Reader’s Question about fatal goat disease
I have goats and I have one in particular who is down on her knees. I was told by a vet that that is where she will most likely stay and that I would probably need to butcher her. She is the best
little thing. She is loving and just good natured. Oh yes, she got her silly self stuck in the hay trough and when we got to her she dislocated her back leg. We popped it back into place with the help
from a neighbor farmer, but I am afraid to freshen her because she still favors that leg. The question is because she is not on her front feet they are growing weird and looked deformed and when I
trim them at the tip now I can’t clip too much off because I hit what appears to be a vein. Her feet are still not short enough when I get done trimming her feet. What is going on and what should I
do?
Michelle Chapin
Fresno, Ohio
I’m sorry that you’re having this trouble. Unfortunately, chances are that your little doe has CAE or Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis, which is a fairly common problem in goats, caused by a virus. It is also a progressive type of disease that causes the crippling knee joints and usually eventually death. There is no treatment, but there is a blood test that your vet can have done for you. It is contagious, as well, so you might consider having the other goats in your herd tested to make sure none of them have it, as some goats can test positive for it, pass it on through their milk to their offspring when they nurse and never show signs themselves.
Many goat breeders are so watchful of this disease that they routinely test their entire herd and bottle feed all kids from birth with pasteurized milk.
If you have few goats and have had no problem with CAE in your herd, this probably is not necessary. But if you have goats coming and going (showing, breeding) or have ever had a goat evidence this in your herd, you might consider this step.
This is a hard part of animal ownership, the having to decide to put an animal down for its own good and that of your herd. It’s never easy.
There is no evidence that CAE can be transmitted to humans. — Jackie
Canned turkey pieces floating
I have canned meat for the first time (thank you for your instructions). I am noticing my turkey pieces have of course floated to the top of the liquid line in my jars - with small portions of the meat pieces sticking up out of the liquid entirely. Is that a problem?
Michele Zipf
Amelia, Ohio
No, this is perfectly normal. The worst that can happen is that that little bit of the meat kind of dries out. But when you heat it, it quickly softens and is perfectly fine. I’m so glad you had good luck canning your turkey. Now it’s onward and upward for you, from here! Good canning! — Jackie
