Daniel Laney works with local government and nonprofit organizations to provide veterinary supplies, basic tools, and best practices training to local herders. Through the registered nonprofit Fair Trade organization, the Women’s Skills Development Organization, Pokhara (WSDO), it has been working since 1975 to empower marginalized Nepali women. WSDO provides fair wages and a safe working environment, while maintaining ecologically sustainable processes.

The California Mastitis Test (CMT) screens for possible mastitis infections. It works well for goats, but the interpretation information is for cows, not goats. _x000D_ _x000D_ The CMT reagent reacts with leucocyte cells in milk to form a gel. While some mastitis screening tests do not work well for goat milk because they cannot distinguish between leucocytes, a sign of infection or irritation, and normal epithelial cells which goat milk may have in large numbers. The CMT distinguishes between these cell types.

Goats appreciate warm, almost hot water in winter. They can drink a lot, and it won't chill them. This helps keep milk production up. By feeding hot water, you can water bucks and dry stock just once a day so that pails aren't left to freeze in pens. To keep water from freezing in buckets, try using our 9 quart heated bucket. Any of our other products water heating products will also provide your goats with warm water 24 hours a day.

Trim hooves several times a year. To do it, use a sharp knife (pocket knife, utility knife, etc.) or shears. Tie the goat firmly to a post or secure in a milking stand; pick up the foot. Clean dirt out of the hoof with the point of the tool. Cut back the soft inner part to shape the hoof, just a slice at a time. Stop when the hoof bottom looks pink. You can use a hoof plane to flatten and finish the hoof. Look at a newborn kid's hoof to see what your goat's hoof should look like. Hooves are much easier to trim when they are wet. Try trimming hooves after the goat has been walking in snow, mud, or morning dew.

We have tried many tattoo outfits. The three we sell are our pick as the best to use with dairy goats. Here's why:_x000D_ They're made by Stone. Stone equipment is top quality and lasts a long time. _x000D_ _x000D_ The digits are tab-into-slot design. You can't insert a digit upside down, and there's less chance of dropping one when you're changing the digits. They lock firmly into place; you don't need blanks for empty spaces. Needles are nickel-plated precision-made for uniform penetration.

Worm each doe the day she freshens. Birth hormones stir dormant worms into new activity. This is the best time to kill those worms. Then worm the does again in two weeks. _x000D_ _x000D_ Worm all the animals in the fall when they are brought in from pasture. Worm them again in two weeks, just as you do in the spring.

Kids from unvaccinated dams: Vaccinate the day they're born and then at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Give annual booster shots. Kids from vaccinated dams: Colostrum should provide early protection. Vaccinate kids at 4-6 weeks and again 4 weeks later. Give does annual booster shot 4-6 weeks before kidding date to pass immunity to kids. Vaccinate bucks at beginning of grazing and breeding seasons.

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A "good dairy goat" is not just a doe with a pretty udder or one that milks 4,000 pounds a year. A "good dairy goat" must have a combination of positive qualities, all of which allow her to produce lots of milk, have numerous kids, and live a long productive life. Many traits go together to make a "good" goat, and if you learn to recognize these traits, you'll be able to improve your breeding program and purchase better goats.

There are a number of diseases that can be passed on to kids when they drink raw goat milk. A common one is Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), which was identified by research workers at Washington State University. The virus causes arthritis in goats of all ages. It occasionally causes paralysis in kids. In fact, more than 80% of goats tested for CAE in the United States are positive, although many don't show symptoms. There are a few laboratories that run CAE tests. Contact your veterinarian for more information.