The funy thing is that CAE is mainly transmitted through the feeding of pooled milk to kids. This used to be done at shows, and therefore CAE can (and as far as I know actually did) spread like wildfire. As actual disease is not seen for a few years, and in-between new kids are born, infected etc etc the feeding of pooled milk is not allowed at shows anymore. The test (and therefore showing of only clear goats) is actually quite important.
I do mine just in February (or about 6 weeks prior to the first one kidding), and kids travel on "mum's passport" for the first year, then have to be done as goatlings. Until this year I have always brought the goats to the vets, who then only charge the fee for taking bloddsamples - we normally just take the goats out one at a time from the trailer in the car park, much to the amusement of any other visitors
- but now I have too many and the vet comes here.
I cannot quite see where the CAE test for pygmies comes in, as they are actually not in the milking competition and kids are usually not bottled anyway...
If you would bring them along to BUAS you would be the star of the goat tent I bet!
I will be there with most of my gang ..., come and say hello!