Spring is near; there are buds starting on the trees and green showing in places on the ground. The winter has been long and cold. It's an understatement to say Spring is welcome.
Our does should start kidding in the next 30 days so it's time to work them. We worm approximately one month before the kids are due. This year we are going to vaccinate for CDT. Some years we include CDT, some we don't. Either way, we want the does worked before the kids start to arrive.
The parasite load always hits hard with the stress of birthing and nursing the kids. It is a drain on the natural resources of the doe and we don't want them fighting the worms at the same time.
The CDT is given to avoid any more tetanus around the place than necessary. We recognize tetanus is everywhere, but prefer to vaccinate to prevent problems. The other parts of CDT is supposedly beneficial if provided late in gestation for the kids. We don't pretend to understand all the reasons, but accept the advice of our vet as well as the literature we have read.
Working the goats in the Spring is the prelude for the year. The kids will come shortly after, then starts the tagging and recording chores. It is more fun than work. The kids are tagged the first day we find them with an identification tag and scrappie. It means every evening for several weeks we chase them around with a butterfly net, catching and tagging. Looking for them behind rocks, inside tree roots, and under brush is like an Easter egg hunt every day.
If we wait, the work increases significantly. At one week, the kids are nearly impossible to catch. If we use the working pen and chute, we risk losing them to the crowding as the larger animals push together. No question about it, we want to tag the little boogers as soon as possible. Yes Sir, Spring is almost here and we're ready!