Garrett Ranch

Colville, Washington

SHOWING:

Showing goats can be a lot of fun. However a common question asked is, “What could you bring home from the show or fair besides your goats and awards?” Diseases can be divided into two groups. There are those that occur during or immediately after a show. Then there are the diseases which take a long time to develop and there is no reliable way of telling where they came from. You only know that your goats have been in contact with other goats from other herds. Everyone wants to show off his or her goats, especially the kids. While off the ranch we try to keep visitors from going from mouth to mouth and goat to goat. This is very hard because goats just say, “Please, come and love me, just a little.” As an extra safeguard we quarantine our show goats after returning home. If they did bring home an unwanted bug it would have less of a chance of spreading to the entire herd. 

Here are a few tips that we use that may make showing safer and less stressful on you as well as your goats.

1. Make a list beforehand of everything that your goats will need at the show.
2. Make sure that all goats are currant on their vaccinations, worming, etc.
3. Check with your veterinarian about pre-show health tips or shots.
4. Obtain a goat health certificate.
5. Take a goat medical supply kit. Make sure that it is well stocked.
6. Make sure that you have all of the necessary registration certificates.
7. Arrive at the show early. Give your goats time to settle down.
8. Be sure that a veterinarian has examined ALL of the goats entered and found them in good health.
9. Spray your pens with a disinfectant (Clorox/water mix) before adding clean bedding. We always use some kind of a divider between our goats and the others. Rolls of plastic netting with burlap work great.
10. Place goats in a safe pen with a secure latch or strap.
11. Bring plenty of their hay from home.
12. Provide drinkable water. Some goats refuse Chlorinated or other strange water at shows if they have been on well water. Some people bring water from home to make sure that their goats drink enough.
13. If the temperature is hot bring a box fan for the goats. Don’t forget the    extension cord.
14. Make sure that your goats can rest. They need to be able to get away from  curious hands of the public. This is especially true for the young kids.
15. Spend time in the pen with your goats. Remember that you are their security blanket.

These tips are no guarantee for bringing home healthy and stressfree goats but it may just make a difference in the long run.