I had one of my does checked for CAE. I wanted to sell her and thought I should check to be sure. Well, she is positive. Now, since she is the mother and grandmother to all my foundation does, I'm sure they all have it. I guess that changes my plans on breeding good stock or blue-eyed pets. I know you can heat the milk and bottle feed the babies but I got meat goats so I wouldn't have to milk!!! Sigh....

We had really high winds today and of course, the neighbor's tree fell on my fence that the babies are in. (Notice I said neighbor's tree, not a tree) I called the neighbor to let them know I'll be in their yard and he came over and said he'll help cut it up tomorrow. Now, if only the babies don't figure out a way to get out until then. I'm holding off on worming them because I want to sell them and it's a 30 day witholding time. Bucklings are getting aggressive - starting to rutt.I should have sold them months ago.

And my parakeet lost his favorite toy and is driving me crazy looking for it. It's a little, pink, plastic bell. Played soccer with it. He usually takes me to where it is so I can get it from under something but this time he doesn't remember where it is and thinks we're hiding it from him.

Ahhhhhhh, thank you so much. I feel better now.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002

Answers

Well, Dee, I don't fully comprehend the scope of your problem with the goats (not being a goat person), but you have my sympathy! Now what? Or is it too soon to say?

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002

Never rains but what it pours, huh?

I'm kind of hazy on the CAE angle as well, other than recognizing from the goaty-folks postings that this is something that you definitely do not want in your herd. It is interesting that this is passed on with the milk, apparently?

My first mare had a weird hereditary condition that was a recessive gene -- but when she was bred to a stallion with the same recessive, the resultant foal died from drinking her colostrum within 24 hours of birth. No one had any clue about it up to that point, but I was told (true or not) that once the mare had had one foal this way, the antibodies in the colostrum would kill any successive foals as well.

I thought it over long and hard (she was a wonderful beginners horse) and finally decided not to breed her again. That was a difficult decision for me, but with having to bottle raise any baby, and the fact that this foal would also be a carrier for the same condition (it is somewhat similar to the RH negative thing with humans), I decided against any foals from her thereafter. Some days I regret that, other days I don't.

Poor Willie! His favouritest bell! It's funny, isn't it, how they come to the conclusion that it is somethow YOUR fault for not being able to find it and conclude that you're holding out? (it's never THEIR fault for hiding it!)

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2002

Do you have to put down your goats Dee??? Or is it not lifethreatening? I know it is a "bad thing" but don't know the full implications of it either!

We had an awful day full of high wind too, but, luckily, all the big trees stayed where they belong. Wonderfully cooler temps came with he high wind and stayed, which is a true delight after the Long Hot Summer. It is as dry as a bone out there, but at least it is easier to take being 70 something instead of 90 something.

Hint for the birdie, keep two of his favoritist toys for the times like this that one is "lost", learned that trick with the four dogs, boy, they can whine and cry when their favorite toy is gone too!

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2002

Sorry I didn't get back sooner. The CAE is equal to arthritis in goats. Some can be carriers without ever showing signs of illness. Others will have pain, especially in their front legs and will start loosing weight.

I wouldn't feel right to sell a goat to someone for breeding knowing there is this problem. But the idea of getting rid of all my goats and starting new isn't too great either. They are my babies. So, what I will do is breed them and sell the babies only as meat. That is acceptable. If I come across a really cute baby, I may consider bottle feeding it only until I can sell it to someone immediately.

The bird's bell was really a cat toy that I though he would like. My son took the bells off once he finally got interested in it. I put one back on so we still have one of the bells. I tried bringing home some nice, shiny gold bells but he wants nothing to do with them.

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2002