Rant about 3 does

Rockytopsis · #1 08/07/12, 05:57 AM

A woman moved and could not take them at the time. Said I could have them till she could come get them for the kids I got from them. 2 Lamanchas and 1 Nubian.

All three had big healthy kids, and the kids are over a year old and doing great.

As for the does nothing I have done is putting weight back on them after kidding. They have been wormed after kidding with 3 different wormers and have wormed them since. None of my stock are racks of bones like these three. Everyone else is fat and sassy. I feed them seperate so that I know they are getting their share of grain. We rotate pastures every 30 days.

I have not gotten one single word from this woman in almost 2 years now.

I am to the point of putting these does down, which really pains me as they are sweet as can be.

I sware this is the last time I take in strays.

Nancy

Alice In TX/MO · #2 08/07/12, 06:26 AM

I'm so sorry. Sounds like their digestive systems are damaged, and they can't absorb nutrients.

Huggs,
Alice

Backfourty,MI. · #3 08/07/12, 06:35 AM

I agree with Alice. They might have had coccidosis when they were young & it did too much damage to be fixed now.

After taking care of them for 2 years & the woman still hasn't even called. I think I would leave her a message. If she doesn't call you back then I would not feel bad about doing with her 3 does' what you think is best for them as well as your own goats & farm. 2 years is a long time for someone to think they are still their goats. You are a good person Nancy & have done all that you can. Now do what's best for you.

Minelson · #4 08/07/12, 07:46 AM

I wonder if adding enzymes to their food would help..just a thought. But I totally understand that you have already jumped through hoops for them.
(((hugs)))

Minelson · #5 08/07/12, 07:49 AM

Holy Toledo! I just looked at your website...that buck is AWESOME!!
And Sarah is darling!

Rockytopsis · #6 08/07/12, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minelson

Holy Toledo! I just looked at your website...that buck is AWESOME!!
And Sarah is darling!

Thanks Minelson, yes Earl was a fantastic guy, but I need to update my site and put my new buck up there. The new boy is Kiko/Savana.
I still have Sarah, milk her daily.

Alice I think you are right about their digestive system being messed up. She ran all does and bucks together, and I know she was constantly worming them.

I am working with the 3 yearling does now and they are taking to the milk stand like pros.

I honestly do not know how to contact her and am not sure I really want to as she was supposed to help out with feed and other supplies for these does and needles to say she has not sent one dime.

DH and I have talked about it and he will put them down humainly.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Nancy

Cliff · #7 08/07/12, 08:53 AM

Have they been tested for Johne's? If they are positive nothing you can do will help. The extreme weight problems after kidding even when eating well sounds suspicious for it, it tends to become active after a big stress like kidding. If they are positive they have contaminated your land with the organism that causes it, which can live for over a year in your soil.

We had an awful experience with Johne's and cows, lost one of our good Jerseys to it because our land was contaminated by a cow brought in from a dairy that ended up being positive. We kept our other cows off the place for over a year but when we brought one of them home she still caught it

wintrrwolf · #8 08/07/12, 09:57 AM

These are meat goats that you got from her?

Rockytopsis · #9 08/07/12, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wintrrwolf

These are meat goats that you got from her?

No 2 Lamanchas and 1 nubian.

Nancy

wintrrwolf · #10 08/07/12, 10:30 AM

Snuck a peak at your website you have some pretty hefty boys there boer and boer cross. I do hope you are not comparing these dairy type to your meat type almost all your dairy goats will look bony and thin compared to a good solid meat bred goat.
My Pawnee looks scrawny especially compared to my new friends Kiko, but I KNOW for a fact that Pawnee was well bred and well taken care of as a doeling (got her from pony).
Since you have had these ladies for 2 years now I would say its safe to figure that she is not going to come an get em (just encase have a bill ready cost of care for the last year) maybe go ahead and test so you will know IF they have been dropping johnes in your dirt, IF they are not sell em to someone who has dairy...

Rockytopsis · #11 08/07/12, 10:41 AM

No not comparing them to my meat goats. I do have other dairy. Sarah is milked daily and she looks real good, hips are showing but ribs and backbone are well padded.

The daughters I have from these 3 are tick fat.

One of these does I suspect is 12/13 years old. I say that because I have had her for 2 years. She was with the lady for 5/6 years and came from a dairy that said she had a problem birthing live kids. Not so. She has no problems and is a excellent mom.
The other two are also excelent moms and give nice kids with no problems.

Nancy

BethW · #12 08/07/12, 10:44 AM

Wintrrwolf has a really good point. Dairy goats definitely look very thin compared to boers.

Rockytopsis · #13 08/07/12, 10:47 AM

My dairy girls are not thin, only these 3. I have Nibian, Alpine and Lamancha along with my Kiko and Boer does.

Nancy

DarleneJ · #14 08/07/12, 10:59 AM

I had an old grandma sheep once. Her teeth wore down and no matter what I did I couldn't keep the weight on. Eventually, they die of malnutrition. Not because they don't eat, but because their old teeth don't do the job anymore. It might be possible to have them floated, but I would check their teeth to see if there is anything left. I don't know how long goats will live, but that could be a problem. Putting them down might be the kindest thing to do.

Cliff · #15 08/07/12, 12:23 PM

Not logical that all 3 would suddenly have problems with their teeth at the same time.

The only logical answer is a gut issue causing a problem with nutrient uptake. Since there are 3 of them doing the same thing and they all came from the same place disease is the most likely culprit. It really sounds very suspicious for Johne's. I would want to know immediately if that were the case because of the ethics of passing the problem on to others when you sell animals. Keep in mind that if the does are shedding Johne's it won't show up in your herd right away. It will lie dormant till times of stress then start popping up randomly.

wintrrwolf · #16 08/07/12, 12:28 PM

True Cliff
But if one of them is skinny due to age...
At least the last couple years have been good for them, and if prior prior place had problems with her having live births then can only guess at the lack of care these ladies had before they got to you.

CaliannG · #17 08/07/12, 09:31 PM

After two years and no contact, I'd say they are your goats. Do with them what you wish.

I also agree that you should test them for Johne's Disease. Goats, in captivity, live 14-16 years. It says something (bad) about our knowledge and management of goats that their wild counterparts live 17-20 years, with does birthing every year from their first estrus. (Normally, animals in captivity live longer, not shorter, lifespans than their wild counterparts.)

You'll want to know if they are carrying disease so that you can take measure to protect the rest of your goats.