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  • Rachel Whetzel said:

    That's why I said "Specifically if you have CL in your herd." Which would mean you have tested, and would know if you do or do not. If you have tested, and you know CL is not an issue, then that would not be a con for you, but it would be for someone who tests positive. I also said I personally prefer dam raised. I just want it to be clear to new comers that it is not ALWAYS all pros and no cons. There ARE cons if you have certain criteria in a herd, and those criteria should be brought up so that everyone can make educated decisions about their own herds. 

    Conversely, a very reputable breeder in my area who does NOT have CL in her herd does a mix of dam/bottle raising her kids. She says it's easier for her, because of her herd size. So there are a lot more than just disease reasons to dam raise vs. not dam raise.

    I'm interested to know what specifically for you, are the pros of dam raising? I always like seeing what other's reasons for doing so are. 

    My reasons:

    Pros:

    I like the kids to be raised with my exsisting herd, and having their dam there to oversee that interaction from birth is very helpful. 

    I like the ability to take my kids off once they are old enough, over night, and milk only once a day until they are raised. 

    I like the options for having someone else watch my herd should I need to leave the farm when I have kids with their dam. 

    I like the nutrients that my kids get from drinking their mother's milk.

    I don't like it when a doe rejects one of her kids, and my best laid plans for dam raised kids get foiled by mother nature. 

    I don't like the stress that is caused by separating a bonded doe from her kids (and visa versa) once it is time to wean or sell. 

    Ok so, yeah there are all pros and no cons for ME, I guess I should have said that, so here are my reasons. 

    I think it is the way nature intended to do and I think it is best for the mom and the kid(s)

    The babies are SO SMALL when they are bottle fed (from MY experience) and the dam raised kids get nice and big and are ready to breed that year. 

    It is easier for ME to go out and sit in the stall twice a day and let the babies jump on me, 

    Bottle babies in my case, get WAY too obnoxious and are constantly wanting to suck your fingers, dam raised babies don't do that. 

    Bottle babies don't really have strong herd status because mom can't teach them to fight for a status in the herd. 

    Mom teaches dam-raised kids goaty stuff, like what to eat, not to suck on people's fingers, and all the other goaty necessities. 

    Cons:

  • That's why I said "Specifically if you have CL in your herd." Which would mean you have tested, and would know if you do or do not. If you have tested, and you know CL is not an issue, then that would not be a con for you, but it would be for someone who tests positive. I also said I personally prefer dam raised. I just want it to be clear to new comers that it is not ALWAYS all pros and no cons. There ARE cons if you have certain criteria in a herd, and those criteria should be brought up so that everyone can make educated decisions about their own herds. 

    Conversely, a very reputable breeder in my area who does NOT have CL in her herd does a mix of dam/bottle raising her kids. She says it's easier for her, because of her herd size. So there are a lot more than just disease reasons to dam raise vs. not dam raise.

    I'm interested to know what specifically for you, are the pros of dam raising? I always like seeing what other's reasons for doing so are. 

    My reasons:

    I like the kids to be raised with my exsisting herd, and having their dam there to oversee that interaction from birth is very helpful. 

    I like the ability to take my kids off once they are old enough, over night, and milk only once a day until they are raised. 

    I like the options for having someone else watch my herd should I need to leave the farm when I have kids with their dam. 

    I like the nutrients that my kids get from drinking their mother's milk.

    I don't like it when a doe rejects one of her kids, and my best laid plans for dam raised kids get foiled by mother nature. 

    I don't like the stress that is caused by separating a bonded doe from her kids (and visa versa) once it is time to wean or sell. 



  • Rachel Whetzel said:

    Well, there ARE cons to dam raising. Specifically if you have CL in your herd, because this is passed onto kids via milk... but personally, I prefer dam raising. There are a lot of threads here about the subject with some good information about both sides. 


    But let me ask you this, if that doe is tested negative, how will the doe pass it on to her kids if she doesn't have it.

    So again for me, all pros no cons.....

    Oh and forgot to add, not trying to start any arguments over which is better!
  • I prefer to let the dam raise her kids. I am lazy and would prefer to have her feed them rather than my having to wash bottles and schedule feedings, etc. etc. When they are old enough and I want milk, I just separate the kids overnight in a pen where they can see the rest of the herd, but not nurse, and milk the mom in the morning. 

  • Well, there ARE cons to dam raising. Specifically if you have CL in your herd, because this is passed onto kids via milk... but personally, I prefer dam raising. There are a lot of threads here about the subject with some good information about both sides. 

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