77Herford Farm Zoo Journal Moving

[elevan]

Wow 77, I'm sorry to hear about your troubles with your goats. Is your feed (hay and grain) grown on the farm?

The Wether's hay I got seperate as its higher ratio of Alfalfa.

Keep us posted on the labs, vet's thoughts and necropsy results...please. Goats are such a learning curve even if you've had them awhile - they really know how to throw something different at you.

How are the surviving wethers? Have you added electrolytes to their water? It'll help them recover from the diarrhea.

 

[wannacow]

That's awful. I'm so sorry. Hope you can figure out what's going on.

 

[Livinwright Farm]

Something in their food poisoned them. Now its just a matter of finding said substance. Had to go out and buy some expensive Goat feed until we understand the problem. Unfortunately two of my Boer wethers died last night so we'll have them checked over for anything, one will go to my Vet and the other to our University who has one of the best Vet schools in the country.

Oh... Sorry that you lost them, but glad that you, your vet, and the university will be able to learn exactly what happened with them.

Where the only new thing was the outsourced hay, my assumption is potentially some sort of mold or aggressive bacteria in the hay.. I would check around with anyone else who bought their hay to see if they are having problems in their animals too... just a thought.

 

[jodief100]

I am so sorry 77.

That just sucks. I have to suspect the hay as well. Around here I have trouble with moldy hay. All the cow people feed it with no problems and don't understand it is a big NO NO for goats. I am starting to get my hay guy to undersatnd, goats do NOT eat anything.

Perhaps a poisonious plant in the hay? A neighbor here got some Jimson weed seeds in his hay and lost several cows.

 

[77Herford]

Well I got some results. It is the Hay we all suspected and it had several plants known to be poisonous to Goats; Foxglove, Horse Nettle, Milk Weed, and Hemlock. We talked with the guy we got that hay from and it took him some time to remember but did recall a patch of mixed praire and brush area that he had cut and put into a few large squares worth. It just happened to be heavily concentrated in these few bales, which caused the issue but not nowing which ones, I can't use them. The hay guy bought back all the hay and agreed to pay me market value for my 7 lost Wethers now.
Several more are still pretty sick but theres not a whole lot to do except wait as its been over a day since they ate it. The wethers aren't very hungery but some I can get to drink water.
I put in hay from my lots. It's Alfalfa content isn't as high but I know whats in it.

 

[marlowmanor]

Glad you figured it out and that the hay guy is willing to make things right by you by taking back the hay and paying for the goats that have died because of it. Sorry for your losses.

 

[77Herford]

Well looks like we have conflicting info on the results. Some of the Goats appear to be suffering from mold in the hay. Some are sick from the concentrated doses of poisonous plants and a few others from their blood and fecal work are showing a chemical toxin in the form of a herbicide.
Everybody is getting a charcoal treatment, some still are getting drenching boosts for energy to fight. Some more very weak ones had to be put down.
Its unfortunate things like this happen but its also a learning experience for all. This will not end my business with the said "Hay Guy" as he is truly sorry and eager to make up for the whole thing. Plus he's a good person and the only African American farmer I've seen in the area, which doesn't change anything but he has struggled with some ignorant people. Any who off my little soap box.

Now that the team of Vet's truly know whats going on the prognosis is good for the rest. My hay guy, Thomas will still be combining my Oats next year but I may put off buying hay from him for a while.

 

[MrsDieselEngineer]

That's an awful thing to go through... the joys of being a farmer Sounds like your hay guy is someone worth doing business with if he can get you some good hay. Not many would pay for the losses.

 

[77Herford]

I only got this hay for the Wethers which is one plus. I normally have more than enough hay. The Wether's hay was straight Alfalfa. Now they will get the same old stuff as the rest.

 

[77Herford]

Wow 77, I'm sorry to hear about your troubles with your goats. Is your feed (hay and grain) grown on the farm?

The Wether's hay I got seperate as its higher ratio of Alfalfa.

Keep us posted on the labs, vet's thoughts and necropsy results...please. Goats are such a learning curve even if you've had them awhile - they really know how to throw something different at you.

How are the surviving wethers? Have you added electrolytes to their water? It'll help them recover from the diarrhea.

Sorry for some reason I missed your post Elevan. Yes, they are getting Electrolytes in their water. It is proving very helpful as I've been watching them most of the day. Though they are usually sleeping right now, many of the remaining are up and eating their feed pellets, which is a vast improvement from just hours ago. The Charcoal treatment helped, though it was a bloody mess I tell ya. I wretched a couple of times while doing one Nubian as he did his runny business on my boots,....nasty.

On a much better note, I loooove the color and disposition of my British Alpine doe. I might be addicted to this goat breed, they are so purdy.