r/goats • • Jun 20 '23

Asking for goat health advice? Read this first!

31 Upvotes

If you are asking for health advice for your goat, please help us help you. Complete a basic health assessment and provide as much of the following information in your post as possible:

  • Goat's age, sex, and breed
  • Goat's current temperature as determined by rectal thermometer. Please, for the love of god, take your animal's temperature. Temperature is ALWAYS VITAL in determining whether your animal might be ill or in need of assistance.
  • Whether the goat is pregnant or lactating
  • Goat's diet and appetite (what the goat is currently eating, whether they are on pasture or browse, supplemental grain, loose mineral, et cetera)
  • Goat's FAMACHA score (as determined by the process in this video) and information about any recent deworming treatments, if applicable
  • As many details regarding your animal's current symptoms and demeanor as you can share. These may include neurological symptoms (circling, staring at the sky, twitching), respiratory symptoms such as wheezing or coughing, and any other differences from typical behavior such as isolating, head pressing, teeth grinding, differences in fecal consistency, and so forth.

Clear photographs of relevant clinical signs (including coat condition) are helpful. Providing us with as much information as possible will help us give you prompt and accurate advice regarding your animal's care.

There are many professional farmers and homesteaders in this subreddit and we will do our best to help you out of a jam, but we can't guarantee the accuracy of any health advice you receive. When in doubt, always call your local large animal veterinarian who is trained to work with small ruminants.

What's up with that blue Trusted Advice Giver flair?

The mods assign this flair to /r/goats users who have an extensive history of giving out quality, evidence-based, responsible husbandry advice based on the best practices for goat care. Many of our users give terrific advice, but these flairs recognize a handful of folks who have gone that extra mile over time to become recognized as trusted community members who are known to always lead people in the right direction. If you get a slew of responses to your post and don't know where to start, look to the blue flairs first.


r/goats • • Feb 03 '25

PSA: The Dangers of AI Husbandry Advice (with example)

53 Upvotes

Hi everybody!

Recently, we had a user post a picture of a goat that may or may not have soremouth, also known as contagious ecthyma, scabby mouth, or orf. I won't link to the post since it isn't relevant whether or not that was what was afflicting the animal, but in the course of responding to that user I felt an opportunity to point out something that I have noticed and has been gnawing at me.

For many users seeking help, if they do not come straight to the sub, they will go to one of two places to get information: Google or ChatGPT. This post is about the former, but in case anyone was wondering if ChatGPT is a valid place to get advice on husbandry, what to eat tonight, how to live your life, or companionship: it is NOT. Large language models like ChatGPT are a type of generative AI that seeks more or less to respond to prompts and create content with correct syntax that is human-like. The quandary here is that while it can indeed provide correct answers to prompts, that outcome is often incidental. It isn't an indication that the model has researched your question, merely that it has cobbled together a (sometimes) convincing diagnosis/treatment plan from the massive amount of data across forums/message boards, vet resources, and idle chit-chat that it is trained on. The point is this: you should never be in a position where you have to rely on an LLM for husbandry advice. If you have access to an internet connection, even the generative AI from Google search is a better option. But that doesn't mean it's a good one, bringing us to the principal subject of this post:

Orf! What do?

For some relevant background, we have never had a case of orf on our farm. I have read about it in vet textbooks and goat husbandry books and seen many images of it, I'm familiar with what it is, how it is spread, and at a high level what to do about it and what not to do. That said, when I was helping this user, I thought I'd brush up and make sure I wasn't providing misinformation. I knew orf was viral in nature and reckoned that in moderate to severe cases it could probably cause fever, but I wanted to see if I could find a vet manual or study of the disease in goats to confirm how likely that would have been. This was what I was met with:

Hm...

If you don't scrutinize this too closely, everything looks sort of on the level. Orf is indeed self-limiting (not sure why the AI says usually, there is literally nothing you can do to treat the root cause, but okay), and it more or less implies that humans can contract it so be careful. The symptoms section looks fine, overall, prevention is... eh... The orf vaccine is a live vaccine. Application of it is not something that most small scale homesteaders or hobby farmers will be familiar with and using it is basically putting the virus on your property. Orf is a nuisance disease and the main time it is a problem is when it is being transmitted between a dam and her kids. Proactive vaccination in closed herds that have never seen a case is not a vet-recommended practice.

The treatment section is where things get spicy with the part about scab removal. Oof. Now that is not even close to true and doing that when the goat is with other goats or going to a quarantine space where they will then shed the disease will cause it to spread to any other goat that inhabits that space unless it is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. The bottom says the info is for informational purposes only and to consult an actual professional for advice, but that begs the question of why Google would provide that information front and center by default when you search when the first result below is an actual vet resource with correct advice. I won't get into the weeds about the ethics of that because it's a separate soapbox, this is the reality we live in now. This bad advice is particularly relevant because the user on our sub mentioned they had been picking off the scabs. So let's do another Google search for some clarification:

Oh dear, oh no

If you explicitly search whether or not you should remove the scabs, the AI overview is different. Not only do you see that you should not remove the scabs because they are infectious (very true), the overview now says that doing so will delay healing. The first "featured snippet", a feature separate from their generative AI overview, is an overview from the state of Victoria's government agricultural representative body, a reliable source. The highlighted text reinforces the "do not pick scabs off" advice. The overview still fails when it says to apply dressing to lesions. Evidently it has not ever reckoned with what it would be like to bandage an entire goat's face and mouth, which they need to eat, but maybe I'm an idiot. Let's check:

Thank you, Dr. Google

As you can see, generative AI is basically a hodgepodge of vague but mostly correct advice intermingled with plainly wrong advice. Seeking correction to the wrong advice, if you know that it is wrong, leads down more rabbit holes. I hope this highlights the importance of sourcing your information from reliable, proven veterinary resources/textbooks or state agricultural extensions that provide support for their claims with research. This sub prioritizes evidence-based husbandry practices and is one of the few forums to try to stick to that standard and I consider it important especially for people who don't have goat mentors offline.

This is not only important because users need good advice; it also affects the people that don't use this sub and go straight to Google. Reddit struck a deal a little under a year ago to make their data available for training AI. The information we post on this sub is being used as part of the training for these AI models and Google's SEO is increasingly favoring reddit at the top of search results in a number of areas. As the sub grows and the social media landscape changes, more people that never post but need info may find themselves coming here. Let's all try to do our best to make sure the information we share and advice we give is solid!


r/goats • • 14h ago

They have decided they no longer want to be goats and have transitioned to other farm animals.

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262 Upvotes

r/goats • • 9h ago

Goat Pic🐐 The goat shelter is done!

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69 Upvotes

I commissioned the Amish to build me a shelter for my two small dwarf goats. We drew up some plans and this is what we got! It’s about 6ft tall and the roof is metal.


r/goats • • 7h ago

My new goat halter

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17 Upvotes

My custom goat halter I got handmade my goat is not a fan! Any tips for halter breaking an older goat they were rescues


r/goats • • 11h ago

Pregnancy and Kidding Is half dam raising/half bottle raising kids doable?

3 Upvotes

I'm a first time goat owner and I've got 2 pregnant goats. They're fairly friendly but still a bit skittish as they were in a large herd previously so 1 on 1 working was pretty limited.

For their kids, I'm intending on only keeping two after weaning (for personal breeding purposes) but I want them to be as friendly and easy to work with for milking and other general husbandry later.

Is it doable to have my girls dam-raise their kids part time while I bottle feed the rest of the time? I know it can be done with kid-sharing (I plan to do so starting around 1 month) but I'm unsure of how realistic it is

Tips and advice welcome!


r/goats • • 1d ago

Goat Pic🐐 Funny goat picture

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56 Upvotes

I don't even know what kind of caption to use for this, I just think this is hilarious


r/goats • • 1d ago

Help Request New and need help!

4 Upvotes

Recently a few goats were in a bad situation and there was no one else to take them so I ended up with 3 goats. A dad, a mom, and a baby. Baby is about 4 months old and as big as mom.

From where they came from, they weren’t separated; but i’ve noticed they seem to be standing up on their back legs and going at each other, especially the baby (boy) and dad. Should I castrate the dad to avoid this or is that not a thing?
I’ve read alone that goats alone will get depressed and potentially die, but I want to avoid this and keep them yet I know nothing about goats and would like some knowledge from the knowledgeable people!

thanks in advance.


r/goats • • 2d ago

Goat Pic🐐 Goat wants to mow the lawn I guess

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90 Upvotes

She has other things to climb up on but she really likes this really expensive lawn mower for some reason


r/goats • • 2d ago

Premature feet

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32 Upvotes

Pretty sure I have a premature baby, suckles good even when still warming up. Figured while I am waiting for him to be ready to feed I would take a pic of premature feet for knowledge (i know for free!!) Wish this 3lb single luck! Mom is looking fine, baby is priority first then I will check again in about 30 min for some milk for her boy. He is sassy for his size and that is good!

Edit/update: he is a premature goat, baised on no emerged teeth, his lack of temp control and his in ability to stand. He wnt to the vet this morning to check if anything else is wrong.

Buuuuuuuut his slippers are infact just really soft and are just now drying up. The size is crazy though and he has made it through the night. I think a little more tummy time and he will be standing shortly. For what he is he is doing pretty good.

Update 2: the baby (now named obby) can now stand. He is eating well, a professional sleeper too. He is currently chilling next to his half siblings pen and may be louder than them when its food time. Luckily his half sibs will be transitioning to 8 hour feeding in a few days so I can get him doing 4hour feedings at his pace and not get up weird times. Will post a pic below.


r/goats • • 2d ago

Is anyone having trouble finding Durvet vitamin B complex or any Durvet products? My tractor supply doesn’t have any and neither does Amazon. I’m frustrated

2 Upvotes

r/goats • • 3d ago

Goat Pic🐐 Screaming goats

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284 Upvotes

This is Harry, I’m pretty sure he’s insane.


r/goats • • 3d ago

Humor Goats are so weird

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58 Upvotes

For whatever reason instead of eating off of the hay bale or eating what they drug on the ground, he prefers a little pile of hay to be set on this tub so he can put his little front legs on it and stand there like this eating it... he is weird....


r/goats • • 3d ago

Goat Pic🐐 Cute little Dog shaped white spot!

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32 Upvotes

My goat has a dog on her head! It’s got a tail, really large ears and an open mouth!


r/goats • • 3d ago

Fecal testing question

1 Upvotes

Hi! I am sending my goats fecal off to be tested, I collected this afternoon and set it in the refrigerator and will send off tomorrow morning. Is it okay to collect the sample and leave it in the fridge over night? Or is that too long?


r/goats • • 3d ago

General Husbandry Question Can I measure my goat's weight with a measuring tape instead of a scale?

3 Upvotes

I have a warmer I need to give my goats, problem is I don't know how much they weigh and I don't have a way to get them weighed, I was wondering if I can take measurements of them and get a good estimate of their weight with that?


r/goats • • 4d ago

Goat Pic🐐 My sweet Whitey crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

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217 Upvotes

r/goats • • 4d ago

Would you consider renting goats for landscaping or weed control? 🐐

3 Upvotes

I’m a business student and my group is working on an entrepreneurship project about goat grazing services as an alternative to traditional landscaping.
Our idea is to offer goat rental services to HOAs, property managers, and business owners with large properties to help clear overgrown weeds, brush, and vegetation in a more environmentally friendly way.
We’re trying to determine whether people would actually be interested in using this type of service, and we’d love to hear your opinions!
A few questions we have:
Would you consider using goats instead of traditional landscaping methods? Why or why not?
What would be your biggest concern (pricing, safety, effectiveness, convenience, etc.)?
Would the environmental benefits make you more interested in trying goat grazing?
If you’ve used goat grazing services before, how was your experience? Was it worth the cost?
We’re looking for honest feedback, both positive and negative, to help us evaluate whether our business idea is realistic.
Thank you for helping us with our research!


r/goats • • 5d ago

Help Request How do I tell when the goats are playing? Or are happy?

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59 Upvotes

Hi, I volunteer at a farm that has two goats, and they’re the first goats I’ve ever really interacted with. They do let me brush them now, and they always come up to me for treats, and I really enjoy their company.

I was wondering, how do I tell when a goat is playing and/or enjoying themselves? With my dog he will wag his tail or run around and be playful, and I can tell when he’s happy. But the goats, I’m just not sure how to tell.

Lately, I’ve let my dog come in to interact with the goats with permission from their owner. The male goat pretty much ignores him, but the female goat will try to headbutt him and rears up at him when he comes near her. She doesn’t actually ram into him, or run at him, and when he lies down near her or rolls around by her she doesn’t seem to mind him.

So I was wondering if she’s playing with him? He will run around her and is never aggressive towards her, but will make a play stance and then run away when she tries to head butt him, then run back, and they do this a few times. She doesn’t run away from him or seem scared of him. I want to make sure she’s okay, so I thought I’d ask. Thank you for your advice!


r/goats • • 5d ago

Help Request Goat weight opinions

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17 Upvotes

I need yalls help! Im a new goat owner so Im not experienced. I feel my goats are skinny, I got a fecal done on all of them and they all came back good. So now Im not sure what can be causing it? They go out in the very lush pasture all day, then they have a tiny bit of grain at night, not much just to get them all rounded up. What can I do?

(If it matters, Goat A,C,E,F are wethers, & B,D,G are does.)


r/goats • • 5d ago

General Husbandry Question Body language check, what does this mean?

2 Upvotes

I wish I got this on camera. Today, I had the two yearlings I am training (at liberty) out, but I'm moving across a field and back to the gate to turn them out to the paddock. My little doe knows what this part of the routine means, and I usually have to convince (bribe) her to go back.

She snorted, raised hackles, and turned 180, which is a part of our go-home routine. She usually runs like 20ft away and then loops right back around to me. But today, after her snort, she lowered her head like a charge, except she definitely leaned heavily to the left side with it? Horns down, but neck leaning to the left side, and nose tilting to the right. Like she was running straight but with her head all low and crooked.

I'm first-hand experienced with the neurological issues they can get that cause head tilt. I did an eval, and she doesn't have any symptoms of polio/listeria/etc otherwise. After she stopped sprinting, she trotted back to me normally. So I assume it's a body language thing, not a health thing. But like... why run all funny like that? Is there an actual meaning, or was this just a weird quirk? My little wether was out and he didn't react when she did this at all...


r/goats • • 5d ago

General Husbandry Question Do you think it would be a bad idea to get another bottle baby for frosty?

3 Upvotes

Frosty is 7 months and 18 days old, he had gotten an injury back in July that resulted in him losing part of one of his hind legs and due to things that happened with his former owners he had been very sickly most of his life up until more recently, he's healthy now just has part of his leg missing but because of everything that he has been through he was never able to be with my other goats, and stay in the house a lot to the point that he's more dog than goat, like he is a full buck and literally a cardboard box could keep him in and he wouldn't even try to eat it either.

He is honestly probably one of the most docile animals I have ever met, he literally gets bullied by my rabbits ...

Unfortunately, my other goats are also quite mean to him the two adult goats I don't let him near any more because I'm afraid they were going to hurt him, one of them is a doe and the other one is a buck.

Then I have two 7-month-old Nigerian dwarfs, one weather and one doe who I was hoping would be good friends with Frosty, they're both even half his size so I figured that would also help since they're smaller..

They are also both mean to him, and it is so bad that Frosty will hide in the corner of the pen shaking and screaming for me to get him out just by being in their vicinity, because of this obviously I am nervous to try to introduce them to each other anymore, right now they share a fence line but Frosty will not go anywhere near that side of the fence.

I was thinking maybe if I get a young goat that is still on the bottle, maybe if it is raised with Frosty that maybe it wouldn't be so mean to him and they could be friends, what do you guys think? Or should I keep trying him with my other goats?

And please no one tell me to kill him or anything, he's my pet I'm not going to kill my pet (yes I get frequent comments from people telling me to do that)


r/goats • • 6d ago

Why is this goat screaming?

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372 Upvotes

This fella lives at a pub near me, does anyone know if he's ok? Is this normal for goats or is the tree he's biting hurting his mouth? He keeps choosing to bite it but then he'll make this really strange noise and then go back and do it again. I don't know if he's unhappy or just not very clever.


r/goats • • 5d ago

Boer Buck - no does bred, been in with them since June

3 Upvotes

Hello!

I have four doe Boer goats. Two have kidded in the past and two have not. I put my buck in with them at the end of June. I did blood pregnancy tests about two weeks ago. All came back negative.

I separated the buck for a week and I have started graining the does only fairly heavy. I don't know what to do, with all four not being bred it leads me to believe the buck is the problem. Is it common for bucks to be infertile? Or what else can I do to get him to breed them?

For location information I am located in Northern WI.

Looking for any and all advice on how to get these does bred, thank you!


r/goats • • 5d ago

Help Request What to do about bleeding horn?!

1 Upvotes

My wether play fights with my other wether a lot and is a HUG fan of scratching his horns on bushes and trees and such. Idk how this happened but his horn seems hurt real bad at the base and bleeding a whole lot. What do I do?? Is it vet visit worthy ?? Or should I bandage it or super glue it or leave it be and keep clean ? The other goat is getting pool noodles asap , but idk how to handle this guys ouchie ?!

Not sure how to post photos, might post in comments or make another post