Disbudding Dilemma+Sweet Licks of Sweetlix

Elly May had an "outing" this past week. Although both Edna and Elly May were disbudded when they were little, they have developed "scurs" (little horns).  Edna's is already 1/2 inches long, so I am waiting until I wean her to address it.  However, Elly May's scur is just a little nub.  I decided that it was probably at a good point to "re-disbud" so I loaded her up in a doggie crate and took her to the vet...

When the vet saw the scur, he took some snippers and just snipped it off like a fingernail!  It will likely need to be trimmed regularly, but it beats having to go through the stress of "redisbudding" her.  The only drawback is scurs can bleed when snipped, so I will need to perform this task carefully.  (It made me feel funny taking her all the way to the vet only to have him clip it off!)   

Elly May sang the whole time in the car.  And it was a loud song too!  The only time she quieted down was when we turned on the radio!  That funny goat!

The goats are also getting a new loose mineral (Sweetlix Meat Maker 16:8).  I had previously used the MannaPro Goat Mineral.  However, I was suspecting that Charlotte was mineral deficient, so I decided to purchase a different type of minerals.  When I first put them out, she took a nice big lick!  I can't tell how much she is getting on a weekly basis, but I hope they will clear up any mineral issues.  The Sweetlix Meat Maker 16:8 minerals are formulated especially for goats.  They are high in copper and cobalt (crucial to a goat's health) as well as have the goat-specific phosphorus to calcium ratio (16% calcium to 8% phosphorus).

I couldn't resist posting a picture of a cute little guy named "Chocolate."  He was born last Thursday morning right out in the pasture!  He is really soft and loves following his mama around the field!  Seeing him be born makes me excited about the goats kidding next year!