The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: tattycat on December 04, 2014, 09:04:48 pm

Title: weighing goats
Post by: tattycat on December 04, 2014, 09:04:48 pm
Hiya all.
I know there's a post on here but I can't find it!! Help... :rant:
Title: Re: weighing goats
Post by: ScotsGirl on December 04, 2014, 10:32:52 pm
I bought some dog weigh scales from ebay and just walk the goats on. It is fairly accurate if on a flat solid surface
Title: Re: weighing goats
Post by: Melmarsh on December 04, 2014, 10:49:25 pm
May sound mad, if you have two sets of household bathroom scales ? Place a wide plank between them, stand the goat on it and add the two recorded weights together. It does work believe it or not. Personally I've always used my pig scales. I think there used to be a weigh band available but don't know where from !! :roflanim:
Title: Re: weighing goats
Post by: nutterly_uts on December 05, 2014, 09:07:24 am
http://www.infovets.com/books/smrm/C/C098.htm (http://www.infovets.com/books/smrm/C/C098.htm) This is another option :)
Title: Re: weighing goats
Post by: ladyK on December 05, 2014, 10:56:25 am
Thta's a good link NU - I wonder if this guide would work for sheep too? (obviously not in full fleece though)
Title: Re: weighing goats
Post by: ScotsGirl on December 06, 2014, 06:49:47 pm
Great link, explains why it never worked for me as my book just says measure heart girth. Going to try it tomorrow as I weighed some the other day with scales, and see if they are close.
Title: Re: weighing goats
Post by: ScotsGirl on December 09, 2014, 08:24:12 pm
Either I didn't measure accurately enough or My scales are under weighing (that's worrying as I weighed myself first!????) . Scales said about 70kg but tape said 75kg. Not too far out though.
Title: Re: weighing goats
Post by: Anke on December 09, 2014, 10:24:34 pm
Remember they have got a winter coat at the moment... I wouldn't worry about 5kgs difference, I always dose generously, as with drench usually some of it never makes it into the goat....
Title: Re: weighing goats
Post by: ScotsGirl on December 09, 2014, 11:18:02 pm
I was a bit worried as my vet says the yellow drench can be toxic if too much given (2-3 times sheep dose). I almost had my shoes and socks off trying to calculate 1.5 times the sheep dose allowing for a bit extra in case scales were wrong.


They are all still alive although a couple made some pathetic coughing and bleating noises after. This week's job is lamivacing which I don't relish either. At least they all look well and happy. Got to do another FEC to check for resistance on Thursday.
Title: Re: weighing goats
Post by: tattycat on December 16, 2014, 11:14:23 am
Thanks all!! :wave: