How much does it cost to band goats?

Castrating older goats costs $80 or more from a veterinarian, but banding goats lowers the cost to $20 for the band castration tool, less than $10 for 25 elastic rings, and $0.50 per a dose of CDT vaccine.

Is banding a goat painful?

Administer a dose of adult aspirin or a shot of Banamine a half hour before you do the procedure. Banding is painful to the goat, so administering anti-inflammatories can reduce discomfort.

How many Nigerian dwarf goats per acre?

Goats are similar to sheep in that you can support about six to eight goats on an acre of land. Because goats are browsers, not grazers, it will be important that the land you have will supply them with the sort of forage they like to eat—see below.

What is the best age to band a goat?

If a male goat is wethered too soon, the urinary tract may be very small and increase the chance for blockage. Therefore, it’s often recommended that wethers not be banded until they are at least ten to twelve weeks old.

How late can you band a goat?

Goats must be between four weeks to four months of age with eight to 12 weeks being ideal. Because of the difficulty in telling if the spermatic cords have been crushed, this method may be perceived as less reliable than other methods. A third method of castration is the use of a knife.

How long does it take for goats balls to fall off after banding?

Within two months, it should naturally detach from the body. In a proper banding, the testicles will become hard and shrink, as will the scrotum, until it is flat and leathery. Within two months, it should naturally detach from the body.

Can two wether goats live together?

You do not need to provide separate housing for your wether if you have other goats. They are quite happy living among does. If you have your own farm, adding wethers to your herd can be quite beneficial.

How much space do 2 Nigerian Dwarf goats need?

Provide 20 square feet (1.9 m2) of shelter space for every 2 goats. While Nigerian dwarf goats do need a lot of romping space, they don’t need as much housing space as other goats due to their diminutive size. A shelter that is 4 by 5 feet (1.2 by 1.5 m) is enough for 2 goats.

How tall should a fence be for goats?

Perimeter fence height should be at least 42 inches tall. A high wire (electrified), or an offset wire set one foot inside the fence near the top, may be needed if goat jumping is a problem. As a rule, goats will crawl under rather than jump a fence, so the bottom wire should be kept close to the ground.

Can a goat be too old to band?

Banding goats when they are younger seems to cause them less discomfort; however, banding them too early can lead to problems with urinary calculi (see Goat Wethers & Urinary Calculi). This can be very serious and even fatal.

What to expect after banding a goat?