Reader Letters May/June 2025
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Do you have a question or a comment about your goats, their feed, housing, or an article you’ve read here?
Feel free to email us at goatjournal@iamcountryside.com.
In response to Goat Personality Traits and Their Importance in the Herd
“You are the first person I have run across who has properly examined goat behavior. I have considered writing (something) on goat behavior, since I’ve had a unique opportunity to study goats for 10 years now. I have 2, a purebred LaMancha and an American Alpine, who have traveled with me since their birth. I housetrained them, and they go everywhere with us in my Volvo XC90. They are more like our children than “pets”, and certainly nothing like farm goats. Anyway, thanks for the excellent writing. It’s a good read.” – Todd Wright
Thank you, Todd. Well, I’m not the first person, as the researchers I’ve referenced above are the ones who’ve started looking into caprine personality over the last two decades. Certainly, it’s a topic we need to understand better as it has such an impact of the management and welfare of goats. Goats’ inherent ability to bond with people certainly can result in them becoming loving pets and wonderful companions. – Tamsin Cooper, Author
Plant Safety
“Is mugwort safe for goats?” – Amy Pintz
Yes, Mugwort is not only safe for goats to eat, but it can also be good for them. Here is a Mugwort link where you can read more about it. – Audra, Lead Editor
In response to The Dilemma of Euthanasia for Goats
“I can’t even imagine having to face euthanasia with my pet goats. Just the thought makes me feel nauseous. How do you let go of pet goats that you love so much? I would do anything for them. Letting go would absolutely traumatize me. I understand the need if absolutely necessary, but…” – Petra Lovett
It definitely isn’t easy. Loving them enough to let them go is the key. If you love them, you don’t let them suffer, and you don’t send them into suffering. It’s hard, but, for me at least, harder to let them suffer and harder to send them down the road without a way to make absolutely certain they don’t suffer there. Too many people think of goats as throwaway animals. My goats are pets only these days. I would never send them down the road to an uncertain future, and if declining in health and can’t be made healthy again, I wouldn’t let them suffer here either. – Audra, Lead Editor
Tip for a Weak Kid
“I recently had a weak kid that couldn’t stand to nurse the dam. I administered the proper dose of selenium, but the kid was still having trouble standing. I cut the cuff off two of my husband’s sock and twisted the cuffs into a figure 8. I slipped the figure onto the kid’s legs and he was able to stand. I left the sock cuff on the back legs for about 24 hours, enabling the kid to stand upright and nurse. This simple fix worked like a charm! After that one day, the baby gained strength and was able to stand.” – Judy
Tips for Goat Milk Fudge
“My mom used to make fudge for her candy shop. She taught me to stir constantly until it starts bubbling so all the sugar dissolves, butter the sides of your pan before you begin, and she said to never scrape the sides because it will make the batch grainy. I hope that helps.” – Lori
In Response to a Gated Article Posted on Social Media
“What good is an article that won’t let me read it. This is the exact reason I let my subscription lapse. When an article is offered via social media, there shouldn’t be extra hoops required to access it. No, thank you!” – Dori
While we understand the frustration of running into articles that require a subscription to read, if we made all of the articles free, then there would be no reason to subscribe, and without subscribers, there would be no reason for the company to produce the magazine. – Audra, Lead Editor
Originally published in the June 15, 2025 digital issue of Goat Journal
