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How
To
Buy
a
Pygmy
Goat:
Questions
a
Buyer
Should
Ask
by
Maggie
Leman
How
old
is
this
goat?
Kids
should
be
at
least
8
weeks
old
before
weaning
unless
you
are
prepared
to
bottle
feed.
Bottle
feeding
a
dam
fed
kid
can
be
nearly
impossible
if
the
kid
is
more
than
a
couple
of
days
old.
We
don’t
let
kids
go
until
they
are
12
weeks
old
and
find
they
are
more
independent
at
this
age
and
better
able
to
handle
the
stress
of
weaning
and
going
to
a
new
home.
Pygmy
Goats
both
male
and
female
can
be
fertile
as
young
as
12
weeks
old;
sexes
should
be
separated
at
that
age.
Pygmy
Goats
can
live
well
into
their
teens
and
are
usually
productive
(can
safely
have
kids,
or
sire
kids)
until
9
or
10
years
old.
What
is
this
goat
eating
and
how
much?
Kids
should
be
eating
grain
and
hay
well
before
leaving
their
dam,
not
just
nibbling.
You
should
be
prepared
to
supply
the
goat
with
their
regular
ration
and
hay
as
goats
can
suffer
with
severe
stomach
upsets
when
their
feed
is
changed
suddenly.
If
you
need
to
change
their
diet
do
it
gradually
over
7
to
10
days
by
mixing
more
and
more
of
the
new
feed
into
the
old
at
each
feeding.
Get
enough
feed
and
hay
from
the
breeder
to
allow
you
to
make
any
necessary
feed
changes.
Has
this
goat
been
vaccinated
and
treated
for
parasites?
Ask
about
the
goat's
vaccination
and
deworming
history
and
what
the
breeder
suggests
as
a
good
schedule
for
you
to
follow.
Goats
should
have
their
first
vaccine
against
clostridial
diseases
(CDT
vaccine,
given
initially
as
a
series
of
3)
and
should
be
started
on
a
parasite
control
program
when
they
are
10-12
weeks
old.
Ask
the
breeder
to
give
you
a
written
record
for
your
goat.
Is
this
herd
tested
yearly
for
diseases?
Ask
about
herd
testing
for
diseases
such
as
CAE
(Caprine
Arthritis
Encephalitis),
TB
(Tuberculosis),
Brucellosis,
Caseous
Lymphadenitis
(CL),
and
Johne's
disease.
Some
breeders
do
not
test
for
these
diseases
and
have
no
idea
of
their
herd's
status.
These
are
serious
life
threatening
diseases
that
may
not
show
up
for
weeks
or
even
years
and
are
difficult
(if
not
impossible)
to
cure
once
they
do
show
up.
Some
of
them
are
very
contagious
to
other
goats
and
can
even
stay
in
the
environment
for
years
waiting
to
infect
the
next
goat.
Some
are
contagious
to
humans.
Many
show
herds
test
for
these
diseases
and
buying
from
one
of
these
breeders
may
help
insure
you
are
buying
a
healthy
pet.
It
will
cost
you
less
in
the
long
run
even
if
you
have
to
pay
more
initially.
Can
you
teach
me
about
hoof
trimming?
Goats
need
to
have
their
hooves
trimmed
every
8
weeks
or
so.
It's
an
easy
procedure
and
one
any
goat
breeder
should
be
familiar
with
and
able
to
help
a
new
goat
owner
learn.
Who
should
I
use
as
a
vet?
If
you
live
in
the
area
ask
who
the
breeder
uses.
This
vet
will
be
familiar
with
the
herd
your
goat
came
from
and
best
able
to
help
you
with
your
new
goat.
It
is
always
good
to
know
of
a
vet
in
your
area
that
treats
goats
before
you
need
their
services.
Not
many
vets
treat
goats
and
finding
one
during
an
emergency
may
not
be
possible.
Is
this
goat
registered?
With
a
registered
animal
you
are
sure
of
what
you
are
getting,
a
real
Pygmy
Goat.
A
year
down
the
road
your
pet
wether
will
still
be
one
of
those
cute
little
goats,
not
a
tall
200
pound
grade
dairy
goat
wether.
That
big
boy
may
still
be
lovable
but
not
what
you
thought
you
were
getting.
If
you
are
buying
a
goat
for
use
as
a
breeding
animal,
is
fertility
guaranteed?
Ask
about
the
goat's
breeding
and
kidding
history.
Registered
Pygmy
Goat
does
that
have
produced
a
live
kid
should
have
a
progeny
sticker
on
their
papers
attesting
to
this.
Ask
about
anykidding
difficulties
such
as
C-sections.
If
the
doe
is
being
sold
as
bred,
most
breeders
will
offer
a
return
visit
if
the
doe
turns
up
open
(not
pregnant).
Ask
how
many
does
the
buck
you
are
buying
settled
(bred
successfully)
last
year.
If
you
are
buying
a
kid
as
potential
breeding
stock
ask
what
kind
of
guarantee
for
fertility
the
breeder
offers.
Get
it
in
writing.
If
you
are
buying
a
show
goat,
does
the
goat
have
a
show
record?
Does
the
goat
have
faults
that
may
affect
its
show
career?
No
goat
is
perfect
so
check
for
faults
such
as
over
or
underbite,
extra,
bifurcal,
or
blind
teats,
cryptorchidism
(undescended
testicles),
Roman
nose
or
crooked
face,
weak
or
lacking
breed
markings,
and
genetic
hornlessness.
Some
of
these
faults
can
disqualify
the
goat
from
competition.
You
should
check
the
goat
for
yourself.
Familiarize
yourself
with
the
Pygmy
Goat
Breed
Standard
and
try
to
attend
some
shows
before
spending
a
lot
of
money.
What
a
Seller
Should
Ask
the
New
Owner
Are
there
zoning
restrictions
against
livestock
where
you
live?
What
are
you
going
to
use
this
goat
for?
Pet?
Show?
Breeding?
Will
this
goat
have
adequate
shelter
and
a
secure
pen?
Are
you
prepared
to
provide
this
goat
a
companion?
Do
you
know
how
to
feed
a
bottle
baby?
Do
you
have
the
right
equipment,
formula
and
enough
time?
Have
you
purchased
feed
and
hay
and
do
you
have
a
good
supplier?
Can
you
do
hoof
trims
and
vaccinations?
Do
you
have
a
vet
who
is
familiar
with
Pygmy
Goats?
Would
you
like
to
join
the
local
goat
club
and
the
National
Pygmy
Goat
Association?
Excerpt
from:
The
MEMO,
Spring
2006
edition,
The
National
Pygmy
Goat
Association,
pg.
11
This
document
is
for
informational
purposes
only
and
is
in
no
way
intended
to
be
a
substitute
for
medical
consultation
with
a
qualified
veterinary
professional.
The
information
provided
through
this
document
is
not
meant
to
be
used
in
the
diagnosis
or
treatment
of
a
health
problem
or
disease,
nor
should
it
be
construed
as
such.
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