Well, I was a nurse living in London 10 years ago so you can imagine how much learning I've had to do lately!
I totally agree with your point Robert in that your get a CPH and can buy what you like without having to prove ability to maintain welfare standards to anyone, you'd hope that people buying in animals would research, become confident and seek to strive to the highest standards. Sadly we all know cases that show this isn't always true. Some people with the best intentions in the world are just not cut out to keep livestock (pets or children)
I also echo Rosemary's point that we must feel comfortable to keep asking questions on here.
When I bought my goats (and I know I've recounted this before...) I approached a well known breeder who said "oh, you've never had goats before - no, I won't sell mine to anyone but an experienced keeper...". Off I went, found some more goats for sale - little did I know that these goats came from someone with as little experience as I (which is why they were selling) so I bought in goats that had never been wormed, vaccinated and so on and I had no-one to turn to for help really at that point.
Another well known breeder and very good friend now, sold me a goat last year - we are in frequent contact and she pops out to visit her nanny goat and I know she's the other end of the phone.
So, what I'm saying really is...a good breeder will offer a level of 'aftercare' (as they still care about their animal surely?) and a good buyer will research, research and research more!
Some things are learnt on the job, this is unavoidable and where TAS and knowing a supportive local animal keeper can come in useful. Making sure you have a good vet who understands large, farm animals - invaluable and worth shopping around to find 'the one'.
Yes I've made mistakes, I've had goats die (I still feel awful about losing one young kid all because he'd not been vacinnated) that will NEVER happen again but from a bad start to smallholding I now make sure that any animal bought in is well researched prior to even starting. Before PUffin kidded, I was hanging around other breeders watching/helping lambing and kidding. We have to put the effort in in order to be able to sit back on those sunny evenings, glass of wine in hand and enjoy watching our happy, healthy animals graze
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