Goat farmers are human and some of us become attached emotionally to the goats. We say we don't, but we still do sometimes. This is not a sound economic practice, but one that happens to most everyone. Take us for example, guess which goats are the most likely to miss loading on the trailer when it's time to cull. Yep, the little goat that no one thought would make it. You know the underdog, the one we should have put down. But somehow it survived.
We have a doe like this right now. Something chewed her hind legs. She walks on her two front legs and drags her back ones. Sometimes she actually walks completely on her two front two legs for several feet balancing as she goes. She was a nice looking, athletic doeling that we hoped would produce many years of fine kids.
When we saw her legs ruined, we should have just put her down. But someone got the idea we could just feed her a little and maybe the tissue might grow back. If so, then the situation could be salvaged. Worst case, we would have a doe to butcher. It's better than fertilizer.
Now we have the poor crippled doe that survived and has tremendous will to live. And it's true, she is a trooper. She's tough and willing, but I don't think she is going to carry and deliver kids very well on two legs. There are some natural limits to a two legged goat!
Culling requires a tough mindedness that doesn't seem fair sometimes. It means we have to kick the down trodden by sending them to the sale barn or the processor when they have a hero's spirit.
You know I just wonder if we could glue some sticks back there for her? Maybe she could carry kids that way!
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