PENBORN GOAT FARM

Tip of the month

We recently had a telephone call from our vet, one of his clients had bought a goat, an Anglo Nubian, which after a few weeks produced a kid. The dam had no milk and he wondered if we could help her out. The lady who owned the goat arrived shortly afterwards, and we gave her a bag of dried milk, a nonvac feeding bottle, and some frozen colostrum. It reminded me of a show where a goat kidded triplets after being judged. The owner of the goat was unaware her goat was in kid, the vet inspecting the livestock on entering the show didn't notice, neither did the judge. So if you are buying a goat for the first time make sure you have some dried milk, a bottle and some colostrum ....just in case.

If you already have some goats, the next time they kid, collect some spare colostrum from your oldest goat (she will have better colostrum with more antibodies in it.) and freeze it for an emergency. (to freeze collect the colostrum in a 500g margerine container, freeze , once frozen transfer to a plastic bag, and you have a 'brick' of colostrum ready for emergencies) Keep 2 or 3 in the back of the freezer, and replace anually. To reheat, use a hot water bath, do not use a microwave or you will end up with beastings!