My doeling is polled and my whether was supposed to be dis-budded. The dis-budding did not take and now he has little stubby horns. The lady I bought him from told me to bring him back and she would notch and band them. I spoke to my vet and he just said it was really just what I would prefer. If he wanted to butt he would do it with or without horns. I just really hate the thought of putting him in pain. I really hated the thought of dis-budding but that was going to be done before I got him, so it wasn't like I was doing it (funny logic I know). My fence is 2x4 squares so he should not be able to get caught in it. He does try to butt my doe but he'll still do that with or without horns. What do you guys think? I just don't want to hurt my baby but didn't know if there was a good reason to remove the horns.
Also what do you guys do to keep ticks off your goats? They are really bad here this year. I've picked ticks off all our animals AND kids AND children too many times already! Thanks you guys!!
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I hope things go well for your daughter!! There have been a few people in our area with mysterious illness, and it's turned out to be Lyme's disease. Just throwing that out there in case no one has thought of that... IDK if her symptoms fall under that umbrella or not.
On the banding vs. cutting issue: I used to work in a zoo, and we did the knock 'em out and cut/cauterize them deal on a young wether. He didn't seem to show any signs of trauma when he woke up. There's risk involved with putting anything "under" for medical work, but IMO, the risks in banding are there too. If I were in your shoes, I'd opt for the vet if I could afford it.
I personally don't like the idea of banding horns, and in banding anything, there is the risk of tetanus. I'd have the vet remove them, but that's just my personal opinion. In any case, the sooner the better, because they're just continuing to grow.
Humans can get listeriosis and TB from cows and goats, but doctors don't usually have any trouble diagnosing those things. Hope your daughter is better.
I'm not sure if goats are cooler when they're clipped in the summer, but I do clip mine to get rid of any lice that might be hiding in their hair. Clipping for show is required because you can't really tell much about a goat's conformation if they are not clipped. Even if a show's rules don't require clipping, the clipped goats have a definite advantage over those not clipped.
OK so I've spoke to my vet (I would have sooner but my step-dtr was in the Pediatric ICU in critical condition). He said he usually doesn't band them. He gives them anesthesia and takes the horns completely off then cauterizes them. In one way it seems better because it is over quick but will it work the same as banding? I've read that when you band the horns completely fall off, is that right? When they completely remove them will the same thing happen, will the come off his skull? I'm just worried about him, what is best and if he'll be sick. I'm sure I'll need to give him some pain meds and do some kind of wound care. At least if the vet does it he will be out and it won't hurt while he is doing it.
Also, is there any disease that people can get from goats? My step-dtr almost died from an unknown infection. I don't think it would have been anything from our goats or dogs and they have dogs and cows. But since they are no closer to finding out the source or location of the infection I thought I'd ask. She is doing better and will be released soon which is great but it is scary not know what made her sick.
Also do you guys trim your goats hair in the summer so the will be cooler. Both of my kids have longer thick hair and I've noticed alot of the pics of the goat in show are trimmed.
I had no one to show me how to disbud the first time I did it. I had a disbudding box and iron given to me by an aunt who lives in another province and used to have goats, I read how to do it, and went for it. I didn't do a good job. The two does that I have from that disbudding each have one horn. Not a scur, a full-on horn. So I can vouch that someone unknowledgeable can think that they've disbudded. With the first one I disbudded I didn't even shave it first. I was eight months pregnant and that odour was even less pleasant than normal. I'm much better at it now.
I have decided to leave the one-horned goats for the time being. They don't seem to use the horn, they just butt everybody the same way the horn-less does do. I'll watch to make sure they don't get overly aggressive.
There isn't really a market around here for wethers so they unfortunately have to go to auction where they're sold as feeder goats. The horns don't matter there, but I disbud the boys anyways.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
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