About the Author
Karen Kopf
Articles by Karen Kopf
Biosecurity and Goat Husbandry: What You Should Know About M. ovipneumoniae
Add to Favorites By Karen Kopf – At Kopf Canyon Ranch, just outside of Moscow, Idaho, we raise Kiko goats for meat and breeding stock. Our goat husbandry practice is to …
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Goats and Contracts
We’ve bought goats with contracts, and we’ve bought goats without. Of all of the goats we’ve sold, we’ve done well with just a basic bill of sale with a few terms … except for the times we didn’t.
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Conceiving Bucklings vs. Doelings
Have you ever wondered why some years, some sires — or even some dams — produce more of one gender than others? Can certain management practices favor one over the other — or is it random? Is one more desirable than the other in the goat world?
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Johne’s, CAE, and CL Testing for Goats: Serology 101
The “why” of blood testing is easy. CAE and CL testing for goats allows us to control diseases. The “what” is a question unanswered for many: What do serology tests do? What don’t they do? What should we do with the results?
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The Heritability of Udder Traits
Many udder traits are hereditary. Ideally, selection occurs when choosing a buck and doe for breeding. Neither should have undesirable traits.
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Bucks with Udders!
Yes, you read that right! Bucks can have udders. Some even produce milk! While it may seem unsettling, it isn’t new or even rare.
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All About Goat Testicles
Testicles make a buck a buck. The testicles produce testosterone and sperm, and the correct testicle anatomy comprises two equal-sized testicles in a single scrotum.
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New Valais Goat Breeds Recognized
As a result of Pro Specie Rara, a Swiss conservation group, three breeds of goats will be added to the official list of recognized Swiss goats published in 2021. The three breeds aren’t new — but quite old.
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What Guards Livestock Guardian Dogs?
Livestock Guardian Dogs, or LGDs, protect our goats … but what protects our LGDs? For many ranches, the biggest threat to guardians is the law.
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Chlamydia in Goats and Other STDs to Watch For
When we think of breeding, we think of babies — not biosecurity — but diseases such as chlamydia in goats can be transmitted sexually.
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