Replies

  • Wow, thanks Deborah! Makes a lot of sense.

    Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
    In the summer, my bucks get nothing but fresh grass. In the winter, I give them grass hay until the weather gets really cold, then I start giving them some alfalfa every other feeding, because they seem to have trouble keeping weight on them through the winter. I also give them grain through the winter, and I add ammonium chloride to their minerals.

    As for baking soda, not every goat needs it. It's a rumen buffer/antacid -- sort of like Tums or Rolaids. My bucks usually never touch it, except in winter, probably because they're never getting grain except in winter. A couple days ago, I was reading an article about feedlot beef, and they said that they get baking soda delivered by the semi-truck-full, because they're pushing diets of up to 90% grain to fatten the cattle so fast. Then it clicked why my does are the only ones really interested in the baking soda. And it doesn't make me feel very good. I don't push grain on my does, but grain is not a natural feed for ruminants.

    I've never heard of a goat getting sick from eating too much hay, although I have seen a couple get overweight. Too much grain will definitely make them sick. The CDT vaccine was created for feedlot lambs, because they're pushing grain to finish them faster.

    Tammy Lee Birrer said:
    Thank you very much. I am by nature a natural person as well. But my 4H leader kinda talked me into giving them 1 CDT shot when they were a couple months old. The breeder that I bought them from does not believe in vaccinations or worming as well. But I was concerned about the boys overeating the hay, hense the 4H leader saying I should vaccinate. I can't free feed them or they will blow up! It is the bucks that have this problem. Do you feed your bucks alfalfa or grass hay? Also, He won't eat the baking soda when I leave it free choice, so I sprinkle a little on some rolled corn. Then he eats it.
    Yes, I would love to read an article about the many reasons not to.
    Thank you,
    Tammy


  • In the summer, my bucks get nothing but fresh grass. In the winter, I give them grass hay until the weather gets really cold, then I start giving them some alfalfa every other feeding, because they seem to have trouble keeping weight on them through the winter. I also give them grain through the winter, and I add ammonium chloride to their minerals.

    As for baking soda, not every goat needs it. It's a rumen buffer/antacid -- sort of like Tums or Rolaids. My bucks usually never touch it, except in winter, probably because they're never getting grain except in winter. A couple days ago, I was reading an article about feedlot beef, and they said that they get baking soda delivered by the semi-truck-full, because they're pushing diets of up to 90% grain to fatten the cattle so fast. Then it clicked why my does are the only ones really interested in the baking soda. And it doesn't make me feel very good. I don't push grain on my does, but grain is not a natural feed for ruminants.

    I've never heard of a goat getting sick from eating too much hay, although I have seen a couple get overweight. Too much grain will definitely make them sick. The CDT vaccine was created for feedlot lambs, because they're pushing grain to finish them faster.

    Tammy Lee Birrer said:
    Thank you very much. I am by nature a natural person as well. But my 4H leader kinda talked me into giving them 1 CDT shot when they were a couple months old. The breeder that I bought them from does not believe in vaccinations or worming as well. But I was concerned about the boys overeating the hay, hense the 4H leader saying I should vaccinate. I can't free feed them or they will blow up! It is the bucks that have this problem. Do you feed your bucks alfalfa or grass hay? Also, He won't eat the baking soda when I leave it free choice, so I sprinkle a little on some rolled corn. Then he eats it.
    Yes, I would love to read an article about the many reasons not to.
    Thank you,
    Tammy


  • Thank you very much. I am by nature a natural person as well. But my 4H leader kinda talked me into giving them 1 CDT shot when they were a couple months old. The breeder that I bought them from does not believe in vaccinations or worming as well. But I was concerned about the boys overeating the hay, hense the 4H leader saying I should vaccinate. I can't free feed them or they will blow up! It is the bucks that have this problem. Do you feed your bucks alfalfa or grass hay? Also, He won't eat the baking soda when I leave it free choice, so I sprinkle a little on some rolled corn. Then he eats it.
    Yes, I would love to read an article about the many reasons not to.
    Thank you,
    Tammy

    Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
    I no longer give vaccines to my goats, but most people give CDT at around one to two months and then another CDT four weeks later. Most also give CDT to pregnant does 2-4 weeks before kidding. Some give more often than that and more vaccines than that. If you visit ND goat websites, a lot of people will give you their vaccine schedule, and some people are poking their kids at birth and then every two weeks with something. Since we have an organic farm in every respect except the goats, I'm starting to wonder if humans haven't created an animal that can no longer survive in a natural environment. But that's another discussion entirely, so I'll hop off that soapbox before I get started.
    You notice there is a range given in each of those recommendations, and everyone has a different opinion on it, which led me to start asking a lot of questions, which I couldn't get answers for. Then I heard about does that died within a week or two of being given the vaccine, and that sort of sealed it. But I couldn't even begin to tell you all the reasons I don't vaccinate in a forum post. I should probably write an article about this, as there are many reasons.
  • I no longer give vaccines to my goats, but most people give CDT at around one to two months and then another CDT four weeks later. Most also give CDT to pregnant does 2-4 weeks before kidding. Some give more often than that and more vaccines than that. If you visit ND goat websites, a lot of people will give you their vaccine schedule, and some people are poking their kids at birth and then every two weeks with something. Since we have an organic farm in every respect except the goats, I'm starting to wonder if humans haven't created an animal that can no longer survive in a natural environment. But that's another discussion entirely, so I'll hop off that soapbox before I get started.

    You notice there is a range given in each of those recommendations, and everyone has a different opinion on it, which led me to start asking a lot of questions, which I couldn't get answers for. Then I heard about does that died within a week or two of being given the vaccine, and that sort of sealed it. But I couldn't even begin to tell you all the reasons I don't vaccinate in a forum post. I should probably write an article about this, as there are many reasons.
This reply was deleted.