Hi, newbie here :)

mamaC11 · #1 06/19/12, 06:16 PM

Hi everyone

I'm a new goat owner. We just bought 2 boer does a little over a week ago. They are both about 14 months old, one just kidded in May and one is possibly pregnant. I would love for her to be pregnant as the sire of her herd was truly impressive, he put our mutt of a boer billy to shame LOL. Anyway, these girls were a bit on the skinny side as the one who just kidded lost her baby to coyotes

and the stress of the move kinda just took it out of them. But with lots of love from us, and plenty of extra yummy stuff to eat they seem to be coming along. I'd like to know if there is a way to tell if the one is pregnant. I came across an OLD thread here that talks about the way the vulva looks. Can someone help me out with that? I'd be glad to run down and take a pic if that would help. Are there any other ways to tell? Thanks for your time!!

Minelson · #2 06/19/12, 06:19 PM

I don't know about the volvo deal but would like to see pictures of your new goats anyway!! Welcome to the forum!

Sherry in Iowa · #3 06/19/12, 06:30 PM

HI!

If you have a buck on the place and she is NOT pregnant..she will start showing signs of heat.

Congrats on the new girls!!

mamaC11 · #4 06/19/12, 06:46 PM

thanks! i've been trying to figure out how to post a pic of the girls...do i have to upload to a website or can I do it from my computer?

Minelson · #5 06/19/12, 06:54 PM

You have to use photoo bucket or Shutterfly or something like that first. Up load them on that. Do a right click to copy image location. Start a thread here and click on that yellow box with a pyramid in the tool bar and take the http out and paste the copied image there. Make sense..no! just keep trying and ask here and we will help you. WE LOVE PICTURES!!

mamaC11 · #6 06/19/12, 07:13 PM

ok, let's see if this works. this is our "billy" as my kids named him
[IMG] Hi, newbie here :) - Goats

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mamaC11 · #7 06/19/12, 07:16 PM

yay it worked. ok, here are our girls...
[IMG] Hi, newbie here :) - Goats

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[IMG] Hi, newbie here :) - Goats

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mamaC11 · #8 06/19/12, 07:18 PM

the one with horns has a lump on her shoulder as you can see in the middle pic. I was worried about CL, I circled it to monitor it's growth and it seems to have gotten smaller. They came from the same farm, the guy told me he has been CL free since he started over a year ago. Does it look/sound like something I need to worry about?
edited to add: the one we think could be pregnant is the darker headed one without horns.

blujenes · #9 06/19/12, 07:30 PM

Not that I know anything, but could it be a lump from getting a shot? I've heard that giving a shot can sometimes irritate the area and make a bump. It doesn't seem like the right place for CL, but someone can call me on this if I'm wrong.

mamaC11 · #10 06/19/12, 07:44 PM

I was thinking injection site as well after doing some research. my circle has almost faded so I need to redraw it to make sure it isn't growing...i'm crazy obsessive like that sometimes. should I shave it to watch and see if the skin thins out? I've read about treating with formalin, but honestly, how do you know when to do that? The knot also seems to disappear depending on how she is standing. gah, so much to think about!

Minelson · #11 06/19/12, 08:25 PM

I would go to the vet and have a culture taken and send it in to be tested. WADDL. Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic laboratory at Washington State University
CL can show up anytime...anywhere. A year is not that long and you will feel better to know for sure.
Print out the forms needed and either draw the blood yourself or have a vet do it. Take the forms to the vet with you. It could just be a Granuloma. It is not that close to the lymph nodes but I would test it anyway.
No matter what it will be ok! Could just be an insect sting...shot site...??many things cause lumps and bumps.

Ford Zoo · #12 06/19/12, 08:33 PM

If you do draw blood, send a tube off to your local Biopryn lab (Biopryn.com?) for a cheap pregnancy test. Are you sure on their age? They look younger to me, but goats can grow at different rates.

Minelson · #13 06/19/12, 08:41 PM

OOPS! Actually the blood alone is not good enough. You need a culture from the lump itself. Blood tests are too inconclusive. It's best to get a sample right from the lump. And it can take up to 3 weeks to culture. This is the route I would go...

Ford Zoo · #14 06/19/12, 08:44 PM

And I forgot to add- cute Goats!! They look content in their new home!

andabigmac · #15 06/19/12, 08:57 PM

Cute goats! As for the pregnancy test blood samples are the only real way to go but one of our illustrious members made some videos on dowsing goats to test for pregnancy. It might be fun to try...

mamaC11 · #16 06/19/12, 09:57 PM

how would I go about getting a sample of it? It feels hard as a rock. Sorry, stupid question. Can a local vet do it?

KrisD · #17 06/19/12, 10:54 PM

Yes a vet can lance it and send the contents to be cultured. Biotracking is where you send blood for pregnancy or CAE testing. Biopryn is the name of the actual test but the lab is Biotracking.com. Pregnancy testing and CAE testing is cheap. I don't know how much CL testing is however CL is not uncommon especially in meat breeds. Test them don't trust the previous owner.

The Tin Mom · #18 06/19/12, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blujenes

Not that I know anything, but could it be a lump from getting a shot? I've heard that giving a shot can sometimes irritate the area and make a bump. It doesn't seem like the right place for CL, but someone can call me on this if I'm wrong.

My first thought, too. I am so terrible at shots, my goaties always get lumps, hate giving shots!

mamaC11 · #19 06/20/12, 10:40 AM

Thank you so much everyone! You've all been so nice. I had posted once or twice on a different goat forum and definitely did not get such a welcome feeling as I have here. I'm about to head down to the goat house to check everyone out really well and check the lump/recircle it to maintain a watch on it. I might have to wait a bit on the vet visit, unfortunately. we get paid once a month and we're at the end of our month financially.

Does anyone here know anything about using ACV (apple cider vinegar) with their livestock? I use it all the time with us and find it treats many different things with great results. I was curious if anyone has used it with their goats and what the experience was.

Ford Zoo · #20 06/20/12, 01:26 PM

I just started adding ACV to my buck and wether's water to help prevent urinary calculi (stones). I started with a dash in their bucket and have been increasing it slowly. They don't mind it a bit. I hear adding to breeding buck and doe water can help better the chance of doelings too. I'll be trying this come this fall.