New goat herd project. advise pics posted

[heatherlynnky]

I have some fairly serious questions. The lady whom we were going to get goats from started doing research after I said I felt the goats were too ill to bring into my herd. She is pretty certain its Johns disease and is having a different vet test them for this asap. Very sorry for her but to make sure we do not spread this what all should I do. I did touch goats and we were in the pens. All our shoes are in a rubbermaid right now. Will washing them be enough? safer to get rid of or is that going overboard? bleach, bleach and more bleach? Everyone stripped down and scrubbed up and the clothes will get a couple washings in hot. How about our van? Ok yes I admit it, I am flipping just a tad. So far no one who was with us has been anywhere but the house. No where near the pens or anything.

 

[Southern by choice]

Everything sounds right, but cannot help with the car issue. Maybe vacuum and lysol?

Why does she suspect Johnes? Are the goats wasting? Diarrhea?
I sure hope that is not the case. That would be tragic!

 

[OneFineAcre]

Is AI used much in goats?

Yes
Not very widespread but becoming more common
Semen is becoming more available too

 

[heatherlynnky]

WELL.......the goats were skinny but the vet she called said it was lack of minerals. To switch mineral types. She has a young one with scours but its like 7 months old. Nothing is helping the scours and all the goats are on the very very skinny side. ( sometimes I even expect it. I am in a rural area with many poor but these people are not and they really had invested in proper housing/fencing ect). She thought it was the teens just not feeding enough but I saw what her children gave the goats and it was plenty. She had lost 3 adults in her herd in the last 6 months to what she thought was under feeding and not having the right minerals. They were using goat blocks and the vet told her that was the problem and it was killing them. It was the only thing she came up with even though the kids were feeding them. They were very very thin. Apparently the comments we made about being underweight and such got her thinking and she started digging. The adults don't have the runs but are very very thin. I would say emaciated even. I hope its not and that its pretty much anything else. It is not good.


Ok so new plan. Keep the goats I have, don't get more for now. Next spring find well tested and do loads of research and wear disposable shoes. I will still breed my girls from the flock I am familiar with and know is safe. I essentially do have a closed herd because I got these 3 from others with tested and closed herds and they never leave the farm and no new comers have been welcomed. I think thats best for now. Very scary. Once I feel well sanitized I will go give my girls a hug.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Bleach your clothes
Lysol the car
Don't get any goats from her
Sounds like she has a big problem

 

[heatherlynnky]

I am reconsidering even taking my girls to be bred. Maybe I should buy the billy from my friend. I know his are tested and healthy. Heck I was offered a family discount lol. Maybe its just better to have my own here. No outsiders and the girls never leave the hill. I know I sound like I am freaking out but thats because I am. These are my baby girls. Heck I am ready to burn clothes and shoes to keep them safe. I think I need to go sanitize my van and then start sipping the chamomile. I feel so very bad for the lady though. To put so much effort into caring for them properly and have something like that hit your herd. I really hope its something else. I am sure her children would be heart broken.

 

[Southern by choice]

I think she should have fecals run. Could be cocci loads, parasite loads. If all she does is "check eyelids" than that isn't good.
Most people have no real understanding of how to use FAMACHA properly, don't have a card and FAMACHA should NEVER be the only method used in evaluating a goat. EPG counts, proper parasite identification is key. I wonder if she is having cocci issues. Yes, often more a kid thing but adult goats can also be overcome with cocci and die.

You sound like you have a good plan!

 

[Southern by choice]

It may take awhile but you will learn to get over the rut smell!

Sometimes when you see something tragic like this it helps to remind you of your own protocols and not letting your guard down.

 

[Hens and Roos]

So how does someone who is new to goats determine if the place they are looking to purchase from is safe(yep, we're kicking the idea around of getting 2 Nigerian Dwarfs) to avoid bringing in problems.

 

[heatherlynnky]

Hens and Roos my only advice after making every mistake in the book is to ask all the questions you think are stupid before you do anything. Some might even make comments about stupid questions. I always regret being too polite or too self concious to ask the questions that need to be asked. Eventually I will learn that lesson.

What has worked best for me is to go with those I already trust. I have met some on here and after getting advice from them a while and hearing comments about their herd or how they do things....2 of my goats are from a lady on here and the other is from a friend who has a closed herd. I knew one by reputation and one by friendship. Even having the best intentions on both parts though you can run into problems. This lady today had good intentions and was very very open about all these problems and everything the vet said but still I am in a little bit of a spot. I am glad instead of jumping I said I needed to think because away from those lovely doe eyes things were so much clearer and everything I had read on here came into play.