What did you do today?

[Nanno]

Nanno, my vet uses a California band on older bucklings. I think that's what it's called. Worked like a charm on a yearling I had. Also worked on a 4 month old.

It's funny, but when we took Pac-Man in to get wethered last spring they recommended banding. But this time the doc took one look at my guys and said they are too big and it would be traumatic for them. He said his daughter who raises Boers had had some complications when they banded her older goats this past year, so maybe he changed his mind since last spring. At least I'm getting a discount on the surgical castration, and I think I'll feel better about getting the job over with and not having to wait around and watch for infections while the testicles slowly fall off.

In other news, I found out about a guy in Pueblo who butchers and processes goats for $35 each (not sure if the fees are higher for larger goats though). I don't want to butcher any of my babies this year, but for the future I like to know my options. Apparently he takes the animals the night before and lets them settle, then butchers them next morning by slitting their throat. Then you come pick up your meat in neat little paper packages that afternoon. I heard about the place from a lady who took one of her goats there last year and she was really happy. I'd like to go and check it out myself. If he'd let me, I'd like to watch the butchering process from start to finish so I can make an informed decision if this is the route I want to take for any of our culls in the future.