 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
How We Keep Our Herd Disease-Free
Herd health is of utmost importance at the Chamorro Valley Ranch. Diseases not only impact the performance of an animal, they also ultimately impact the bottom-line.
We believe that the level of effort we spend in preventing diseases from entering our herd will be significantly less than the effort we would have to spend to control diseases once they are in our herd.
We keep our herd disease free by:
Routine Random Testing
We realize that diseases can enter a herd at any time no matter how hard you try and keep them out. As a result, we conduct routine, random testing of animals in our herd in an effort to see if certain diseases are present. As a general rule, on an annual basis we randomly select a few animals from the herd and have them tested for CAE, CL, and brucellosis. So far our animals have turned up clean.
All our goats are routinely tested for disease, and feed only on the natural vegetation in our pastures. No commercial feed is used at our ranch.
Quarantine and Test New Animals
I wish I could keep our herd closed and eliminate the possibility of introducing diseases to our herd via these new animals. However, 
this is not a realistic expectation if you want to upgrade the genetics in your herd. The steps we take with new animals includes keeping them under quarantine at a location away from the herd for several weeks. In addition, we collect and analyze blood samples to determine whether these animals are disease free. Only after new animals are determined to be disease free are they allowed with our herd.
No Outside Breeding
Charging stud fees for breeding outside does with our bucks could provide added income for our ranch. The possibility exists, however, for diseases to be introduced to our herd via these outside does. As a general rule, we do not allow outside breeding.
Rotational Grazing
Animals on our ranch are pasture raised for approximately eight months out of the year. We have approximately 15 acres of irrigated pasture that is cross-fenced and managed through a system of rotational grazing during the spring and summer months. In addition, during the late fall and early winter we have another 120 acres that we use for pasture. It is our belief that keeping animals on pasture rather than in confinement provides a cleaner and healthier environment.
Strict Culling Process
If an animal in our herd ever shows symptoms of a disease, it will be dealt with quickly and appropriately. This animal will not be breeding stock on our ranch, or yours!!!