Testing

[Goat Servant]

Tell me why some of you insist on testing. Not knocking it at all but it IS an expense.
We just spent over 150 for five (two dams & their yrlngs as well as buck) They all Neg for CL CAE johns & Q Fever.

Yes I take some to shows. No I don't buy unless I need a buck.
Some breeders guarantee Neg on all animals but if you want you pay for testing within 30 days of purchase.

Honestly the only reason I had it done is cause two yrlgs need outside cover & have had inquiries about buck service.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I test because I want documentation of a healthy herd for buyers of kids.

I also test because my husband has my left kidney and takes anti-rejection drugs. Taking care of him every way I can.

[Goat Servant]

Rarely has anyone asked for test results. Granted most go for meat.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I also test so I know I have a healthy herd & documentation to show that.
I also want to make sure when our babies leave to go to their new homes after weaning that they are as healthy as can be to start out.

[mygoat]

I test because I got burned myself when I was around 14 or 15 years old. Bought a beautiful alpine doe from a big name breeder here in MI. I told them I wanted disease free and she assured me "they raise on prevention" which I assumed included testing (IMO, it does!) but never saw any paperwork because I didn't know better. She originally came from a TESTED NEGATIVE herd in WV, came here as part of a trade as a 2 year old. Brought her home and fed her milk to kids and had another alpine doe who stole milk out of the milk bucket. Everybody came back positive the next test and I had to personally slaughter my beautiful goats while bawling my eyes out. Turns out every animal from this herd sent in trade to WV was posistive. This doe was NEGATIVE prior to that trade, so I can only imagine the strain was either everywhere or very virulent (or both) as she picked it up horizontally in that herd as an adult (2+ yr old) and the doe that brought it in was NOT a milk drinker so it was through normal behavior that it spread). Sure I could have foisted them off on somebody or ask that they be pets blah blah, but I don't agree with that from a responsibility standpoint, personally. If I can prevent someone else from having to go through that horrid experience, I will.

Honestly, depending on your movement of animals, you can adjust testing to fit your budget. Test every other year. Test some randomly. Test for buyers if they request it. Test incoming animals before/after isolation but maybe only test the main herd every couple years. As a show herd, I'd personally as a buyer avoid buying kids from you unless you tested yearly; but I wouldn't hesitate to buy an adult and just have it tested pre-purchase.

(Oh, and I wouldn't test for Q-fever. It's a disease that if they had it, you'd KNOW... I assume you sent to Pavlabs? I avoid using them - Not an accredited lab. ) I only test for CAE and Johnes yearly, but I do also test for CL before/after a 3 month isolation period on incoming animals.

[yarrow]

ONLY a $150 for 5??? I'd take that.. along with our other test costs.. having nubians.. I also have spent almost $50 per goat for JUST the G6S testing.. why? because I want to sell nothing but the absolute healthiest kids that I can to folks.. People pay me their hard earned money for kids.. I wouldn't feel right selling them anything less then kids from tested parents..for me it's just part of the cost I expect as a breeder..

susie

[Goat Servant]

Thanks you guys for your input.
Dona we used WADDL. It was going to be 420 including farm call so I called a friend & she came out & showed me how to do it. Demonstration
on the first one then had me do the rest. I did miss one on one side. Since Im a slow learner it may take a few more times with supervision.

All Boer breeders I know require testing for all three on any outside does.