Herd Management

We maintain a CAE/ Johnes negative herd by testing our entire herd annually. We also carefully vet outside herds that we bring in new stock from, and all new goats are quarantined for 30 days minimum before joining the rest of the herd.

Our mature bucks get CDT vaccine & Selenium Multi-Min shot in the fall before breeding season.

Our mature does get CDT vaccine & Selenium Multi-Min shot in the spring 4-6 weeks before kidding. 

All of our goats are treated with Ultraboss for lice/ mite control in the spring after a good spring clean out of the barns. Kids are treated at 10-12 weeks of age.

We check our herds Famacha scores frequently and deworm only when necessary to prevent dewormer immunity. We have never had an issue with barber pole worms in our herd.

Raising Goat Kids:

We leave kids with their dams for the first 1-2 weeks and then separate and put kids on a bottle. 

Once kids are switched to a bottle they start on a 3x a day feeding cycle for the first 2 weeks and then get bumped to 2x a day feeding. We use 16oz bottles with Pritchard nipples. Kids are allowed to drink free choice as much as they want at feedings.

Our babies get a half dose CDT (1cc) when they are disbudded (if polled they get a half dose a few days after birth). 

At 4 weeks of age they get a full dose CDT (2cc) and tattooed/ microchipped.

At 8 weeks of age they get a 2nd full dose CDT (2cc).

We give our kids a dose of Toltrazuril as a coccidia preventative around 10 weeks. 

By 10 weeks of age we start weaning our babies off of the bottle (Full bottle 1x a day feedings for a week and then to 1/2 a bottle 1x a day for a week). By 12 weeks they are fully weaned.

Feed:

All goats have access to free choice loose minerals and Grass/ Alfalfa hay fed twice daily. Fresh and clean water is a must and is always available. We also feed a grain mix from a local feed mill and supplement with Alfahay. 

Hoof Trims:

Hoof trimming is done as needed, but we try to stay on every 6 weeks cycle with the whole herd.