Castrating Goats and Sheep with a Burdizzo
The first year we had goat kids I took them to the vet to be castrated surgically because I read that it was the most humane method. It was the first and last time I ever did that. The vet … Read More
goats
Feeding Alfalfa Pellets to Goats
We started using alfalfa pellets years ago when we had goats that could finish all their grain faster than we could milk them. If goats get too much grain, they’ll get diarrhea and a host of other health problems. And … Read More
Avoiding Copper Toxicity in Goats
A lot of people have goats with classic symptoms of copper deficiency, but they’re afraid to supplement their goats with copper because they’ve been told that it could be toxic. I can understand their concern. We thought our goats were … Read More
Vitamin E and Goats
If a kid is born that is too weak to stand or suckle, and you’ve treated with selenium, but the symptoms don’t improve, the real problem could be vitamin E deficiency. Vitamin E is also important for proper functioning of … Read More
6 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Buying Livestock
You’ve decided you want your own fresh eggs or goat cheese, so you find a few chickens or goats, bring ’em home and start enjoying the bounty, right? Wrong! Buying livestock is a big responsibility, and it’s different from having … Read More
So you want to use a buck apron?
There is really nothing new about buck aprons, but they are new in the US and Canada, and lots of people are asking about them. Does a buck apron work? Should you buy one or make one? How do you … Read More
Goats and Selenium Deficiency
Selenium is a micronutrient needed by goats (and lots of other living creatures). Although they only need a little, a deficiency can cause big problems. When goats don’t have enough selenium, does may have trouble getting pregnant, are more likely … Read More
Getting Started with Livestock
When you decide to start a homestead, whether in the city or country, it can be tempting to buy a few critters of every species that you can afford and that your property or home owner’s association will allow. But … Read More
The Genetics Behind Blue-Eyed and Polled Goats
The genetics behind what causes a goat to be polled or blue-eyed is one of the most misunderstood phenomena in the goat world. It starts with a simple misunderstanding of what dominant and recessive mean when we’re talking about genes. … Read More
Tips on Buying Goats
When people buy their first goats, they often have a lot of questions about the process. After all, you don’t just go into the local pet store and buy a couple of goats every day. Should you put down a … Read More
