Offered Services

We know a thing or two, because we've seen a thing or two.

Broken Top understands the value of mentorship, education, and friendship in the goat business.

Due to this, we offer knowledge and help along the way, see below for prices and information.

Suggested prices are listed, and are what we generally ask. However, we believe that it is more important to help each other than make a profit. Pay what you can.

*Our only limit is that if you are further than 30 miles for us, we may ask for a small amount of money to cover gas.

*Any supplies can either be provided by you or we can purchase if you send money prior to services.

Mentorship

Suggested Price: FREE

Mentorship is priceless. All of us began with zero knowledge and learned along the way - be it a parent, friend, or sibling. Not all of us have natural mentors available, so we reach out a hand and offer an insight to our noggins.

I always tell everyone this one tidbit, and it must be said here in the "mentorship" category.

"If someone tells you that there is a specific way to do something, don't listen."

Goat husbandry varies by location, goals, finances, and general ability. We share our own experience, with our own goals, and our own lifestyle. We will always tell you options based on our experience - and if we have none in mind, we'll tell you that too.

Hoof Trimming

Suggested Price: $5 per goat

Trimming hooves is something that goats simply need.

The good news is that it's a breeze to do!

When I trim hooves I will always do any corrective work and let you know of any needs (hoof rot, scald, or injuries, etc).

Another part of hoof trimming that I'll do, that others may not, is TEACH YOU!

It's so important that you learn to care for your animals. You can grow a bond, gain confidence, and fall even more in love with this goat world of ours.

Photo Credit: Backyard Goats - Gail Damerow

Photo Credit: Raising Goats for Dummies, Cheryl K. Smith

Blood Draws

Suggested Price: $10 per goat

While not absolutely necessary, blood draws (in my opinion) should be a part of goat husbandry.

As always, I am happy to teach you how to do blood draws and offer you opportunities to draw blood while I'm present (every now and then a goat will have a big, juicy vein - just perfect for a beginner!)

Some diseases that can be spread by goats are severe and have no set cure, only management (and some even lack that).

However, we can avoid these diseases in our animals and help lessen the prevalence in the country if we all do our part and test.

The main diseases we test for are CAE, CL, and Johnes.

- CAE is caprine arthritis encephalitis. It causes a swelling in joints and brain tissue and leads to a prolonged death due to lentivirus.

- CL is caseous lymphadenitis. It is a chronic bacterial disease that causes large, pus-filled abscesses both internally and externally in the goats which reoccur.

- Johnes is a wasting disease. It is a gastrointestinal infection and causes an animal to waste away over time - being unable to sustain its own body.

Vaccinations/Scheduled Care

Suggested Price: $5 per goat

Vaccinations, worming, and other regular care can ensure we don't run into avoidable illnesses in our herds.

While my practices do not align with everyone's - as we all have different goals and beliefs - I do offer my care schedule to the public for both transparency and mentorship.

I am not a certified veterinarian, I only offer these services as a friend and mentor.

That being said, I am happy to help you learn how to give vaccinations and complete regular care tasks. I'm happy to talk about what needs your herd has, work with your goals and beliefs, and ensure any needs are met for you and your goats.

Any scheduled care services come with a complimentary chat and typed up care schedule for you to use, specific to your herd and your goals.

Photo Credit: Peace Corps Information Collection and Exchange

Banding

Suggested Price: $5 per goat (add $5 if over 6 months)

Banding is the process done in order to wether a goat. A special and tight rubber band is placed around the sack, with both testes below the band. Over time (approximately 2 weeks) the band will cut off blood flow and the testes will fall off.

We can help you learn how to do this and how to find the supplies needed if you'd like!

As a small "plug" on our personal beliefs - we think that registered bucks should be the best of the best. If we leave a buck intact, we believe he will build a better breed. There are certainly "levels" of herds. Some are beginner, some are hobby, and some are performance. As a general rule, if a buckling stays intact it is either on par with the best of the breed or leaving the farm unregistered - as a pet breeding buck. Any buckling sold intact comes with abundant information and education around buck-keeping.

But of course, every herd has their own values, beliefs, and purpose. We will support yours!

Photo Credit: Raising Goats for Dummies, Cheryl K. Smith

Dehorning/Disbudding

Suggested Price: $15 per goat

While some choose to keep horns on their goats, we do not at Broken Top. Our reasons revolve around safety and performance requirements.

If you would like to talk about benefits, we are always happy to!

As always, we also allow and encourage you to learn and try out disbudding!

Disbudding is done when the kids are young, preferably under two weeks - but definitely possible to do later. A hot disbudding iron is used to burn copper-colored rings around the horn base and cauterize the nerve ending that allow horn growth. We also like to ensure the "cap" is removed and cauterize below it to ensure no scurs grow over time.

Dehorning is done when horns grow after disbudding fails to fully cauterize nerves or the goat is never disbudded. This process can be a bit gruesome and has health risks for the goat due to potential blood loss. We urge veterinary help if removing full horns (but can give advice of home procedures). We are willing to help file a groove and place a band on fully grown horns. While it will not fully remove them, over time it will remove them as far down as we can get the band to sit. Scurs, as long as they are small, can be much easier to remove.

As far as services offered, we limit our "dehorning" to scurs. We will want photos before agreeing to complete the dehorning. Essentially, we will slowly burn layers off of the scur and remove the cap. We will then cauterize as close to the skull as possible. We may need to come back for further removals - as larger scurs might have to be done in "layers".

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Verification/Milk Testing (DHI)

Suggested Price: $20 per visit

DHI Milk Testing Programs are a great way to improve your herd. To have a well-rounded dairy goat, you need to look at its linear traits (LA), show ability and presentation, and milk production statistics.

For this reason we fully support herds in getting on milk test.

We can help you get started, ensure you stay on track, and be your tester as needed (usually monthly).

Have a tester but want a verification test done for Top Ten consideration? We can stop by for that too!