Goats in the News: Kidding Season Edition 2010

Well, our weather has turned to the decidedly Spring-y. Time to start cleaning out barns, coops, and nooks and crannies where rodents have nested over-winter.

1. How the CAE (Caprine Encephalitis) Virus Infects and Affects Dairy Goats - A Dairy Goat Journal written by the author of "Goat Biology" (which is fantastic). This is very important this time of year because CAE+ does are out there. And they can spread CAE to their kids if they nurse or get unpasteurized milk. One of our goat friends brought home a beatiful buckling from a historically CAE- herd, but a herd that never tested for CAE. And of course, after being in the new herd and being tested, it was discovered that the buckling was CAE+ and the breeder was incredulous. The damage to the breeder's reputation and our friend's CAE- herd was done. Caveat emptor!
2. Australian Meat Goat Prices Rise 30% in 1 Year - apparently the rising price of mutton is pulling along its less common cousin. Imagine what that could do in the US if beef prices rose. Kiko and Boer prices would skyrocket. It is important to remember that in Australia almost all livestock is grass-fed already - little CAFO or confinement.
3. Oscar Nominee Farmiga May Thank Her Goats - A NY Post article about Vera Farmiga who is in the hunt for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Her main life is being a farm-wife in Ulster County, NY - moving the firewood and knitting the goat cashmere from her goats.
4. Radical Homemakers Live the Good Life on Less (review) - this is a book review of this same title by the editor of Grit Magazine. Doing more with less on a farm is hard, no denying that, but the cost of not doing it are... higher. Life is more, even with less. Trust us :D
5. Goat Fans in the Urban/Suburban Area - USA Today article about the growing group of urban goat enthusiasts and their planning regulation issues. To quote from the article, "'If you can have a 250-pound dog in town, why not a miniature goat that can produce milk?'she says. 'It's just common sense.' The Planning Commission hasn't made a recommendation yet."