Buying A Dairy Goat:

[mikey]

Things to look for when buying a dairy goat,the breed you choose is your own decision.Should you buy a doe kid or an older doe.It depends on what you want.Ideally,the goat you are buying should look long and deep bodied when viewed from the side and wide between her legs when viewed from the front and rear.You want her eschutcen and udder attachments to be high and wide.She should have a shinny coat,level topline,sharp wethers.looks fit but lean.Most importantly you want to make sure to pick a healthy,sound animal,whatever her age,ask yourself these questions as you look at the doe or doeling.
Do her eyes look dull or cloudy?
Does she have diarrhea?
Is she standing hunched up with her tail dropping down?
Are her eyes and nose runny?
Is she coughing or breathing hard without having just done hard exercise.
Is her coat rough and flaky or does she have any bald spots?
Are her gums and inside of her eyelids very pale?
Does she have any unusual lumps,swelling on her body,legs,udder?
Is she lame or stiff moving?
Does her milk taste bad?
Is she hard to milk or does her milk have milk clots or blood in it?
Is her appetite poor?
Does she seem depressed or weak and uninterested in her surroundings?
A yes to any of these questions often indicates a sick goat,CHECK CAREFULLY.
By:Dr.E.A.B. Oltenacu,Cornell University,N.Y.