Have a very nice Saanen doe that came to me via a friend from Noble Springs Dairy in Franklin, TN. She was very skittish when I got her but settled down completely after kidding last spring. I was getting 5-6 lbs of milk from her daily with one kid still on her but now both kids are off.
About 1-2 months ago she began reverting back to her skittishness and was eating less. Milk dropped off gradually. Now I am getting about 3 lbs per morning and she is just less interested in food. In fact, while on the stand she seems afraid of me. I am very gentle with my goats; she has no reason for this, and weirdly, anywhere else she is friendly and comes up to me for treats, ear scratching etc. had fecal count done and she was fine. I use Hoegger's herbal wormer once a week and other than one case of suspected meningeal worms ( in a different doe, which is recovering slowly but surely), I've not ever had any worm problem. I feed them Purina Goat Chow, at the recommendation of a friend who owns and operates a goat dairy and judges for ADGA at national shows.
Her coat looks fine, and it isn't like her ribs are showing but she is considerably thinner than she was in spring and summer. No fever, feet look good, not anemic. No history of any CAE or CL or signs of them in any of my goats.
Can this be normal for some goats? Could it be related to her cycling? She is not bred yet. I am getting ready to breed her next week but wanted some advice on this first.
Thank you! I can post a picture if needed.
Kevin
