Goat healthcare involves drawing blood at Grange Fair Team meeting

At their January meeting, Rainbow Valley Grange’s goat group welcomed Dr. Jeffery Moss of Creekside Veterinarian Services as their guest speaker. Dr. Moss gave a talk on goat diseases, performed sonograms on their goats and taught the Fair Team members how to draw their goats’ blood. Most of the kids and adults tried out their new skill and no one passed out! The blood was later sent by Creekside to Washington to be tested for CAE, a common goat disease, with all results coming back negative.

As many baby goats have been born and more are expected, the group’s February 13 meeting reviewed the birthing process. The kids also practiced answering questions about goat health, care and grooming. The goat group includes dairy, pygmy and Boer (meat) goats. Children 9 to 19 can show animals at fairs; children under 9 may only show small animals, including pygmy goats. The Grange goat group leader is Tracy Lathrop, who can be reached at (760) 451-8979 if any child is interested in joining the group.

Upcoming events for the Grange Fair Team are a horse show, for both English and Western riders, put on by Rainbow Valley Grange and the Pony Club on Sunday, April 1, and the Grange’s Show Season Opener for livestock on Saturday, April 21. Both events will be held at Riders Field on Stage Coach Lane. For more information, contact Grange Fair Team leader Ingrid Dunckel at (760)728-1698 or visit http://www.grangeyft.com.