About transporting goats
Because stress is the biggest enemy for goats, we are very picky on the transportations.
Before the transport date, we count down the date of departure and make sure that all sold goats are healthy and stress-free. We administer some probios and Fortified vitamin B complex before the transport. We also provide some food that are appropriate for each goat's need for the transition. If the goat gets sick, we will postpone the pick up date for the goat.
We do not accept any kinds of outdoor transports. (on the back of pickup trucks, on the open or completely closed without air conditioned trailers as some examples.)
Please think, "Do I transport a newly acquired $600, 2 month old puppy here for this length of time in the hot (or cold) weather?"
If your answer is "No", the way of your transport is not suitable for the goats.
Examples of transportation ideas
Minivan / SUV
We place rubber sheet specially made for our minivan. We sometimes place tarp over it but I personally don't like using tarp because it gets slippery.
We like to use wood shavings for absorbing goats' urine. We add some grass hay over it so it's not slippery. This grass hay also helps to keep it less dusty and goats tend to like this bedding.
Make sure to give some water and hay.
The advantages of transporting goats in this style are goats have some room to move around, has space to lay down area & weeing area. Goats are with human so they will accept you as one of their herd member quicker while listening to your voice and smelling your smell.
It is air conditioned so they are very comfortable staying in with you.
Cargo Van
Same with Minivan style but if you are transporting more goats, this is a better option. It can be very flexible how you want to divide the space.
Dog Crate
When you are using dog crate, you must use it inside of your car.
I like using the left side of dog crate more because it will be less mess with wood shavings and grass hay. But this type of crate has limited sizes. The right type of wire crate could be a lot larger so you can use for adult Mini Nubian goats. Because both of them have limited spaces inside the crates, you will need to give water when you stop periodically.
Scrapie tag & Registration
Under construstion
What do we do before & after the transport
Moving is very stressful for goats. Stress could create sickness easily.
We would like our buyers and our goats to be successful. In order to help, we try our best to support them BEFORE & AFTER the departure.
Leaving our herd is stressful.
Traveling in the car is stressful.
Traveling in the heat or cold is stressful.
Moving into the new herd is stressful.
Changing the climate & altitude is stressful.
Learning the new routine is stressful.
We, Opus 7 Farm, start counting down our goats' departures so we can help those stressful things as less as possible.
BEFORE THE DEPARTURE DAY
We prepare them with
1) Giving Deccox which is a coccidiosis preventative
2) Giving Livamol/Bioworma which is a bloodsucking parasites preventative
3) Giving Pneumonia vaccine for cross states transport goats
4) Giving Probios & Fortified vitamin B complex
5) Providing a couple of days portions of feed depending on the needs of goats
Sr. Buck - Hay & Goat feed
Buckling - Hay, Goat feed, Goat milk if they are not at weening age
Wether - Grass hay, Goat milk if they are not at weening age
Sr. Doe - Hay, Specially mixed grains,
Doeling - Hay, Goat feed, Goat milk if they are not at weening age
6) Freshly trimmed hooves (so new owners don't need to do immediately)
7) Having current CD&T shot
8) Clean herd health tests records
9) For cross states transports, mandatory CVI with buyers' expense.
10) Have a strength to cancel the sale or postpone for the transport if the goats are not well.
11) Checking the transport setup with photos and advice better options.
12) For a newbie, checking the goats' living space with photos in advance and advice better options.
13) Will not transport until the buyers have lined up the "Goat Vets" in their area.
AFTER THE DEPARTURE
1) We make sure that transport went well by communication.
2) We suggest to the new owners to give Probios & Fortified vitamin B complex to the newly arrived goats.
3) We suggest to the new owners to examine the goats' FAMACHA, temperature, skin condition, urine & feces when they arrive.
4) We suggest to quarantine the new arrivals from the rest of the herd for certain time frame.
5) Make sure to communicate if there is any questions from the new owners.
6) Give some instructions how to feed and transition their feed smoothly.
Moving is very stressful for goats. Stress could create sickness easily.
We would like our buyers and our goats to be successful. In order to help, we try our best to support them BEFORE & AFTER the departure.
Leaving our herd is stressful.
Traveling in the car is stressful.
Traveling in the heat or cold is stressful.
Moving into the new herd is stressful.
Changing the climate & altitude is stressful.
Learning the new routine is stressful.
We, Opus 7 Farm, start counting down our goats' departures so we can help those stressful things as less as possible.
BEFORE THE DEPARTURE DAY
We prepare them with
1) Giving Deccox which is a coccidiosis preventative
2) Giving Livamol/Bioworma which is a bloodsucking parasites preventative
3) Giving Pneumonia vaccine for cross states transport goats
4) Giving Probios & Fortified vitamin B complex
5) Providing a couple of days portions of feed depending on the needs of goats
Sr. Buck - Hay & Goat feed
Buckling - Hay, Goat feed, Goat milk if they are not at weening age
Wether - Grass hay, Goat milk if they are not at weening age
Sr. Doe - Hay, Specially mixed grains,
Doeling - Hay, Goat feed, Goat milk if they are not at weening age
6) Freshly trimmed hooves (so new owners don't need to do immediately)
7) Having current CD&T shot
8) Clean herd health tests records
9) For cross states transports, mandatory CVI with buyers' expense.
10) Have a strength to cancel the sale or postpone for the transport if the goats are not well.
11) Checking the transport setup with photos and advice better options.
12) For a newbie, checking the goats' living space with photos in advance and advice better options.
13) Will not transport until the buyers have lined up the "Goat Vets" in their area.
AFTER THE DEPARTURE
1) We make sure that transport went well by communication.
2) We suggest to the new owners to give Probios & Fortified vitamin B complex to the newly arrived goats.
3) We suggest to the new owners to examine the goats' FAMACHA, temperature, skin condition, urine & feces when they arrive.
4) We suggest to quarantine the new arrivals from the rest of the herd for certain time frame.
5) Make sure to communicate if there is any questions from the new owners.
6) Give some instructions how to feed and transition their feed smoothly.