Darn!

[lupinfarm]

How come no one told me you could have CL tested for at the same time as CAE? :/

Now I gotta have the vet out again to take more blood to test for CL, and get the girls tested for Johnes... I emailed my vet... so hopefully they email back.

What are you guys' thoughts on testing doelings at 6 months for CAE/CL/Johnes ? Or should you wait longer? We would be planning on breeding the new babies coming, in Fall 2011, which would make them over a year old.

 

[ksalvagno]

Yes, I had my girls tested for CAE, CL and Johnes at the same time. I only did my older does. It was my understanding that they should be at least 18 months old for a good reading. Not sure if that is right but I have 5 goats to test this fall if it is right and 5 goats to test now if that is wrong. Maybe Helmstead or Roll Farm will chime in with the truth.

 

[lupinfarm]

Hmm... If I breed at a year and a bit (Fall 2011), then should you pull the kids and bottle feed since you haven't had a CAE test yet? As you know, it costs a small fortune to test here and while Its within my budget to test 4 does, its not cost effective for large farms to test.

My girls don't show any symptoms of having Johnes or CL, but ya never know right? :/ Man this sucks, I could have done it all at once, and now I'll have to have the vet out again to take blood... again...and send it off...again

 

[ksalvagno]

I'd ask your goat vet about the testing. Maybe he has a different answer. I would think someone else would chime in on this too before worrying about bottle feeding.

 

[freemotion]

You could always have the test done while they are preggers, before they kid, then you would know. You could even have a pregnancy test done, too, so you would know for sure, if you are drawing blood before they start to make udders. Just a thought.

 

[lupinfarm]

Thats what I was thinking... Its not the end of the world to bottlefeed, and I doubt they are positive for CAE, its just good to know... especially since we are planning on selling extra kids.

 

[Roll farms]

IMHO, unless you see a reason to think they have either CL or Johnes...You're wasting your money.

No lumps? Why bother testing for CL...?
No wasting? Again, why bother testing for Johnes?

Since you only have 2 goats now (And I'm assuming you have no lumps or Johnes symptoms...) and have checked out the place the others are coming from...And I'll assume you haven't seen signs of CL or Johnes there....?
I just think you'd be spending money that's not necessary...but it's your money.

And keep in mind that recent vaccinations can cause a false positive...so if you do decide to have blood pulled when the does are preggo, make sure it's before you boost their vaccines.

When my vet was here drawing blood for CAE tests, I said, "I wonder if I should check for Johnes, too?" and he replied, looking around, "I don't see any reason to waste your money....I don't see any goats that look like they might have it."

I can sort of understand testing the new ones for CAE so you'll know if you need to pull the kids.

Your goats / your money / your peace of mind....so your decision....
but I wouldn't bother w/ the CL or Johnes.

 

[lupinfarm]

You made me feel so much better Roll Farms lol. As strange as that sounds, I think I just needed confirmation that I'm not insane, and that it would be a waste. Cissy is fat as a christmas turkey, and Mione is on the chubby side too. I pat them and touch them everyday and never noticed lumps.

Everyone at the new farm looked good too, no wasting, ect.

Thanks!

and now I'm super thrilled because I just re-found the website for the only real goat supply store in Ontario