Amber Waves Pygmy Goats August Newsletter http://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent...

Goat Chatter
Amber Waves Newsletter August 2009

Dear Debbie,
Goat Stats

It is hard to believe that we are almost half way through August already! Soon
kids go back to school and hopefully it will start to cool down some!

We have a new name for our monthly goat newsletter "Goat Chatter" please Goat Stats:
watch your emails for it every month. Temperature, rectal 101.5º -
103.5º F
Goat Chatter will be including in each newsletter is a listing of vets that treat
goats. If you have a vet that works with goats please send us their contact Heart rate 60 - 90 beats per
information so we may include it in our listing. minute

American Goat Society has opened up their herdbooks to registered NPGA goats. Respiration 15 - 30 breaths
You can dual register your goats till the end of December. This is a per minute
great opportunity don't miss it! All you need to do is send in a copy of your NPGA
papers and the appropriate fees. Rumen movements 1 - 2 per
minute

We would like to congratulate Amber Waves Puberty 3 - 5 months

Head of State on being the sire of the 2009
National Champion Wether!! Dusty Pines Estrous cycle 21 days
Splendid Nature Is pictured to the left. Heat cycle 12 - 36 hours

Gestation 148 - 153 days

Jim and Debbie Holsey

Amber Waves Pygmy Goats Quick Links
Amber Waves Silkies
Amber Waves Pygmy Goats

Amber Waves Silkies

In This Issue NPGA Membership Form

Keeping Goats - Learn About Pet Goat Care Amber Waves

Pre-DepositForm
Coccidiosis

What To Do With Unwanted Buck Kids

Amber Waves Sales
Goat Stats
List
Up-Coming Pygmy Goat Shows

Veterinary Listings

Keeping Goats - Learn About Pet Goat Care

Keeping Goats - Learn About Pet Goat Care
By Marvela Luna

For those who have goats as pets it is very important

for them to take care of these pets.
Born August 6, 2009
They need very particular feed, not the rubbish you
often associate with 'goats will eat anything'. A pet Pygmy Doe Kid
goat also needs good shelter for all seasons and (Agouti)Pygmy
fencing to keep it healthy. There are also many goat
health problems that you need to be aware of, and Wether(White Caramel)
prevent in advance.
~~~~~~~~
For such extensive care there are many books, manuals, and websites etc. that
provide tips for complete goat care. These sources guide you to keep your goats in 2- Adult Blue Slate Turkey
the best of health. A good manual would even help you to start your own goat farm Toms
with healthy goats. And thus you would generate more profits as a goat farmer. NPIP Certified
$75.00 Each
And if you have pet goats because you need their daily products, you need expert
~~~~~~~~

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advice to help you transform your poor milking goats into healthy and productive
dairy goats.
2- Gelded male Alpacas
Anybody keeping goats as pets needs to feel confident that they know how to best Excellent Pets and/or
care for their precious pets. Without good advice, you can easily end up not only livestock guardians.
with a goat in trouble, but also very expensive vet care bills. You want to enjoy the
experience of having a pet goat, so make sure you learn as much as possible about ~~~~~~~~
their feeding and care.
Bearded Bantam Silkie
So you need to find the manuals that can teach you how you identify the health Chicks 1-2 Months of Age
problems with goats, prevent them where possible. Like tips on how to avoid Splash and Partridge
poisonous plants that could be fatal for your pet goat. They give a view of some of ~~~~~~~~
the important life saving questions that one must keep in mind before keeping
goats. For instance, will you be de-horning your goat, to keep your kids safer For More Information
around it? Then you will need detailed instructions and help to do this safely. Will
you be breeding your goat? Then you need expert guidance in the whole process, info@amberweaves
right through to the birth. Are you keeping a pet goat because you need the milk? pygmygoats.com
Then you will need help in creating milking cycles that would work to your benefit.
Phone
One can even discover different fencing types which would save on a great amount (951) 736-1076
of money as well as time. These even give you tips on how you can earn money by
extracting wool out of these pet goats.

If you have not already selected your pet goat, a good goatkeeping guide would
even suggest what kind of goats would be suit a person in accordance to his/her
requirements. Don't make the simple mistakes so many people do when they first
start keeping goats. Be prepared from the very start with all the information you
will need. Up-Coming Pygmy
If you are thinking of starting a goat farm, you would need to be an expert on milk
Shows
yearling, dry yearling etc. among many, many other subjects on keeping goats
healthy and profitable for your business. And from a good manual you would know
how to treat any kind of illness or injuries that may occur so that your farm stays
profitable from the very beginning.

Such tips could fetch you good profits. A good manual about keeping goats also
help you in maintaining breeding and birthing for healthy kid and nanny. Such tips
are essential for those who want to breed goats and suggest how to take care of
the kid right after their birth.

These essential goat care guides suggest how one can deal with health problems
especially during the goat's pregnancy and birthing period without paying heavy
August 11,2009 (Sanctioned)
veterinary bills. If you follow the advice in a good comprehensive guide for keeping
Ventura County Fair
a pet goat or starting a goat farm, you will know exactly how to raise healthy goats
Ventura, CA
without spending much and would be able to earn great profits as a goat farmer.
Susan Niethamer
562-881-3354
Keeping a pet goat can be very exciting and rewarding, as they make great pets
susan@largelivestock.com
and are very intelligent and affectionate. It is a long-term commitment you are
1 Restricted Doe, 1 Wether
making, as goats live many years, and deserve your best care and attention for all
Shows
of their lives. Be like the famous Boy Scouts and "Be Prepared" at all times, for all
1st Judge: To Be Determined
eventualities, by being informed and well educated in the care of your pet goat.
Then you will all be both happy and healthy in the many years to come.
August 12, 009 (Sanctioned)
Get your Guide for Keeping Goats right here. GOAT CRAZY reveals all about How To
Nevada County Fair
Have the Healthiest, Best Producing, Longest Living Goats in the Land. If you have
Grass Valley, CA
a pet goat or even if you want to be a goat farmer, visit http://www.keeping-
Chip Smith 530-265-5742
goats.com right now for your eBook all about the care and feeding of goats. You
chip@quartetsystems.com
can also get a gift report on How to Make Goat's Cheese just for subscribing to our
1 Restricted Doe, 1 Wether
free goat magazine!
Shows
1st Judge: David Wortham
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marvela_Luna
http://EzineArticles.com/?Keeping-Goats---Learn-About-Pet-Goat-Care&id=1510949
August 13, 009 (Sanctioned)
Springfield Special
COCCIDIOSIS Springfield, IL
Karen Hepner 309-723-6410
Coccidiosis is a "stealth killer" of goats because karen189@juno.com
symptoms are easy to miss and irreversible damage can 1 Doe, 1 Buck, 1 Wether
be done if the illness is not quickly treated. The Shows
protozoan organism which causes Coccidiosis is the 1st Judge: Bob Barber
intestinal parasite of the genus Eimeria and is species
specific -- which means that Coccidiosis in one species
of animal cannot infect animals of another species. August 14, 009 (Sanctioned)
Example: The long-held belief by some livestock Illinois State Fair
breeders that chickens can infect goats with Coccidiosis Springfield, IL
is not true. Durinda Kirby 217-782-0786
durinda.kirby@illinois.gov

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The parasite causing Coccidiosis is passed through fecal-to-oral contact. While 1 Doe, 1 Buck, 1 Wether
adult goats can contract Coccidiosis (particularly does that have recently kidded -- Shows
their bodies are under stress from the demands of nursing multiple kids), young Judge(s): TBA
kids' immature immune systems make them susceptible to this disease. Recall how
kid goats pick up and "mouth" everything in their surroundings. Some of those
objects are goat "pills" (feces) that are coccidia-infected; the parasites quickly take August 15 & 16,
up residence in the kids' intestines. 2009 (Sanctioned)
Indiana State Fair
Coccidiosis is a disease caused by stress from overcrowding, dirty and/or wet pens, Indianapolis, IN
and unclean water. Coccidiosis is very contagious and will spread through a herd Amanda Ayres 765-202-4331
like wildfire. The first symptom is usually -- but not always -- diarrhea. Along with mcf@ffni.com
diarrhea always comes dehydration and sometimes fever. If treatment isn't begun 2 Doe, 2 Buck, 2 Wether
immediately, permanent damage will be done to the intestinal lining and the goat Shows
won't be able to absorb nutrients from its food. Weight loss is substantial and Judge(s): TBA
sometimes chronic (cannot be cured); if it lives, the goat will always be "poor." In
advanced cases of Coccidiosis, diarrhea can be watery, and may contain mucous
and blood. Bloody diarrhea is blackish in color. August 18, 009 (Sanctioned)
Northwest Washington Fair
Fecal testing is essential. A fecal sample placed under a microscope will quickly Lynden, WA
reveal to a vet the presence of coccidia oocysts in the goat pills. Begin doing your Joyce Hubbard 360-966-5367
own fecals to keep better control over the health of your herd. This writer's article pygmygoats@hotmail.com
explaining an easy and inexpensive fecal-testing procedure appears on the Articles 1 Wether Shows
page. Diarrhea in kids does not always mean Coccidiosis, but it must be 1st Judge: Tammi Josephson
considered. Fecal testing removes any doubt. Remember, diarrhea is a symptom of
an illness and not an illness in and of itself. See this writer's article on Diarrhea on
the Articles page . August 20 & 21,
2009 (Sanctioned)
Dewormers have no effect on coccidia. Medication required for treating Coccidiosis, Genesee County Fair
both preventatively and curatively, is totally different from deworming products. Mt. Morris, MI
Over-the-counter products for treating Coccidiosis include Albon, its generic Melody Pierce 810-653-7830
equivalent Sulfadimethoxine 12.5% (Di-Methox 12.5% Solution by AgriLabs), and pineview01@aol.com
CoRid. CoRid is no longer recommended by many professionals because (a) some 3 Doe, 3 Buck, 3 Wether
strains of coccidia have become resistant to it, and (b) CoRid is a thiamine Shows
(Vitamin B 1) inhibitor. The importance of thiamine in keeping goats healthy is Thursday AM Judge: Jennifer
difficult to overstate. Sanderson
Thursday PM Judge: Erin
This writer prefers to use the DiMethox 12.5% solution; it is a generic of Albon and McCarthy
much less expensive. Although Di-Methox 12.5% comes in both liquid and powder, Friday Judge: Denise Fraser
the liquid is easier to dose properly. To treat a herd that is already infected with
coccidia, administer three to five cc's of undiluted liquid Di-Methox 12.5% orally to
each kid daily for five consecutive days. For adults, dose at eight to ten cc's in the August 21 - 23,
same manner. Di-Methox 12.5% can also be added to drinking water; follow 2009 (Sanctioned)
package directions. Limit access to the water source being medicated. Automatic PPGC Does the Fair
waterers must be turned off to maintain correct dosage strength. Do not fail to Chehalis, WA
individually orally dose each goat, even if the herd's water supply is also being Becky Adams 360-427-8320
medicated. Preventative dosage is usually one-half the curative dose; read product crosswyndfarms@comcast.net
labels. 2 Doe, 2 Buck, 2 Wether
Shows
The prescription antibiotic of choice is Primor. Administer one tablet orally in the 1st Judge: Mark Adkins
morning and the second tablet by mouth in the evening of the first day -- and then 2nd Judge: JT Struthers
one tablet orally each day thereafter -- for a total of five consecutive days. Primor
comes in body-weight dosages, and the tablets are scored so that they can be split
in half for accurate dosing. Endosorb, a prescription tablet that calms the gut, August 21 - 23,
dissolves readily in ReSorb, other electrolytes, or water for easy oral dosing. If 2009 (Sanctioned)
Endorsorb is not available, over-the-counter Tagamet 200 can be given to goats; The Summer Sizzle V
kid dosage is is one-half of a Tagamet 200 tablet daily for five consecutive days. Hagerstown, MD
Use one Tagamet 200 tablet daily for adult goats. Pepto-Bismol given orally may Maggie Leman (919)
also be used to reduce to coat the lining of the stomach and reduce gut irritation. 596-0984
maggidans@msn.com
For controlling life-threatening watery diarrhea, the liquid antibiotic 2 Doe, 3 Buck, 2 Wether
Sulfamethoxazole & Trimethoprim Oral Suspension 200mg/40mg per 5 mL Shows
(prescription) is excellent. Given orally, the dosage is 2 cc per 100 pounds 1st Judge: Lynda Gredin
bodyweight. Dose accurately, as overdosing will constipate the goat. 2nd Judge: Tom Hallquest
3rd Judge: To Be Determined
If the prescription antibiotic Primor is not doing the job of stopping watery
diarrhea, consider changing to the ultimate prescription antibiotic for goats --
Baytril 100. Baytril 100 is available both in injectable and tablet form, but the oral August 22,
treatment is believed to work faster in the gut of the goat. Occasionally a goat has 2009 (Sanctioned)
an allergic reaction to Baytril 100 and joint swelling (usually in the knees) occurs, Backyard Buck Show
so use it sparingly and as a last resort. Treatment is available to resolve this rare Eagle, ID
problem; it takes a long time to achieve a cure. Injectable Baytril 100 is easier Diana Dowdy 208-939-0814
(and safer to the producer) to use than oral tablets when medicating big and jimdowdy@cableone.net
strong goats -- particularly bucks. NOTE: Some jurisdictions prohibit use of Baytril 1 Buck Shows
or Baytril 100 in any form (injectable or tablets) in food-production animals; check Judge(s): TBA
with your vet.
Banamine is an excellent prescription medication for both calming the gut and
bringing down fever. Normal goat body temperature ranges from 101.5 degrees F. August 22,
2009 (Sanctioned)

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to 103.5 degrees F. Banamine should be administered intramuscularly (IM) at a Clackamas County Fair
rate of 1 cc per 100 pounds of body weight. A newborn kid would receive .1 - .2 cc Canby, OR
(one-tenth to two-tenths of a cc) of Banamine. Banamine should not be used but Laurie Zeiser 503-266-2342
once every 36-72 hours; it has the potential to cause stomach ulcers. zbzoopkrfn@web-ster.com
A severely dehydrated goat should receive Re-Sorb electrolytes, both in an oral 1 Doe, 1 Wether Shows
drench and in its water supply. Additionally, Lactated Ringers Solution (an 1st Judge: JT Struthers
inexpensive vet prescription that no producer should be without) should be given
under the skin (SQ) at both shoulders -- dose 30 cc per shoulder SQ for kids. A 60
cc syringe with an 18-gauge needle should be used for this procedure. Keeping the August 22,
goat hydrated with Re-Sorb (or equivalent) electrolytes and Lactated Ringers 2009 (Sanctioned)
Solution (LRS) is critical to the animal's survival. Gatorade or Pedialyte may be Southwest Washington Fair
used in place of Re-Sorb in emergencies, but these products don't have enough Chehalis, WA
glucose -- so keep a supply of ReSorb packets in the medicine chest. Stephanie Axelson
360-520-7557
Rehydrating an adult goat that won't drink on its own requires stomach tubing in noahsrainbow1@msn.com
order to get enough liquid into its body. No amount of oral drenching or giving 1 Doe, 1 Buck, 1 Wether
Lactated Ringers SQ will rehydrate an adult goat. See this writer's article on Shows
Stomach Tubing Goats on the Articles. 1st Judge: Susan Kaintz
Green leaves are the best natural product to feed to a sick goat, regardless of the Murphy
illness. Green leaves will be the first food that it will eat, followed by hay. Don't
offer sacked/processed grains to a sick goat; they are too difficult to digest. A goat
will begin eating sacked or processed grain feeds only when recovery is well August 23,
underway. 2009 (Sanctioned)
Western Idaho Fair
NOTE: This article provides information on a variety of medications for use with Boise, ID
Coccidiosis. Do not try to use them all at one time. Faced with Coccidiosis in a Ben Orcutt 208-585-9783
goat, this writer would start treatment with Sulfamethoxazole & Trimethoprim Oral pygmy3o@msn.com
Suspension in an animal with very watery diarrhea, then switch to Di-Methox 12.5% 1 Doe, 1 Wether Shows
liquid oral solution when the stool begins to achieve a "pudding-like" consistency. 1st Judge: Jill Conklin
On run-of-the-mill cases of Coccidiosis, my choice would be Di-Methox 12.5% liquid
oral solution. If fever exists, a Banamine injection would be given. If fever is not
present, either Endorsorb, Tagamet 200, or Pepto-Bismol would be used. If August 27,
Di-Methox 12.5% liquid oral solution didn't work, then Primor tablets(prescription) 2009 (Sanctioned)
would be dosed. The prescription antibiotic Baytril 100 would be used as a last Antelope Valley Fair
resort, when no other treatment has worked. Lactated Ringers Solution would be Lancaster, CA
given SQ at the shoulders to a kid who is not drinking on his own. In all cases, Becky McRoberts
ReSorb electrolytes would be used to avoid/cure dehydration in both kids and 661-948-6060 x410
adults. Green leaves, if available, should be offered to all sick goats old enough to entryoffice@avfair.com
eat solid food. 1 Doe, 1 Restricted Doe, 1
Buck, 2 Wether Shows
At the completion of every five-day antibiotic treatment, repopulate the goat's gut 1st Judge: Denise Fraser
with live bacteria by dosing with an oral probiotic. Goat Guard Probiotic Paste sold 2nd Judge: Denise Fraser
by Register Distributing in Wade, North Carolina is this writer's choice. Furney
Register can be reached at 1-888-310-9606 or on the Web at
www.goatsupplies.com <http://www.goatsupplies.com/> August 28,
2009 (Sanctioned)
When kids begin eating solid food at around two to three weeks of age, the CA State Fair Junior Show
producer should consider offering a goat feed containing a coccidiostat to help Sacramento, CA
prevent a coccidiosis outbreak. The general timeframe that kids are at risk for Sandi Hurtgen 916-263-3149
Coccidiosis runs from about two weeks of age (when they begin to pick at solid shurtgen@calexpo.com
food) and through five or six months of age (when the immune system is 1 Restricted Doe, 1 Wether
somewhat developed). Feeding a coccidiostat-laced feed will not overcome Shows
over-crowding and filthy living conditions. Once goats are infected, cocidiostat- 1st Judge: David Wortham
treated feed will not cure Coccidiosis. Some types of coccidiostats are toxic to
other farm animals; investigate before choosing a coccidiostat.
August 29,
Prevent Coccidiosis by keeping pens and bedding clean, water fresh, goats 2009 (Sanctioned)
uncrowded, and areas dry. Wet and dirty conditions are incubators of Coccidiosis The Summer Gathering
for both kids and adults. Don't forget the absolute necessity of rotating pastures. Claysville, PA
No amount of treating for Coccidiosis (or deworming) will offset the need to rotate Sarah Read 724-223-1719
goats every three weeks into clean, uninfected, and uncrowded paddocks. oospygmy@comcast.net
2 Doe, 2 Buck, 2 Wether
Important! Please Read This Notice! Shows
All information provided in these articles is based either on personal experience or 1st Judge: Marcia Read
information provided by others whose treatments and practices have been 2nd Judge: Mark Adkins
discussed fully with a vet for accuracy and effectiveness before passing them on to
readers.
In all cases, it is your responsibility to obtain veterinary services and advice before information that you may
using any of the information provided in these articles. Suzanne Gasparotto is not have hosted on your website
a veterinarian.Neither tennesseemeatgoats.com nor any of the contributors to this
website will be held responsible for the use of any information contained herein.
Veterinary Listing

Please email us your list of

vets that treat goats!

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California

San Bernardino, CA

Sigdestad Leonard A DVM

2605 S Waterman Ave
San Bernardino, CA 92408
3.79 miles from San
Bernardino, CA 92401
(909) 825-3144

WHAT TO DO WITH UNWANTED BUCK KIDS

PART 1 - DO I CASTRATE OR NOT?
his is a question that perplexes goat owners
industry-wide, whether they be meat, dairy or mohair
goat producers. In order for continued genetic
improvement, only top quality males should be
destined as breeding stock. Those males that are not
of high quality should be culled. Keep in mind that
"cull" means destroy: it doesn't mean passing on a
substandard animal to the first sucker willing to buy
him. The most practical use for these cull bucks is as
a meat source. It does neither the goat industry nor
the specific breed any good to pass on inferior bucks to others who may use them
as sires. If you are unsure of the final destination of your cull bucklings (ie. sold at
auction), the most ethical thing to do would be to castrate them prior to sale.
While this may result in a short-term reduction in income (wethers often bring less
at auction than bucks), the long-term benefits to the goat industry and your
reputation are innumerable.

How to determine if bucks are of high quality? Quality will be dictated by the
intended use of the goat. For example, meat bucks should be thickly muscled with
a great deal of body capacity; dairy bucks should be of a genetic line of proven
milkers with good udder conformation; angora bucks should have a desirable fleece
weight and fiber diameter. Additionally, all bucks should be structurally, as well as,
reproductively sound. Any buck that fails to meet any of the set standards should
be culled as a herd sire.

If you are sure that the final destination of your buck kids will be the meat market,
the decision to castrate or not is a personal one that depends upon your local kid
market. Some buyers prefer intact bucks, while others want wethers. It is best to
contact your prospective buyers to research their preferences prior to making this
decision. An important fact to remember is that buyers who prefer bucks for meat
will usually buy wethers if no bucks are available, however, buyers who prefer
wethers will not typically buy bucks at all.

The decision may also be based on management convenience. Bucks or billies can
reach sexual maturity at three months of age and are capable of servicing young
does housed with them. Even though young does may be sexually mature, it is
recommended that one wait until doelings reach at least 70% of their mature
weight prior to mating to ensure proper physical maturation. For this reason, it is a
good idea to separate intact bucklings and doelings by three months of age.
Wethers and doelings can be housed together without fear of unwanted breedings.

If you do decide to raise intact bucklings it is important that you not house them
with your herd sires. Older bucks will often abuse male kids, butting them in shows
of dominance and not allowing them access to feed and water. This will not only
increase chances of injury or death, but will also reduce weight gains in these kids.

In order to raise intact buck kids, I would suggest that you separate your herd into
thefollowing management groups: weaned doelings, weaned bucklings, does and
bucks (outside of breeding season). Many producers do not have facilities capable
of separating this many different groups. In this case, I would suggest castrating
all market or cull bucklings. This can be done from birth to three months of age.

In summary, inferior bucks and bucklings should not be allowed to breed. If you are
unsure of the final destination of your cull bucklings, they should be castrated. A
practical use for inferior bucklings is as a meat source. If you are assured that your
cull bucks will go to slaughter, the decision to cull or not will be based upon your
local market preferences as well as your management needs.

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Part II deals with various castration methods available to goat producers.

--------------------------------

About the author: Jackie Nix was an Agricultural Extension Agent with the North
Carolina Cooperative Extension Service who now works for SweetLix.
The following sources are cited for this article:
Goat Husbandry Fourth Edition. David Mackenzie. Faber and Faber. Boston. 1990.
Raising Milk Goats the Modern Way. Jerry Belanger. Storey Communications, Inc.
Pownal, Vermont. 1995

Use this area to provide your subscribers information about your organization.

Sincerely,

Debbie Hosley
Amber Waves

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