Favorite Links & Resources

General Care & More:

• Fias Co Farms has put a lot of effort into providing information on proper goat care.  Check 'em out!  https://www.fiascofarm.com/

• Blue Cactus Dairy Goats (many helpful videos from hoof trimming, to kidding, to showing and more!) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP3if8O_cQMc0od_4DU97vw

• How to draw blood for testing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aicYZSrV18

• A dedicated and helpful group of individuals have devoted a lot of time into creating useful reference files and a handful of experienced people to guide you through your day-to-day goat husbandry and emergencies.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/499743150065823/

• I find that some of my searches have led me to Feather & Scale Farm more than once and you too may find some useful information or products!  https://featherandscalefarm.com/goats/ 

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DIY Milk Stand Plan:

Best plans I've found for a milk stanchion (stand).  Just remember to reduce the height of the headgate for Nigerians (I think I reduced it by about 5-6")!  https://www.fiascofarm.com/files/Milk_Stand_Plans.pdf

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DIY Hay Feeder Plans:

I made some single-sided feeders from this plan using "horse panels" from local farm stores (Wilco/Coastal).  The panels are huge, 5x16' and will need to be cut down.   I thought I saw at one point that Coastal offered a half panel size so shop around!  https://www.premier1supplies.com/img/product/pdf/byo-feeders.pdf

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Fecal Testing Labs:

Most vets provide fecal testing, but if you're having trouble finding a cost effective solution there are mail-in alternatives!  Please note that you want the freshest sample possible which, for me, means following the goats around with a Ziplock bag and a Sharpie to mark their name on the bag!  After that, in the fridge it goes to keep any worms from deteriorating until I can get to the post office.  Ain't farming classy?!  

• MeadowMist Lab Service - https://www.meadowmistlabservice.com/

• MidAmerica Agricultural Research Inc. - https://www.midamericaagresearch.net/

• Favorite DIY video -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZQymZKe_hs

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Blood panels (serology) for CAE, CL, Johne's, Brucellosis, Q-Fever, Pregnancy, etc:

As is with fecal testing, many veterinarians will draw blood for you and send off the samples for testing.  For those of you who prefer to draw your own blood (see video above) or have someone who can do it for you at a reasonable cost, here are some labs to submit those samples to.

• Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) - https://waddl.vetmed.wsu.edu/

• Universal Biomedical Research Laboratory (UBRL) - http://ubrl.universalbiopharma.org/