[kelebek]

Ok I hae bought a Boer doe sight unseen last night, as I am hoping that I will be able to help her and add her to my herd of meat does. But she has an issue and was wanting your opinions on what I should do when I get her to my ranch.

The doe is a pure unregistered Boer 5 years old. Has kidded once a year with no issues, really good mom, and a prized doe from her owner.

Mandie kidded on February 22nd with triplets. She has a huge udder that the owner says is darn near dragging on the ground - now for the sad news - she lost all three triplets within a few days. Owner believes that they were not getting enough colostrum. She is not milking the mom currently. She is making sure that Mandie is getting up, walking around, eating and drinking, but says her bag is real full and the teats are almost touching the ground.

Now I can't get to her to pick her up until Saturday the 7th, (next saturday) - I am wondering if her ducts are blocked in her udder. Is there a strong possibility of her getting mastitis? Do you think she will be completely dry by the time I get her home, or is there a possibility that I will still be able to milk her?? Just curious. I have never delt with this before, and of course this is my first time dealing with a goat bigger then me........ lol!

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[getchagoat (Julie)]

Re: Boer Doe that I purchased needs help!

I wouldn't pick her up. I bet her kids had a hard time nursing with the teats so low.

 

[jBlaze]

Re: Boer Doe that I purchased needs help!

I would not get her. Sorry to say. And that is from the perspective of a dairy breeder, not a meat breeder. But if a doe has an udder that kids will not be able to nurse from, what good is she? Unless you want to milk her and bottle feed her kids each year. If you do chose to do that, make sure the buck you breed her to is making does with better attachments. (udder traits are supposed to be passed by the buck.)
I do not know what to say about her milk status now, sorry? She may or may not give milk, but I would definitely test for mastitis. Good luck, let us know how it goes. Sorry to hear about the bad news. It is just my opinion that meat producers should think about udder attachments, but of course I have a bias.
I am starting to breed fiber goats now, and I don't care how nice a doe's fleece is, if she has a poor udder attachment, I will keep NO bucks from her.

 

[getchagoat (Julie)]

Re: Boer Doe that I purchased needs help!

I don't think that's a bias. As a meat producer, one aspect is volume of your herd. If you're dealing with a doe that can't nurse her kids, that takes your time and you can't do that in a big herd.

 

[goathappy]

Re: Boer Doe that I purchased needs help!

Honestly, don't buy the doe. She may seem like she's worth it now, but like Julie and jBlaze said, you'll have more trouble with her in the long run.

 

[kelebek]

Re: Boer Doe that I purchased needs help!

This is all very good advise, and that is exactly what I needed!

The owner has contacted me and I am using her horse trailer and picking up the doe either Saturday late afternoon or on Sunday. I am almost positive that she has an infection - but I can't live with myself not helping her. I guess I just have a soft heart - ok - I know that I do.... that is how I have so many goats that pygmys - they are rescues - lol.

I will let you know what I find out when I get her and hopefully we can save her.

~ Allison

 

[enjoytheride]

Re: Boer Doe that I purchased needs help!

She may have a mastitis that can not be cured and bring it your place- so if you do pick her up, she might need to be isolated.
Also, depending on how she was raised, she may be very difficult to handle. The Boers I've known have been sweeties and pretty darn easy to handle but they have been from small breeders who do handle their goats frequently but some Boer breeders just leave their goats to take care of themselves and, if handled at all, are run through chutes, etc. They are not neccessarily like dairy goats who get handled each day or pet type pygmy goats.
I can milk Timber who is the only one I have ever tried to handle that way and I know one of the ladies milks some of her Boers each year to make cheese.
Usually Boers do not seem to have the very large udders and teats of Dairy goats and mine have always dried up quickly. But, although I love Boers, I do think care is needed when getting one because ao many herds are hands off- meaning sometimes that illnesses are not seen or treated.

 

[nancy d]

Re: Boer Doe that I purchased needs help!

I dont want to rain on your parade but I would seriously reconsider this doe. The breeder should be gracious & understanding about it.
Boers are not generally known for fantastic attachment like dairy, but as mentioned already you can't have an udder thats dragging the ground either...it can become injured and you will have your hands full of more than the possibility of mastitis.
If she is coming from a large herd and hasn't been handled much this is going to compound your problems. You have a big heart but dont be a sucker. please re-consider

 

[kelebek]

ok - so here is the update -

I was talking alot with the owner of the doe on Friday through email and also on the phone.... the more I talked with her the more info came out in regards to the doe. The lady was going to let us use her horse trailer to move her to my house so that we could get her this past weekend instead of waiting till this coming weekend.

Well, the more info the lady gave me the more it sounded like she was in need of immediate Vet care beyond what I could give myself.

Then at about 5:30 pm on Friday night I get a paniced phone call from the owner saying that I needed to come get her right then as she was going down fast. I started asking the typical vet tech questions on the phone. The lady said that if I just come and get her, she will take a check and cash it when I tell her to...... that was a red flag all in its self. After she said what was going on with the doe, lathargic, not eating, won't stand ect...

I explained that I could not come get her, as I was on the way to a birthday party, and she also lives 2 hours from where I was. She then asked if I could come get her first thing in the morning. Which I had plans to pick up hay. I told her that the doe needed a vet, tried to give her the name of my vet - and she refused to call a vet saying that she was selling the doe for to cheap already and she was not going to call a vet and sink a bunch of money into her. I was APPALLED to say the least.

I have not called her back since Friday, but I did receive an email at 6:30 am on Saturday saying they called a friend, gave her some pain reliever and was able to milk a bit out of one side, but nothing out of the other and that she is giving pen. She also said that she did not want the doe moved now until she is better and wanted to know if I still wanted her.

Hubby said absolutely NO WAY! And I agree - we had a long talk about it, my feelings on not helping a sick animal and what not - so he said I could get a Horse now! LOL! Now that was a compromise!!! LOL! So now I am looking for a horse also! hehe! I will let you know what I find!

 

[nancy d]

Boy howdy!! But you get a horse now! :thumb:

 

[kelebek]

nancy d -

I was looking at one horse that is at a rescue home right now - the lady "approved" me to adopt her, but she called to check with the sherriff that is doing the adoption and she found that she could not release her yet :-(

But, I did find 2 more that I am interested in - So I might get two not one! LOL~~~

We will see!

 

[Sara]

Allison, are you new to horses? Would you be riding, or would it/they just be a pet(s)

 

[kelebek]

Sara -

I would actually like to ride. When I was in High School 10+ years ago - I worked at a riding stable wrangling and greenbreaking. I miss it so badly.

But at the same time, I am willing to bring in a horse that needs some TLC to get back ridable again.... why what's up?

 

[needs to know more]

Oh Allison, I may have a horse for you!!! :horse: And he likes goats!!!!!!!

 

[kelebek]

Really????

Please more information on the horsie!!! lol!

 

[goatnutty]

I'll check http://www.petfinder.com for you.It's a site for animals that are in shelters and are in danger of being put down if they don't find homes.

 

[needs to know more]

The horse needs to be rescued from me!!!!! He is green broke but ridable. I'll tell you all the good and bad things about him in the morning. I'll have a little more time and should be able to get caught up on stuff!!!

 

[alyssa_romine]

Congrats Alison on getting hubby to agree on a horse!!! I wish my Hubby was that easy...hehe...good luck in your horse search! :thumbup:

 

[Sara]

Oh just because I was going to tell you that getting a horse and him just being a pasture ornament is a lot of money.

Ask me how I know. I ride but not during the winter, when they need the most care.

 

[nancy d]

Oh but its so much fun riding bareback in the winter and horse keeps your legs warm, at least it was when I was a teen!