About the Author
Marissa Ames
Articles by Marissa Ames
Signs of Goat Heat
Breeds that cycle year around include fainting goats, Kinder, Boer, Kiko, Nigerian Dwarf, Spanish, Pygmy, and sometimes Nubian goats. Alpine breeds experience heat cycles about mid-summer until the end of the year. Seasonal breeders include Alpine, LaMancha, Oberhasli, Saanen, and Toggenburg goats. Angoras are also seasonal.
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Goat Journal September/October 2019
The September/October 2019 issue of Goat Journal is now available! Subscribe for valuable stories on breeding season, predators, 13 goat symptoms you should NEVER ignore, and more!
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Goat Journal July/August 2019
Add to Favorites The July/August 2019 issue of Goat Journal is now available! Subscribe for valuable stories on Johne’s disease, determining goat age, what to do with all those kids, …
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Mbuzi: Goats in Zambia
Add to Favorites Goat Journal editor Marissa Ames and her husband visit Zambia annually, where they work with a nonprofit focusing on education and uplifting the community. The I Am Zambia academy teaches career skills to vulnerable young women. Marissa …
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Goat Labor Signs
Knowing goat labor signs also alerts you to be available in case the doe should need your help. Unfortunately, not all pregnant goats show signs that kidding is imminent.
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Difficult Birth Presentations
STOP and call the vet if: the kid is really stuck, if you note bleeding (bright red blood), any prolapsing of the uterus, if a kid has died some days previous and has become necrotic, or any signs that the doe is in extreme distress.
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10 Ways to Identify Goat Pregnancy
If you must know whether your goats are pregnant, you can spend money on blood tests, X-rays, or ultrasounds. But all pregnant goats show some visible signs.
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Goat Journal May/June 2019
The May/June 2019 issue of Goat Journal is now available! Subscribe for valuable stories on banding goats, rotational grazing, weaning goats, and more!
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Scrapie in Goats, and Other Prion Diseases
Scrapie in goats is just one of several prion diseases. They have no cure and can bring down an entire goat or sheep operation with one diagnosis. But what are prion diseases and why won’t antibiotics help?
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How to Make Feta Cheese
Some hard cheeses are intimidating, but feta doesn’t need to be. Making feta cheese is a simple way to practice for more complicated recipes.
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