DAILY CARE

• Baby’s from 2 weeks to 8 weeks old are creep fed 18% grower with rumensin. At 8 weeks old they are moved to a 16% grower that is properly balanced in a 2:1 Calcium /Phosphorus ratio. They will then be fed 1 cup 3xs per day until reaching 40-50 lbs at approximately 6 to 7 months old.

• Junior kids, dry yearlings and bucks are fed a 16% grower feed with rumensin added for coccidia preventative mixed with alfalfa pellets and BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) at the ration of 1 cup per goat 2 times per day in the AM and PM.

• Adult bucks and does NOT in milk are fed 1 cup 1 time per day each morning of this feed mix to maintain condition.

• Adult does IN milk are fed 16% dairy enhancer mix 2 times per day on the milk stand at their fill. Approximately  2.5 to 4 cups per milking depending on the production of the doe and her individual needs.

• Free choice alfalfa hay and clean fresh water are offered daily.

• SWEETLIX Meat Maker loose minerals are kept out free choice.

• Goat bunk bed houses and pens are cleared daily of goat fecal and hay waste. PDZ stall freshener is used as needed.

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MONTHLY

• At the beginning of each month we bring every goat in and check them over and make notes of their individual health. At this time we do the following:

• ​Clip feet

• Check their eye lids and score using the FAMACHA scale. Fecal tests are performed if concerned and dosed with Cydentin or Valbazen if needed based on fecal results. **NOTE** Valbazen is NOT safe for pregnant does or does of breeding age 45 days before breeding or 45 days after removal of buck. Birth defects or abortions can occur.

• We feel the goat over and look for anything unusual. Lumps, bumps etc.

• Monthly weighing to monitor growth in kids. Lack of gain could indicate a parasite load.

• Each goat is given a dose of Replamin Gel and Goats Prefer Probiotics to deliver supplemental copper, selenium, cobalt, zinc and various other nutrients. Please see the Supply List for a list of many of the items we use here on the farm.

 

 

QUARTERLY

• Fecal tests are done on all animals are performed and animals are dosed with both Cydectin and Valbazen when warranted by fecal results. Never give Valbazen to breeding age does or while pregnant.

• If you do not feed Sweetlix loose minerals I recommend giving copper bolus to each goat every 6 months to every goat starting at 3 months of age. Not all loose minerals are created equal.. check labels and make sure they have adequate mineral levels.

• MultiMin 90 shots are given at specific times of the year and always by exact individual weights. Very important not to overdose. The select months that MultiMin is given we are sure to skip Replamin, copper or any other supplements. ALWAYS consult your vet when using this product.

 

​​SUMMER

• ​All goats receive a nice clean shave down to aid in lice control and to help keep them cool in the heat of our summers. They are also quite beautiful after sporting their Winter Woolies.

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​YEARLY

• Goats are all given a CDT vaccine once a year.​ Adult breeding does are scheduled 30 days before kidding to ensure passive immunity is temporally passed to babies through colostrum. All other adults are vaccinated late winter/ early spring before new lush pasture growth. Babies are vaccinated at 4 weeks of age and a booster shot 30 days after.

• ​We call our vet out to check each of our animals for overall health and perform herd testing for Johnes and CAE. At the recommendation of our vet, we do not at this time test for CL by blood test. Blood test alone would not 100% confirm or deny that a goat has CL is our understanding. We will and have, however, tested any abscess concern to which we have never had a case of CL on our farm. Buyers are welcome at their expense to have a vet of their choice to perform any additional testing prior to purchasing from SugarCreek Haven.​ If a customer chooses to do an extra screening of any goat and it tests positive, I will promptly refund the customer of the cost of the test with a copy of the vets report.

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​Kidding

• ​At birth kids and dam are given Probiotics, NutriDrench and selenium gel.

• Within the hour of kidding, I use a product called YMCP for goats. It is like a sweet blue koolaid that my girls LOVE! Just 2 powdered scoops to 3 qts of really warm water offered right after kidding helps mom switch gears between being pregnant to supporting her lactation. It is also a product that is critical in having if your doe is down and/or showing signs of hypocalcemia. MUST HAVE during kidding season in my book!

• A few days after kidding, do a fecal on the Dam. If warranted she is dosed with Valbazen/Cydectin and kept in her kidding stall for 3 days min to watch her for potential health problems. If you dam raise this also helps babies bond well to mom. In 10 to 14 days we repeat her deworming to catch any missed egg hatchings.

• Around 3 to 5 days old babies are disbudded.

• At 3 weeks of age kids are given Valbazen dewormer and repeated in 10 days. Dimethox 40% or SulfaMed 40% for coccidia prevention is also started and is repeated every 21 days until 12 weeks old. This is an injectable medicine but is always given ORALLY ONLY. Coccidia preventative is given for 5 days in a row. 1st dose is 1cc per 5lbs. 2nd through 5th days dose is 1cc per 10lbs. Accurate weight for each kid it the key here. Probios is given at the end of each 5 day treatment to replenish good bacteria.​

• CDT shots are given to kids at 4 weeks of age and a booster dose given 30 days later.

• Kids are bottle fed their dams milk for 12 weeks minimum and given 16% grower grain with rumensin, fresh hay and water.