I have a few misc. goat questions. First, what color is normal for goat's gums? Pink, grey, black? Second, I have a one and a half week old buck who is having troubles with his umbilical cord. Since he's a boy, it's always wet down there, and it never has time to dry up. Is there anything I can do to help it? I've put Iodine and even rubbing alchohol on it. So far, not much has helped. Maybe this is just normal and I need to wait and stop worrying ;o). Also, my local co-op has straight alfalfa and alfalfa grass. What is better to feed goats? I've heard alfalfa is good because it's rich, but some have said it's too rich. I have right now one pregnant doe and one newly freshened. Should I mix them half and half? The alfalfa they have is pretty rough stuff (the stalky part). Just out of curiousity, is there an explination for why a doe's milk is very noticebly "goaty" tasting for about a week or so after she kids?

Thanks, Danielle

-- Danielle (thiessens@att.net), April 15, 2002

Answers

I would suggest you find some really good goat books and magazines and read up on your goats. The goaty taste will more than likely leave shortly in the milk. I wouldn't worry about the cord on the little buck. As long as it is infected or reddened in appearance. Nature has a way of taking care of such things. I have never had the priviledge in having only alfalfa hay for my goats. As your local feed store about it or your farm vet. They should be glad to help you with questions too. Good Luck !!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), April 15, 2002.

I expect the difference in taste the first week or so would be from the colostrum in the milk. We worm the goat at kidding, and don't drink the milk the first week.

-- mary (mlg@mlg.com), April 15, 2002.

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a.tcl?topic=Dairygoats

Hi, and first I would like to invite you over to the dairygoats forum. I would continue to spray the umbilical cord with iodine to dry it, this is not normal, by 1 and 1/2 weeks it should be dry, it still should be their, but all dry like a stick. Are you sure it is not leaking? A buckling does not pee in the direction of his umbilical cord. I would go with the grass/alfalfa, since it sounds as if the alfalfa is stemmy anyway. Make sure to make all dietary changes slowly, even your hay change. Even colostrum doesn't smell goaty. Go over your milking routine. Is her udder, belly and rear legs clipped so you can actually clean her? Are you cleaning the teats before milking, milking into a clean stainless, ceramic or glass bowl/bucket? Are you quickly chilling the milk in another clean container with a tight fitting lid? Are you straining the milk? Have you wormed the doe since she kidded? What grain are you feeding, heavily mollassed feeds will cause a taste to the milk because the does rumen is so acidic, perhaps offer baking soda. Do you have a good loose mineral out? Clean water, that if you were hot after doing chores you would drink out of? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

Hi Vicki,

To answer your questions...the bucks cord dried up like normal and was a stick, but a few days ago, my brothers where home with the goats (I wasn't here) and they noticed it was bleeding a little when they went out to feed him. They wiped it up and swabbed on some iodine, and it hasn't bleeded since. But now it is just hanging there, leaving some exposed, soft, wet stuff underneath (the "stick" is still there). He seems to be doing alright, no infection or anything yet. As for the milk, I was just wondering...her milk it definately not "goaty" all the time. Yes, we do all those things you asked, wash her udder, clean the dishes well, chill the milk, etc. But lately I've been feeding her molasses water and by what you said, that explains the flavor. I've stopped giving her molasses, and her milk is fine now. I just hadn't put two and two together. How do you offer baking soda? Just straight powder or in water? I have a salt block (mineral salt block). Is that good enough for minerals? I do give my girls different seeds (flax, sunseeds, etc.) off and on if they like it on their grain. They don't seem to be lacking yet...

-- Danielle (thiessens@att.net), April 15, 2002.

Each and every time I have had a calf with a wetness around the umbilical cord after the first couple of days, it has been because he has navel ill - i.e. an infection of the navel. The first time I ran across it I had a vet over. She showed me to open it very carefully and clean it out, rinse it with peroxide using a syringe to squirt it in there (no needle). Penicillin therapy was used for a minimum of 5 days. This is usually caused by one or both of the following: the navel was not dipped in iodine after birth, and/or the kid did not get colostrum.

-- Dianne Wood (woodgoat@pacifier.com), April 15, 2002.

Danielle, I agree with Diane. It could be abscessing and won't heal unless it is opened, but I would leave this for a vet. We use Naxcel for navel and joint ill.

I just keep some baking soda out in the pens, this is another reason for my thinking on you opting for the grass/alfalfa hay, nicely cured grass hay has naturally occuring bicarbonate in it.

There really is a huge difference in your goats when they have access to loose minerals, they are able to eat more of it. I mix mine with kelp and Diamond V Yeast. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

Yes, Vicki and Deborah, you where right. My little buck has an infected naval. We took him to the vet today, and they gave us penicillan and naval wash. He's doing alright now aside from being a little nervous. Thank you for helping me out! It was getting beyond me...

Danielle

-- Danielle (thiessens@att.net), April 16, 2002.

I'm sorry! I meant Vicki and Dianne.

-- Danielle (thiessens@att.net), April 16, 2002.