So, last week I was able to draw blood on all of my bucks except Bergamot. I will probably have to try again with him, but the blood samples for the other boys was sent out a week ago from today. Lord Willing I think I will likely get the results back tomorrow or Thursday.
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Last year I noticed an abscess on Latte, near her neck. I believed it to be an ingested piece of a thorn bush, or something else spikey that she had eaten. I watched her one time as she swallowed, and the lump she swallowed went right near the location of the abscess. I treated the abscess with iodine, rubbing alcohol, or something of that nature that I had at the time. She was eventually put back with the other does. Was it CL? I don't know. It still could have been something she ate.
Fast forward to last Winter. I lost about 6 goats, due to various reasons, but the common factor seemed to be liverflukes. I started the goats on treatment for these parasites, and learned how to run fecals, so I could better determine where my goat's were at with the issue. That issue seems to be behind us, but I do need to run fecals on the whole herd soon, so I know where they stand currently. Fast forward again, to this Summer. Latte developed abscesses again... two of them, on the side of her neck, in front of her shoulder. I assumed again that it may have been something she ate. I wanted to get her tested for CL, but it didn't work out. Her two pen-buddies also got abscesses. For the last abscess, from one of the pen-buddies, I drew a sample of the pus and sent it to the vet's, who sent it for testing. It came back positive for CL. The doe that had that abscess had been separated for awhile, and Latte and her other pen-buddy were in a different pen. I drew blood on all three of those does, and sent it off. All of them came back positive for CL. On October 7, 2017, we put Latte and those other two does down. I cannot keep CL+ goats, and am working to eliminate it from my herd. However, I am saddened with the loss of Latte. She was a good doe. I've learned a lot of lessons this year... the hard way. I pray that my story can be a light to others, and that it can help prevent them from going through the same thing I did. I won't go into great detail on what CL is, as I don't want to infringe on any copyrights/credit for the information. You can do an internet search on the subject, however, to find out more about the disease itself. CL is not something to mess with. And it's something I plan on testing for going forward. I look forward to the day I can say that my herd is CL free. God Bless, Valerie About a week and a half ago, I lost Cookie's first daughter, Buttercup. I'm not sure why exactly, but it is possible she had pneumonia.
Then last Wednesday I lost my favorite goat Shaya. She is also Cookie's daughter, born this year. She had a liver abcess that ruptured, and she had pneumonia. I'm thankful for the time I had with her, yet sad she is gone. She will be missed. Latte is an Alpine-mix doe that joined the farm in 2014. She has freshened twice, and was one of my biggest milk producers this year. Latte had a single buckling in Spring 2015, and had twin bucklings in Spring 2016. She is a good mom to her kids.
Fun fact: Latte is not pure white, but has very faint tan markings around her head/neck. They were deep tan as a baby, but have faded so that it is hard to see them. :) This post highlights Odon, the Australian Shepherd dog. Odon just turned one last week! He is a red-tri color; this means he has red, copper, and white coloring. Odon seems to like the snow; he tries to catch it in his mouth when we throw it towards him. He has lots of energy, and is a smart boy. He knows things like sit, wait, and come. He hasn't wandered too far from me when he's been off leash.
I need to teach him how to herd the goats, and I'd like to teach him a few tricks as well. Hello Everyone!
I've updated the goat, dog, rabbit, and for-sale pages today. I still have Shaya's sister Calli, to add to the goat's page, and quite a few more rabbits for the rabbit page, but I don't have pictures of them at the moment. :) We butchered the extra roosters and quite a few rabbits awhile ago, so I have only one rooster now. I have 9 doe rabbits, and 3 bucks. I don't plan on raising any more rabbits until Spring. I am hoping to breed the goats within the next couple of months, for Spring kids. Basil and Miracle will be bred to Leo, and Latte will be bred to Ashton. Buttercup will be bred to Charro, and I still need to determine if she is going to stay permanently, or if I should sell her after this kidding season. I've decided to keep Calli (Callidora) for now. Bergamot will likely be up for a new home soon, as the girls around his size are all his daughters, and I'd like to move towards the bigger goats, Lord Willing. He has been a great herd-sire for me; he's a little shy, but he's gentle. The current baby bunnies (4 litters) are getting big! They will likely be the last litters that I'll have this year, and then Lord Willing I will breed my rabbits again in the Spring. :)
We butchered eight of the Feb/March litter, and they turned out well! Have you ever tried rabbit? What is your favorite way to cook it? Latte's buckling Zane went to a new home about a week ago. And upon weighing today, we determined that his twin brother, Zeb, is at an appropriate weight to be weaned. Latte has been on the milk-stand a couple of times this year, and I am thankful for her good milk-stand behavior!
We've updated our "For Sale" page, as well as our contact page. Currently we have a Nigerian Dwarf buck, Flemish Giant mix Rabbits, and 2 Easter Egger Roosters for sale.
Latte had twin bucklings Saturday night, around 8 pm! I will probably have one or two bucklings and possibly a doeling available for sale: please contact me for pictures and more information! :)
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