Habid, a Muslim friend wanted to buy a goat. To eat, I offered Rudolph for fifteen hundred dollars. The goat is not doing well. He doesn’t walk much and that’s usually on his knees. I don’t know what is wrong with him. I thought his nails were too long and had the vet trim them but still he is not better. From the beginning, he was a weak goat. Had a cough and was on antibiotic shots as a youth. We had him castrated at four months before he recognized his masculinity and still he grew into an aggressive alpha male. He has terrorised any one who has the effrontery to approach him. And has intimidated his peers as well as the geese and pigs.
I was so surprised when I entered the pen one morning and found Rudolph’s eye gashed open. It was a horrible wound! I ran him immediately to the vet and he was stitched up. The vet put some stuff on his eye and could tell if it was damaged. His sight was fine. He was all stitched up and the vet did a great job! Cost me $600.00 Lasted 3 days and the goat ripped his stitches out. Went back to the vet and stitched him again. Cost me $500.00 and again, he ripped them out. Returned to the Vet Easter Sunday and stitched him up once again. This time it was just the vet and I. charged me $400.00. I have spent $1500.00 on an eye wound. That doesn’t count getting him fixed at the vets and all those antibiotic shots, nail trimming, food, etc. So I think asking $1500.00 for a mean goat wasn’t too far out there considering what I actually have in the guy.
What I want to know is how a farmer makes any money on their animals. I really don’t see how they can when I find them so expensive just to feed. Not to mention the maintenance costs.
After the third trip to the vet, I wasn’t going to return that goat to his pen to rip out the stitches again. The goat moved into the house and followed us around like a dog. Within a few months he was returned home but separated from his brother who I believe delivered the initial wound.
Today, I will sell this goat for $1500.00. Well actually I’m thinking of getting the vet to come and see why he isn’t walking so well so I better wait and get the final price.
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