2.9 2nd (and maybe final) Draft

Here it is! Tell me what you think. I'd like this to be my final draft, but let me know if you notice anything I should fix or change. Thanks Auntie! I'm having so much fun!

CAE: Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis

Katherine K.

Comp & Rhetoric: Composition

 2^nd quarter wk 5

Words: approx. 1,267 wds

Assignment: Pick a topic, research it, and write research report. Have a parent choose the word length.

Topic/Thesis: CAE: What it is, the common belief, and where I stand on the subject.

 

                            Before recently, I had no idea there were any touchy or difficult subjects having to do with goats, but I know better now. CAE, a Caprine disease discovered over 20 years ago, is one of the most controversial topics among “goat people”. The disease itself is not the matter that many disagree on, but how to handle it. All goat raisers do things differently, so of course there are things that some think are fine while others opinions completely differ. I’ve done some research to see what three different types of goat raisers think about it. I would have to agree with all of them in some ways; however, it’s difficult to say specifically what I would do since I’ve never had to deal with something like CAE.

Now the biggest question is what is CAE exactly? Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis a.k.a. CAE is a fatal disease that infects goats. This retro-virus, which means that being subjected to the antibodies does not insure the animal safety from it, has a nervous and arthritic form. The nervous strain usually infects young kids, while the latter affects adults. The most common mean of transportation of this ailment is from mother to offspring since it is spread by bodily fluids and luckily, based on current studies, does not transfer to humans. What’s really interesting though is that about 80% of goats carry this sickness, but it is not active. This is an issue since the only test, a blood test, shows if the goat has antibodies or not. If it does have them it does not necessarily mean that the specimen will later become infected; Therefore it is quite tricky.

CAE was clinically recognized in the 1960’s, but was just a rumor in the “goat world” around the 1970’s. In the 1990’s it was officially acknowledged by everyone. At that time, their studies claimed that about 80% of goats were infected, but this was later decreased to about 33%. This number has changed and varied greatly in the past years. Sources at WSU now claim that for about every 10 goats that are infected, 9 remain healthy while 1 becomes infected; therefore, it is at a 10% attack rate. It is not known exactly where it came from. Jim Evermann from WSU says, “Best guess on its origin, is that it crossed species from sheep who were infected with ovine progressive pneumonia-OPP.” It is now agreed upon by all “goat people” that CAE is in fact real and deadly; however, the means of treatment for it is a very controversial topic.

 “Fias Co Farm” is a website run by Molly Nolte, the owner of a fair sized dairy goat herd. Upon doing some research I was able to find her opinion on the matter. Her way of raising goats is a very naturalist manner. Therefore, she thinks that separating a baby from its mother would be cruel. She believes in “messing” with the herd as little as possible. She states, “Of course, you cannot raise your animals completely "naturally", but you can look at how they would have lived before our interference and work from there.” So, taking a baby from it mom instantly after birth, as some goat raisers do to prevent CAE, definitely goes against her beliefs. Additionally, it’s important to note that her herd has never actually been infected with CAE. If they were though, she states that she would treat them as naturally as possible and never breed the animal in order to avoid having to do anything that contradicts her style of raising goats.

Suzanne W. Gaspotto, owner of Onion Creek Ranch and the website, tenneseemeatgoats.com, raises a herd of “meat goats” and has thoughts on how to treat CAE that are quite different than Molly’s. Dairy goat raisers tend to care for their goats more than a farmer who raises them for food. Suzanne strongly believes that any animals infected with CAE should be culled or “put down” since there currently is no cure or effective vaccination for it. “In five to ten years,” she says, “there would be no more CAE if this were done.” Is that possible? Studies at WSU claim that it is. If all goat owners would test and put down those infected the percentage of it would decrease immensely. She also states that in her opinion most dairy goat raisers believe in removing the kid from the doe to maintain high grade milkers and that it is the best way to prevent CAE. She completely disagrees with this practice. Therefore, this is one thing Suzanne and Molly agree upon: that separating a baby from its mother is unnatural.

Jerry Belanger is the author of Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats and one of the many that agree with the separation method. In fact, he writes as if it is the only way. Never does he mention that there are other practices or that there is a big disagreement on the matter. If a goat contaminated with CAE gives birth, he instructs one to immediately remove the kid and clean it off so as to avoid its ingestion of any of the mother’s bodily fluids and thereby transmitting the disease. So, as you can see, there are many different stands on this subject. These are only three of them and one can assume there are more.

My opinion on the matter would probably be a combination of all three I have mentioned. In the past I have separated and bottle fed the kids from my herd. Last year was my first time breeding and the doe would not allow her kids to nurse, so I raised them myself. Therefore, I do not resent or condemn removing the babies. On the other hand, I would not breed an animal that did have CAE. If I did unintentionally, then I would definitely separate the kids. Unfortunately, CAE is a terrible and painful disease. The arthritic form can get so awful, to the point where the goat can no longer even stand. Thus, if it seemed that the creature was suffering I wouldn’t disagree with Suzanne’s notion of putting it down. I would do this to be humane, not for the sake of eliminating the disease. It would be really nice if the disease was eradicated, but I don’t think I could cull an animal that was infected, but would remain healthy.

My strongest belief on CAE is that no method is really wrong. There are some things that one might not like or do themselves, but so far, I have found no incorrect technique. Goat raisers do things their own way so as not to contradict any of their religious or moral beliefs and I respect that. One cannot say exactly what they would do in a tough situation that they have not had to face. I must state that if I ever were forced to deal with CAE my stance and what I have said before may change. I would handle it as humanely as I see fit. For the moment, my plan is what I have said above: care for and treat as best I could, put down if suffering, don’t breed, and separate any kids that were accidentally born. That is my opinion on the matter of CAE.

 

kk