CAN GOATS GET Stds? HOW to DEAL with AGGRESSIVE BUCKS the TOP 9 GOAT PREDATORS in the UNITED STATES
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VOL. 97 NO. 5 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 • $4.99 U.S. • BACKYARDGOATS.IAMCOUNTRYSIDE.COM CAN GOATS GET STDs? HOW TO DEAL WITH AGGRESSIVE BUCKS THE TOP 9 GOAT PREDATORS IN THE UNITED STATES Goat PLUS Competitions of Pakistan goat journal :: in this issue 16 41 06 From the Editor THE STORIES 55 The Dynamics of Cheese Names by Kate Johnson 07 Reader Feedback 30 A Crash Course for Goat 58 Secret Life of Goats: Reader Letters, Fan Photos, Breeding Season Reader Spotlight Goat Competitions of Pakistan by Lacey Hughett by Theresa Miller 12 Back from the Vet 34 Top 9 Goat Predators in the by Katie Estill DVM United States 60 Breed Profile: Angora Goats by Theresa Miller by Tamsin Cooper 14 Katherine’s Caprine Corner by Katherine Drovdahl 41 Those Amazing Goat Eyes 62 Breeders Directory/Classifieds/ and Remarkable Senses! Bookstore THE FEATURES by Tamsin Cooper 68 Just for Fun 44 13 Goat Symptoms You 16 How to Deal with Aggressive Bucks and Unruly Goats Should Never Ignore 70 Coming Attractions by Marc Warnke by Katherine Drovdahl 20 Can Goats Get STDs? 48 Rabies vs. Your Goat by Karen Kopf by Rebecca Sanderson 52 A Sensible Solution to a 26 Photo Essay: EB Ranch Dairy Goat Crisis by Khaiti Hallstein by Patrice Lewis ON THE COVER GFI HEMI, former herd sire owned by Mike Renick, stands majestically among autumn leaves. Read more about HEMI, and M.R. Goats registered Kikos, on page 10. Find Goat Journal Online! SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 VOL. 97 NO. 5 backyardgoats.iamcountryside.com EDITORIAL Marissa Ames, Editor [email protected] Steph Merkle, Content Director [email protected] Samantha Ingersoll, Ann Tom Editorial Assistants CIRCULATION & MARKETING Get your goat on at Ellen Grunseth, Marketing Director BackyardGoats.iamcountryside.com [email protected] — the home to Goat Journal! Traci Laurie Publication Designer • Read hundreds of helpful stories COMING SOON on goat care, housing, health • Become a member and access our ADVERTISING and more. complete magazine archive, Ask Alicia Soper, Advertising Director • Download free reports on topics the Expert chat, and Goat Notes [email protected] (715) 748-1388 that matter most to goat owners. cheat sheets! • Sign up for our free email Kelly Weiler [email protected] newsletter and get seasonal BackyardGoats.iamcountryside.com insights weekly. (715) 748-1389 Sue Lapcewich [email protected] (970) 373-7301 GENERAL MANAGER Basic Emergency Preparedness Mike Campbell Everyone Should Know [email protected] Goat Journal (ISSN 0011-5592, USPS 147-020) is published bi-monthly by Countryside Publications, Household Remedies • Herbal Treatments 136 W Broadway Ave, Medford, WI 54451. Periodicals postage paid at Medford, WI and other mailing offices. THE NATURAL The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of the editor or publisher. All contents of this issue of Goat Journal are FIRST AID copyrighted by Countryside Publications, 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is HANDBOOK prohibited, except by permission of the publisher. By Brigitte Mars Editorial office: P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451. [email protected] Cayenne pepper can stop bleeding. Garlic helps alleviate a toothache. Advertising office: Goat Journal, P.O. Box 566, Honey soothes a burn. When an Medford, WI 54451. [email protected], Display advertising rates on request. emergency situation arises, simple Phone (715) 748-1388, fax (715) 785-7414. home remedies can play a vital role in easing symptoms and providing Subscriptions: (US funds): 6 issues for $24.99; 12 issues $39. immediate help. This quick-refer- Goat Journal Subscriptions, P.O. Box 1848, ence handbook spells out hun- Carson City, NV 89702. (970) 392-4419. dreds of life-saving techniques, commonsense tips, and time-tested POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. herbal remedies that everyone should know. 192 Pages (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to Goat Journal Subscriptions, P.O. Box 1848 iamcountryside.com/shop • 970-392-4419 Carson City, NV 89702. PRINTED IN THE USA. 4 GOAT JOURNAL | september/october 2019 goat journal :: from the editor FROM THE EDITOR BREEDING SEASON for Facebook’s Including knowing what you are standards. After in for and believing your goat- all, people’s owning friends’ rut horror stories. children Trust me. They’re followed my not exaggerating. feed. So, goat I hope you enjoy this year’s Y FIRST-EVER breeding copulation became known as breeding season issue. It’s packed season started when “making pancakes,” the doe’s tail- with valuable information about Ma friend conducted an flagging became her “milkshake,” handling aggressive bucks and emergency goat rescue on the and the act of urinating on one’s knowing which STDs goats can same night that she planned to own face and rubbing it on the catch. Cold weather is coming, so take her family out of town on hapless goat owner who was just we have stories on the top nine vacation. Sure, I’ll watch them out there to fill water troughs goat predators in the United States for a week! No problem. was now “watering the flowers” plus a list of health symptoms I had no idea what I was in for. and “giving her flowers.” you should NEVER ignore. Plus: Those two intact LaMancha I’m not sure how many people a breed profile of the Angora goat, bucks gave me an exciting crash tuned in daily for the Rut Report a Secret Life of Goats story about course on breeding season. The and how many decided they did famous competitions in Pakistan, first day, I learned that five feet NOT want my pancake recipe and and the dynamics of how many wasn’t enough fence to hold a scrolled faster than a goat owner popular cheeses got their names. buck in rut and that it takes more who realized six feet is STILL not than one washing to remove that enough to hold a buck in rut. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY (SURVIVE) gag-worthy musk after wrestling As Lacey Hughett says in BREEDING SEASON! him back into his pen. The second her story in this issue, a little day, I experienced all the signs of preparation goes a long way. estrus as the does backed “that tail” up to the fence. Day three saw the quick destruction of a goat shelter that had taken my TELL US ABOUT YOU! husband a week to construct. Do you have a story suggestion for Goat Journal? Would you like Having an active social media to tell us how you dealt with a particular problem … or ask for advice account, I shared the excitement. regarding an issue that didn’t go so well? But soon it became obvious that Send your letters via email to [email protected] or the old- I needed to censor some content fashioned way to Goat Journal, P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451. 6 GOAT JOURNAL | september/october 2019 goat journal :: conversation Dear Marissa, I have been conducting seminars in sheep and goat production BUSTING and this is my second time I am getting this concern/complaint from farmers: rams and bucks are seen mating with does and GOAT-KEEPING ewes, respectively. This time this farmer is experiencing this MYTHS problem where the ram is busier than the buck, and mating with in the may/june 2019 issue: does. Kindly shed more light on this trend. In Zambia, most farmers keep small flocks of mixed sheep and goats and practice a continuous breeding system where rams/bucks are not I love this article. I have answered all separated from ewes/does but stay together throughout the year. those questions myself. I especially Kind regards, relate to leaning my head on Bessie David E. Daka, Animal Production Consultant or Gladys while I milk, listening to the Lusaka, Zambia rumen, I feel the pure relaxation and Good morning Mr. Daka, connection to life during those quiet Because goats and sheep are so close in breed, they will mate each moments. Goats are my sanity; other. A ram or a buck, when he wants to mate, does not care if the not sure I can live without them. female is his same breed. I also see this with my male turkey trying to mate my chickens and ducks. So, if a farmer keeps sheep with goats, this Kristina Adams will probably happen. It can be bad for the farmer, for several reasons: - First, if the ram is dominant, as you described, he will chase away the buck that is supposed to be mating the does. Then the does won't get pregnant at all. - Secondly, sometimes the ram can get the doe pregnant. But because Can you recommend a book on of genetic differences, the offspring is usually miscarried. Then the homeopathy, herbs, or something that can farmer has missed important months when that doe could have heal some type of tumor on goats that's been pregnant with offspring that he could sell. supposed to be highly contagious? My - And third, sometimes the doe does not miscarry and the offspring friend has goats with these tumors and grows within her. This can kill the doe. If the offspring is born, it she does not want to put them down. usually does not live long. Jon The same is true of bucks mating with ewes. If the farmer has the ability to separate goats and sheep into separate pastures, it would Hi Jon, be best. I hope this information helps. Our contributor Katherine Drovdahl focuses Thank you, on natural goat health, specifically on herbology. Marissa Ames You can find her on firmeadowllc.com, where she sells her herbs as well as her book.