CNG

Clove Oil Disbudding – #3

Disclaimer: The following is not veterinary advice.  We are not vets and are not advocating this procedure other than for our personal use.  We are posting results, because we were asked about it. You’re adults.  You make your own choices for your livestock.  Thank you for playing.

We participated in an unofficial trial during this kidding season.  I posted the original official study link in a previous post. 

Update On Clove Oil for Disbudding

The woman in the clove oil disbudding group, who said her family has used the topical version of this method for generations, sort of disappeared from the group and won’t or can’t answer private messengers.  This means we can’t ask questions or clarify certain aspects with her.   We don’t know if she’s had some type of emergency or what.  So far, no one has had success with topical applications.  They saw no decrease of size or dying of the bud and had to use the iron.

Those using a vet to inject the oil have had success if the protocol of the study is followed. The vets who changed the dosage to a lower amount based on weight for a medium to full-sized goat kid had injections fail.  Those who changed the dosage for minis had success most of the time.  The failures seem related to the dosage amounts.  All the vets used seem to agree that .2ml is too much for a miniature breed.

Those who have done the injections themselves have had mixed results.  Some of it is due to the unknown eugenol content of the clove oil, but the main issue is kids don’t like to hold still, so the needle comes out and oil goes outside the bud rather than under it. Once the hole in the skin is made, the oil will come out of it instead of going under the bud.

I’m continuing to watch results, but so far as long as the study is adhered to and dosages are based on the final size of the goat, it is working.

Clove Oil for Disbudding – Topical?

In the FB group Clove Oil Disbudding, a new member informed us that she and her parents use Clove oil topically to remove horn buds.  Her family has been doing this for years.   Needless to say, it caused a bit of excitement. No injections or hot iron?  Pain-free disbudding?  Yes, please!

We’re all still cautious about it, but it looks promising.  A couple of people in the group took the study to their vets, and the vets agreed to do the injections for their own study.  The admin of the group is one and is posting the progress on her blog.  If anyone wants more information or wants to follow progress as several have now injected or are trying topical applications.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CloveOilDisbudding/

I have to admit, I’m very hopeful about this.  Topical requires more, so I’ve ordered more Clove oil, and the needles are set aside for now.

Ending the Season

Fall has arrived once again.   Except for goats, all sales are over.   We sold the last of our processed chickens and the hens are molting and have stopped laying.  By the time they’re done the days will be short and cold, so they’re done for the year.

The garden is slowly stopping production.  The herb garden is done, and the grapevines are shedding leaves.  Everything is going to sleep for the coming winter.

We also lost our elderly mouser to Lymphoma on Friday.  He was 19ish and would wait for hours for a mouse to come out of a hole.  He loved to lay with people and gave the dogs as good as he got.  His season is over.  This is the second pet we’ve lost this past year.

 

Goat Sales Suspended

I brought a new goat in and was unable to quarantine her, because the goat barn was so freaking hot inside.  The electricity in it isn’t working right now, so I couldn’t run a fan.  I had to let her in with the herd or let her die of heat stroke.  The next day I noticed her eyes were “gloopy”.  I didn’t pay much attention to it.  Two days later, they were cloudy.   Well, crud.  Pink-eye.

My entire herd caught it.   Since flies can carry it from goat to goat, it may not have mattered about her being quarantined.   It’s our first time having it.  I began herbal treatment. All but two have cleared up, and those two are having trouble shaking it.   One is the “sickly” one of the group, and the other is just stubborn when being treated.  It takes 2-3 people to hold her.  We’re tripling our efforts on them, so my bruise collection will be glorious.

All goat sales are suspended until the herd is cleared of it and healthy again.

And — two goats came into heat early.

Herbal Tug of War

After an Ober finished her bit of grain top-dressed with her herbal pregnancy mix,  I unlocked her from the milking stand and turned to open the door.  Too bad I forgot to move the herbal mix bag.  She had the edge of it in her mouth in about a split-second.  Trying to get it back from her was like trying to get drugs from a crack addict.  I won – barely. She gave me mournful bleats as I left with the tattered and ripped bag in hand.   She doesn’t see why she has to share with the others.