been hand milked?

First off, you'll need two goats, one will not be happy alone. Either purchase a wether to be her companion or another doe.

Second, If the kids are old enough to be weaned (AT LEAST 2.5 MON.) then she has adjusted to their needs and will probably be just fine with 1x per day milking. When you get her home after removing her from her kids, milk her out and then wait till whatever time you plan on milking the next day to milk her out again. At that time she may or may not have a tight udder. If she does, after a few days of milking like this she will adjust. It won't hurt her to go a 24 hr period without being milked.

Third, ask them to test the goat while there, at your expense, like was said before. This may require them to have the vet visit and draw blood. If you don't want to pay the vet to send it in (or if he doesn't know how) then you can take the vial of blood and send it in yourself. Get a small styrofoam bait box, an ice pack, a couple sandwitch bags, some paper towel, newspaper, and a shipping box a little bit larger than your styrofoam box. Take the vial and wrap it well in paper towel. Then, put it in a ziploc. Then, put that ziploc and the ice pack in ANOTHER ziploc. Put that all in the styrofoam bait box and stuff it full with newspaper so the vial doesn't clunk around. Then, tape the styrofoam box shut a little bit. Finally, put the styrofoam box inside the shipping box, and stuff around it so it doesn't shift or shake. Then just take to your post office and tell 'em where to ship it, at LEAST priority (should get there within 2 days). If they try to tell you animal blood samples can't fly air, make them check their list of hazardous materials - it CAN. Simple!

Hope that helps.

christie · #8 05/28/08, 08:53 PM

I will test the goats before I bring them home, I am getting a doeling or a wether from them as well. I may get another milking doe from another person, How should I introduce her to the other goats?
So I should only put a lil baking soda out everyday with the minerals instead of keeping them out all the time.
They use to milk this doe a couple years ago, I have to ask them more specifics.

**mygoat** · #9 05/28/08, 09:18 PM

I leave it out, along with minerals, 24/7. If you hang a feeder indoors or make a special cover for it, it won't cake or get damp. Ever once in a while it will get rain in it, but you can easily crush it back to powder with a hand, better IMO than providing it day by day, because they can get at it whenever they want it instead of the bossier ones getting alot while the individuals lower on the totem pole get less.

Patty0315 · #10 05/29/08, 07:27 AM

Can I make a suggestion ? you are just starting with goats . Get 2 no more. Get them from the same herd you have tested and are neg for cae & cl. Have all supplies on hand before they come home , wormer, cdt , bo-se , fencing , grain mix , hay dealer lined up , etc.

Get your management program down before adding more goats from different herds. Every herd is different . Some herds may be ivermectin resistant others not . All kinds of things can happen.

By starting slow with 2 animals you stand a better chance at success and enjoying the goats. Not looking at it as so much work not to mention potential losses due to to much at once.

Why a wether ? They will need the same care as a doe . the will cost $ for wormer , shots and feed. Do you plan on eating him ? If not you probally do not need to take up future milker space with a money pit. Your girls will be your pets.

Patty

christie · #11 05/29/08, 03:48 PM

My husband realy likes the wether! And basically cause he is the smallest for "our" kids to be able to enjoy! I agree to leave space for the milkers. I will post pics of my barn to see what you think, Oh and we will probaly eat the lil wether eventually... but for now we need help w/ the grazing to keep our lawn down as well as the brush in the woods. I don't think 2 goats will keep it down, maybe I'm wrong???
As for getting ready the only things that I don't know what it is that you mentioned is the cdt , bo-se? Whats that
Everything else I have ready, I even bought some pro- bios to keep tummies happy in the transition.They will be wormed and castrated before they come here. I also just made the pre purchase testing appt for them. I hope that goes good they are the only Nubies I can find around here.
I also found out that these people have never milked her before, but the previous owners have, they gave me there #. So I will call them to get info.

Patty0315 · #12 05/29/08, 04:19 PM

CDT is a vaccine given yearly for "overeating disease in lay terms and tetnaus. Bo-se is selenium and vit e.

Please go and join dairygoatinfo.com alot more info without the fluff you get here . Read and print out goat keeping 101.

Patty

great job so far !

Patty0315 · #13 05/29/08, 04:20 PM

Post were you live there may be someone close by.

christie · #14 05/29/08, 11:24 PM

Patty thanks for the dairy website that does have alot,
Now for the Bose, do you give them that yearly as well, or is it something you give if they have a deficency.. I tend to not want to medicate if I don't have to.

Patty0315 · #15 05/30/08, 06:58 AM

Depending on your area will depend if you need to give it . I am in nY and give it 2x a year more if sick or stressed. before breeding and before kidding.

Patty

TennesseeMama23 · #16 05/30/08, 07:52 AM

I wouldn't buy a goat unless I already had a stand or intentions of building one as soon as it came onto the place. You are setting yourself up for a nightmare. I-who have been milking 3 years-wouldn't milk without a stand. It is even worse for a newbie. You won't be able to milk her all the way out most likely and her milk supply will go to nothing-then what's the point of having her..

You are asking great questions and will do great with them. Don't forget wormer--cydectin is best.