- Thread starter
- #141
SDGsoap&dairy
Loving the herd life
Try reversing a longer blade.TheMixedBag said:
Nutrition and condition discussion
- Thread starter SDGsoap&dairy
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TheMixedBag
Ridin' The Range
I'll figure it out soon, she needs to be clipped again, she's getting hairy
At any rate, I bought nice blankets w/necks on them, and while there's an extra foot or so of room back there, they should work great for nights. I also *finally* managed to get fly spray, so maybe now she won't be a walking fly trap. She loved that, hated the sunblock.
They did also get a fresh bale (not great...more stemmy than leafy, but still...guaranteed 16% protein) to last them until the auction Saturday, so maybe they'll be looking better by then.
At any rate, I bought nice blankets w/necks on them, and while there's an extra foot or so of room back there, they should work great for nights. I also *finally* managed to get fly spray, so maybe now she won't be a walking fly trap. She loved that, hated the sunblock.
They did also get a fresh bale (not great...more stemmy than leafy, but still...guaranteed 16% protein) to last them until the auction Saturday, so maybe they'll be looking better by then.
- Thread starter
- #143
SDGsoap&dairy
Loving the herd life
I don't own any white goats, but I like reversing a #5 on my black goats because you don't end up seeing so much skin. It's still very short and slick- sorta like a #10 blade (with the grain) grown out for a couple days. Except it's even. If I did have a white goat it's what I'd be inclined to do.
helmstead
Goat Mistress
I don't find it at all difficult to clip my white goats. I think you're using too short of a blade...like maybe a #10 against the grain?This thread is so frustrating. We recommend drying her off, and you use her to feed three babies instead...and you keep posting how she suddenly looks better after a few days or should look better IN a few days - and it just doesn't work like that.
I hope you can dry her off soon.
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- #145
SDGsoap&dairy
Loving the herd life
TheMixedBag said:
I also think it's extremely important not to underestimate the amount of time and consistency (and the amount and cost of feed) required to put condition on a lactating doe. It doesn't happen in a week. It happens with week after week of consistent, proper nutrition. Even then it's not an easy task when they are very thin.helmstead said:
TheMixedBag
Ridin' The Range
Doesn't matter anyways. She's already drying herself off, and when she does, that's it. I think it's obvious by now she can't handle it, so she's done.
Can't sell her, I guess I can just keep her as a pasture pet. She might be able to hold condition with that, but probably not.
Can't sell her, I guess I can just keep her as a pasture pet. She might be able to hold condition with that, but probably not.
helmstead
Goat Mistress
I don't think any of us would recommend you throw your hands up and call her a cull...yet.TheMixedBag said:
I bought a bred doe once who was very skinny. Unacceptably so. She made it through gestation, kidded a tish early, and I left one kid of her triplets on her (this was before I bottle raised as a rule). Weaned the one kid 8 weeks later and left her open a LONG time. It took that doe a solid year to recover...but now she is actually overconditioned, holds her condition well through pregnancy and lactation and is nearly impossible to dry off.
It took that solid year to get her 'up', but once she was 'up', she was 'fixed'.
Same with another doe I bought - she was truly emaciated and neglected and today, same story - holds really too much condition through pregnancy and lactation...
It just takes that time and investment to get them there, but once they're there, they usually stay there.
TheMixedBag
Ridin' The Range
I highly doubt that's going to happen with her-she did it last year, she's doing it this year, and I really doubt she'll get up to condition even once she's dry. It's not in her genetics to do it.
helmstead
Goat Mistress
Uh huh...well, genetically I should weigh somewhere around 350 lbs, but I don't because I work at it...so...genetics shouldn't be your reason to not leave her open and feed her up and see what happens.TheMixedBag said:
- Thread starter
- #150
SDGsoap&dairy
Loving the herd life
I agree. I wouldn't write off her condition to solely being genetic without a proper chance. I don't think you can blame genetics on chronic under conditioning unless you're trying to maintain a herd of easy keepers and feed them like easy keepers. And Kate may be right, we've talked a lot in this thread about the value of STARTING lactation in the right condition and maintaining it from there. That's a whole different ball game than starting lactation way UNDER conditioned and trying to fix it while they're producing. I think everyone can agree on that. You have a nice looking doe, MixedBag. Maybe when she's asked to perform under ideal conditions her body will respond in a closer to ideal way. And it'll be a heck of a lot easier on your wallet to condition her when she's open and dry and work from there.helmstead said:
