The old milk goat

SeaGoat · #1 09/27/13, 04:34 PM

I have two does I want to turn loose of to help progress the herd towards my goals.

One is a pitty buy from a few years ago
She has a terrible udder and is skinny.
Not unhealthy skinny, just an old maid.
She's overly human shy and a worry wart

She is pretty though, which is why I named her Fancy

I've put her on CL a couple times in the past with no luck.
I don't want to just give her to one of those 'Ill take your unwanted livestock for free' and her end up God knows where, probably the auction houses.
Im trying to avoid the auctions.

Any ideas on what to do with the old goat?
How would you market her?

Alice In TX/MO · #2 09/27/13, 04:38 PM

I would humanely put her down. Sorry.

CAjerseychick · #3 09/27/13, 04:51 PM

Look up Farm Animal Sanctuary there are a couple in the West (one right in town here in Grass Valley) that take farm animals in that situation. (Ours took in 4,000 abandoned factory hens...)....

Heres one in Texas they may take her if you can (they may help?) transport--

https://www.facebook.com/sunnydayfarms

CAjerseychick · #4 09/27/13, 04:53 PM

Heres another one, North Texas...

http://ranchhandrescue.wordpress.com/

KSALguy · #5 09/27/13, 05:54 PM

if she is not a productive animal and not contributing anymore then don't pass her off as someone elses problem, you have given her a good life and there I no telling where she will end up regardless of who buys her, the humane thing to do is to humanely put her down, you don't have to put her in the freezer if you don't want too, selling her to someone else is going to risk her ending up in the wrong hands and dieing slow and painfully, if she isn't working out as a milker for you she wont for someone else either due to her udder and type.

SeaGoat · #6 09/27/13, 06:09 PM

Do you think there is chance to sell her as only good for slaughter or do people shy away from older goats?
I wouldn't know how to put her down and I don't know how to butcher

Frosted Mini's · #7 09/27/13, 07:27 PM

Butchering is pretty simple to learn if you are really interested. There is a thread at the top of this forum about butchering goats. Another excellent way you could use her, would be to get a sample from her liver and send in for mineral analysis, particularly copper, so you can use those results for the rest of your herd, regarding copper/mineral management. Maybe you could see if someone would buy her for butcher and give you back a piece of liver to send in. Doesn't have to be a very big one.

CAjerseychick · #8 09/27/13, 09:17 PM

What is wrong with an animal sanctuary where they just let em live out their days in peace? I cannot believe you all would rather kill her than have her go to One?!....

Squeaky McMurdo · #9 09/27/13, 10:01 PM

Some animal sanctuaries especially farm animal ones are just run by animal hoarders who's hearts are in the right place...but they don't actually know about goats other than they'll eat weeds, so the kindest thing would be to put her down rather than send her to someone that isn't aware of their actual nutritional needs and keeps goats with CL, John's, CAE, etc "because they deserve a chane" and infect the poor old gal causing her a drawn out painful death.

KSALguy · #10 09/28/13, 12:05 AM

just like Squeaky McMurdo said, most "Sanctuaries" that "Specialize" in farm animals are just glorified hoarders that normally end up making the rest of the farming community look bad, there are a few out there I am sure that are legit but I have yet to see more than a couple that would be worth the trouble. its a noble idea to take these animals to a sanctuary to live out their days in peace but its just not likely to happen. its much kinder to humanely put a bullet at the base of her scull and either process her into useable meat or dig a fitting grave.

Frosted Mini's · #11 09/28/13, 12:11 AM

She would probably be super stressed going to the animal sanctuary, too. If I had a special doe, who I really loved and couldn't bear to put down, she would probably just live with me in retirement until she needed to be euthanized for whatever reason, and then I would do so. But getting a liver sample is what I would do either way, as her contribution to the rest of the herd (besides any daughters, granddaughters, etc, I had). If you ever decide to keep goats as a business, you will eventually realize that they are livestock animals, and sometimes the best place for them is in providing meat for your family or pet dogs. It's just part of raising them.

SeaGoat · #12 09/28/13, 05:39 AM

Aw, ill have a really hard time putting this doe down. She's not that old.. maybe 7/8?
Shed still be good for land clearing or if someone owned them as yard ornaments. She really is very pretty
The other doe I wouldn't bat an eye at. She's been a real thorn in my side, but she is a rarer breed in my area and is only 5, and I have been approached by breeders who have wanted her

Pony · #13 09/28/13, 06:02 AM

Sarah, do you have a friend who would do this for you? I have a deal with a few folks, and we'll put down each others' "special" animals when the time comes.

Clovers_Clan · #14 09/28/13, 08:44 AM

I agree entirely with the posts about rescues/hoarders. The thought of it might ease your mind but the reality is very different.

If you yourself would not buy or take this goat, what are the motivations for someone else?:

-Inadequately informed about judging goats and their proper care.
Yes, this could change. They could learn but after struggling through the learning curve they will realize despite their best efforts she is a poor, unproductive animal, and will need to sell her to reach their goals for a healthy productive herd.

-Just need something cheap to eat weeds. The probability is that they just don't care whether she lives or dies and won't even notice if she gets sick, much less give her humane treatment if she does.

If you just cannot bear to put her down or have someone else do it. This is what I would suggest. Talk to a large animal/equine vet. Try to find a responsible caring horse owner who is looking for a barn companion/weed eater for their horses. The productivity and age of your goat wouldn't matter to them. But the humane treatment and care of all animals is enough priority to them to do some research and make accommodations for her specific needs. Be patient and expect it to take some time finding a home.

Cannon_Farms · #15 09/28/13, 04:07 PM

Unless there is some really super Nubian genetics behind them I have a friend who humanly butchers goats for us time to time they may good use of even an old stinky buck. There are many things in life worse than death

SeaGoat · #16 09/29/13, 07:35 AM

If someone else would do the actual "downing" part and the head popping off I could do the rest no problem
For some reason the eyeballs give me the willies and I just wouldn't be ready to take that step with a girl that I've owned as a pet.

I have a few people in mind that can help and if they decline ill seek further action