Eastern NY Goat Club Meeting

The next meeting of the ENYGC is at noon on March 10th at the Saratoga County Extension Service building which is located at 50 West High Street in Ballston Spa.

 

We are hosting the NYSDGBA (New York State Dairy Goat Breeders Association) http://nysdgba.com/ meeting this month. You can renew your membership or join the NYSDGBA at this meeting if you'd like.

 

Please bring a covered dish to share, items for the White Elephant Auction (which benefits the NYSDGBA), and some money to bid with. Please bring items that are in good condition and be prepared to bring them back home with you if they don't sell. Coffee and tea will be provided.

 

I will also be accepting items for the May Buck & Doe show raffle tables from now until the shows if you'd like to contribute something to either of them. If you bring an item to the March meeting please give it to me instead of placing it on the White Elephant Auction table. 

 

2013 ENYGC membership dues are due at the March meeting to keep your membership current - Please see Jean Thorkildsen to make payment.

 

Check out the ENYGC at http://enygc.webs.com/

Common causes of goat ailments

 Here is a quick and dirty list of some of the common causes of goat ailments. This list is not meant to be definitive and there are times where the cause I have listed will NOT be the cause of the problem in your particular goat. I am not a veterinarian nor a veterinarian's representative so please use this list with caution in diagnosis a problem in your goats:

Pink milk or blood in the milk = Calcium deficiency

Horizontal folded ears (Boer or Nubian breeds) = Mineral deficiency

Pot-bellied = Coccidiosis or worms

Bent ankles or weak legs at birth = Selenium deficiency

Dry cough = Lungworms

Itchy tail = Pinworms

Faded fur color= Copper deficiency

Pale eyelid membrane = Internal parasites

Low body temperature = Mineral deficiency

High body temperature = Infection

Sweet smelling urine during late stage pregnancy or at freshening = Ketosis

Pimples on udder = Topical Staph A infection

Pimples on mouth = Orf


Udder congestion or udder edema = CAE

Arthritis in joints = CAE

Abscesses = Caseous lymphadentitis

Good appetite with weight loss = Johnnes disease

Watery eyes in newborn kids = Entropion (curled under eyelid)

Watery diarrhea in newborn kids = Too much milk during feedings

Brown, smelly diarrhea in 3-4 week old kids = Coccidiosis

Goat and Sheep Fecal Sampling and FAMACHA Workshop

There will be a Goat and Sheep Fecal Sampling and FAMACHA Workshop on April 6, 2013 from 10am - 3pm at Paul Smith's College. The workshop will be led by Betsy Hodge from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Sheep and Goat Program. Cost for the workshop is $30 per person/farm. This cost includes all fecal sampling supplies (slides, float solution, cover slips, etc) and the official FAMACHA eye chart. Please bring your own lunch or bring money to buy lunch at the college's cafeteria.

The workshop will begin with lectures on small ruminant parasite management. After that we will move into the lab and there will be a fecal sample workshop using microscopes. Please bring a sample of your sheep or goats' feces to process. The day will end by going outside to learn the FAMACHA eye chart using live goats. Everyone will become certified in FAMACHA eye chart use and will receive an official FAMACHA eye chart.

Please contact Betsy Hodge at bmf9@cornell.edu to register for the workshop. Space is limited. Please sign up today!!

Calcium: Phosphorus Ratio - Why Alfalfa is Essential

When raising goats, it is very important to be aware of the role of the calcium: phosphorus ratio in their diet. Calcium is needed for bone development and muscle contraction. Phosphorus is used for kid development, milk production, and normal bodily functions. Too much of either of these compounds without balancing them with each other can cause very serious problems including death from hypocalcemia or from urinary calculi. Goat farmers should always feed twice as much calcium as phosphorus. They should observe a 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus. 

The best way to accomplish this ratio in the diet is through loose minerals and the feeding of alfalfa. Loose minerals are essential for goats for many reasons. One of those main reasons is that they provide a balanced calcium to phosphorus ratio of 2:1. When buying loose minerals, make sure they are specifically designed for goats and make sure to read the label and see that they have the proper calcium to phosphorus ratio. 

Feeding alfalfa to goats is a great way to balance out calcium and phosphorus. Alfalfa hay, pellets, blocks and silage are all very high in natural calcium content. All grains (corn, oats, wheat, barley, etc.), hays, and grassy forages are very high in natural phosphorus. If you feed your goat grains, whether store-bought or homemade, feed your goats non-alfalfa hay, and let them graze on grass, then it is essential that you feed them alfalfa in order to balance the calcium and phosphorus.

Feeding alfalfa daily is very important for pregnant or lactating goats. Pregnant or lactating goats have very high calcium demands when growing kids or making milk. The production of kids and the production of milk leach calcium from their bodies and dietary calcium is needed to replace that deficit. If fed only grain and hay, the pregnant or lactating goat will have too much phosphorus in her body and can suffer hypocalcemia. This condition most often occurs when a doe is close to kidding or when newly freshened. These are times when her calcium demands are highest. Emergency administration of calcium supplements during hypocalcemia can be very dangerous due to sudden increases in blood calcium which can cause massive heart failure. The best way to cure hypocalcemia is to avoid it by feeding the doe alfalfa in her diet starting at breeding and continuing through lactation. 

Wethers must have dietary calcium in order to avoid suffering from urinary calculi. Urinary calculi are hard mineral deposits that commonly form in the bladder of goats. These are similar to kidney stones. All goats can produce urinary calculi but wethers are most in danger of dying from them. Bucks and does are usually able to pass the stones out of their bodies without complications. Wethers, especially those neutered before sexual maturity, have small urethral openings where stones can get stuck and cause blockage of urination. The urethra of a male goat widens with sexual maturity through erection and ejaculation of the penis. Wethers don’t typically become erect or ejaculate so their urethras stay very narrow. Treatment for stones stuck at the end of the urethra includes cutting the tip of the penis to expand the opening and catherization to allow urine to pass. 

Another problem that is particular to all male goats is that their urethra is not a straight tube from the bladder to the penis. It has an S-curve in it called the “sigmoid flexure”. This curve looks very similar to a trap in a sink drain. It also works similar to a drain trap by trapping urinary calculi in the S-curve so they can’t exit the body. Urinary blockage can occur here which makes it very hard to manually remove the stones through catheterization. Abdominal surgery is typically recommended for this problem. 

The best treatment for urinary calculi is prevention through proper diet. Originally farmers assume that grain caused the stones due to the fact that wethers who had diets high in grain commonly had trouble from urinary calculi. Now it is known that grain itself does not cause the stones. The imbalance between calcium and phosphorus in a high grain diet causes stones. Male goats, bucks and wethers, should be fed alfalfa along with their hay and grain in order to achieve the proper calcium to phosphorus ratio. 

Unfortunately baled alfalfa hay is rarely available in the Adirondacks. Luckily most feeds stores in this area sell either alfalfa cubes, alfalfa pellets or chopped alfalfa silage. The price for 50 lbs of all three of these alfalfa sources is about $18, depending on the feed store. 

Alfalfa cubes are finely chopped compressed alfalfa blocks. They are generally not recommended for goats because they can pose a choking hazard. They are very hard in texture and can be kind of big for a goat’s small mouth. Some people soak the cubes overnight in warm water to soften them. Many goats don’t like mushy, wet alfalfa and refuse to eat the soaked cubes.

Alfalfa pellets are powdered, extruded alfalfa. These are much easier for goats to eat and can be fed with the grain ration. They don’t contain very much fibrous material due to being from alfalfa powder. It is best to always feed 3 cups of alfalfa pellets for every 1 cup of grain per goat to maintain the 2:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio. 

Chopped alfalfa silage, sold under the brand name “Chaffhaye”, contains roughly chopped alfalfa that has been slightly fermented through the addition of yeast and a little molasses. The silage is moist and has a sweet smell due to fermentation. The fermentation yeast adds to the digestibility of the silage. Due to the alfalfa being roughly chopped, there is quite a bit of fibrous material in Chaffhaye. This is good because daily fibrous material is necessary in a goat’s diet to keep their digestive system working smoothly. Feeding Chaffhaye will decrease hay consumption due to being high in fiber. The recommended feeding is 2 lbs. of Chaffhaye per 100 lbs. of goat per day. Most goats don’t like Chaffhaye at first but will gradual develop a taste for it. Once they do, they will run you over to get it! 

If you aren’t feeding alfalfa currently, take time to evaluate your goat’s diet to see if alfalfa needs to be added. All goats at any life-stage can benefit from the proper calcium to phosphorus ratio. Lowering grain amounts and increasing alfalfa feeding will contribute to the lifelong health of your goats.

Upcoming Events!!

Hi!
There's TONS going on around the North Country this spring in regards to goats and other livestock. Here's a sample:

Schedule for Adirondack Goat Club events: 
To get on the email list for the ADK Goat Club, please contact Rose Bartiss at rosesgoats@gmail.com.


1/26/13 - ADK Goat Club general meeting -- Free! Potluck lunch, please bring food to share. We will talk about getting ready for kidding and getting ready for spring. All are welcome! Email rosesgoats@gmail.com (Rose Bartiss) for directions and to RSVP. Location: Rose's farm in Vermontville, NY

4/6/13 (tentative) - Fecal Sampling and FAMACHA Certification Workshop --at Paul Smith's College. Coordinated by the Cornell Cooperative Extension Sheep and Goat program. Lecture on parasite management, learn to use a microscope to do fecal samples at home, become certified to use the official FAMACHA score card. Pre-registration required. Open to all goat and sheep owners in the North Country. There will be a fee for the workshop and for lunch. Stay tuned for more details.

Schedule for the St. Lawrence County Cornell Cooperative Extension in Canton, NY:
To get on the email list for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Sheep and Goat program, please contact Betsy Hodge at bmf9@cornell.edu.

Beef Discussion Group – January 30^th at 7 pm at the Extension Learning Farm.  Lynn Fountain, lawyer, will be the guest speaker.  Everyone welcome.

Strategic Marketing Course for Livestock Farmers - February 5, 12 and 19^th - $30.00 per farm – See article.  Pre-registration required. Extension Learning Farm

North Country Pasture Meeting –Friday evening February 22^nd, Copenhagen (Ron Kuck 788-8450 or rak76@cornell.edu) and Saturday February 23^rd 10:30 am Malone 911 Building, Bare Hill Rd.  Jenn Colby, Pasture Program Coordinator for the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture, break-out sessions for sheep and diary, reports on some North Country farm trials.  Contact Betsy Hodge at 315-379-9192 or bmf9@cornell.edu $30.00.

Sheep and Goat 101 – Saturday March 9^th, 10:00-3:00, A beginners basics course for those new to sheep and goats or wanting to get started in sheep and goats.  Lectures and hands on activities.  Kids and families welcome.  $10.00 per person or $20.00 per family.  Please register with the office – pay at the door.

Spring Beef Week – March 12-16^th – March 14^th in St. Lawrence County, Cooperative Extension Learning Farm, Canton at 6:30 pm.  Carol Gillis from the Beef Industry Council talking about what consumers want and Mike Baker on smart bull selection to produce quality beef.  $5.00 Contact Betsy Hodge 315-379-9192 or bmf9@cornell.edu Available in other counties during the week.

Pre-season training for Direct Marketers – March 23^rd – Food Safety for different venues and marketing channels.  Insurance – do you need it and what kind do you need.  Save the day! More details coming.

Bed & Breakfast Owners Guide to Working with Local Farmers – April 11, 1-4pm Extension Learning Farm.  We are looking for farmers interested in working with B & B owners and vice versa.  Most details coming.  Save the Date!

Schedule for Ward Lumber Educational Workshops and Seminars in Jay, NY:

To get on the email list for Ward Lumber please visit www.wardlumber.com.

2/19/13 - Equine Night 6:30pm - 9pm. Free! Pizza and refreshments provided. Guest speaker: Stephen Duran from Performance Horse Nutrition. Go to www.wardlumber.com for more information and to RSVP.

2/26/13 (tentative) - Swine Night 

4/2/13 (tentative) - Poultry Night

June 2013 - Chicken Harvest Workshop

Next meeting

I am currently looking for volunteers to host the next ADK Goat Club meeting in January or February. Let me know if you are interested.

Thanks.
-Rose

Basic Farm Finance Training by Cornell Cooperative Extension

News from Northern New York Regional Agriculture Initiative of Cornell
Cooperative Extension

PRESS RELEASE: November 19, 2012

Contact: Anita Deming, CCE Essex, 518-962-4810 x409; Anita Figueras, CCE St.
Lawrence, 315-379-9192; Peggy Murray, CCE Lewis, 315-376-5270

Basic Farm Finance Training Offered in Burrville, Canton, Malone, Plattsburgh,
and Westport; pre-register by Dec. 3, 10

The Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) associations of Northern New York are
offering a basic financial management training for farm business owners and managers.
Educators will cover the three basic financial statements every farm business should
use, recordkeeping systems, inventory management, cash flow vs. profitability, crop
insurance and risk management.

The 1pm-3 pm course qualifies for FSA Borrower Training Credits. Cost is
$10/class/farm or $25 for series of three classes.

This class is for beginning farmers and farmers who want to know more about basic
bookkeeping, and such tools as profitability measures, accrual accounting, and
depreciation. The small classroom setting allows for lots of questions and one-on-one
help from instructors.

Instructors Peggy Murray and Anita Figueras say at the end of the course participants
will be able to track income, expenses and inventory in the form of a farm business
summary and have a good start on a plan for improving farm profitability in 2013.
The Managing with Finance training will be offered in:

Plattsburgh: December 10, January 7 and January 21; CCE Clinton County office,
6064 NYS Rte 22. Pre-register by Dec. 3 with CCE Clinton County, 518-561-7450.

Malone: December 11, January 8 and January 22; Franklin County USDA Service
Center, 151 Finney Boulevard. Pre-register by Dec. 3 with CCE Franklin County, 518-
483-7403.

Burrville: December 12, January 9 and January 22; Farm Credit East, 25417 NY Route
12. Pre-register by Dec. 10 with CCE Lewis County, 315-376-5270.

Canton: December 12, January 9 and January 23; CCE St. Lawrence County
Extension Farm Learning Classroom, 2043B St. Hwy. 68. Pre-register by Dec. 10 with
CCE St. Lawrence County, 315-379-9192.

Westport: December 14, January 10 and January 24; CCE Essex County office, 3
Sisco Street. Pre-register by Dec. 10 with CCE Essex County, 518-962-4810 x0.

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.
Learn more about Extension in Northern New York at www.ccenny.com. -30-