Gobs of goats at Moore farm

Trevor Moore has had goats for six years at his farm in Clarke County. He originally got a couple for his kids to have as pets, to show at county fair, and to save for college as they breed and sell them.

Moore now has a whole herd of goats. He has Boer goats, Myotonic (fainting) goats and has cross bred the two. His goats usually all give birth, or kid, in January. This year he had a couple of late ones.

Monday, April 30, Moore had a doe begin to kid after a couple days of what seemed like mild to moderate labor. He went out early and she delivered the first kid. He then had to leave to take his own kids to school. Moore’s father came to help with the goat, as it seemed she might have twins.

“She was as big as a house,” said Moore.

The doe then proceeded to have a second, which was breached and required assistance and then a third kid. As Moore’s father helped with the third, it seemed she was done and would deliver the after birth at last. The doe had one more, the fourth and final, kid to deliver before she was done for the morning.

Four kids later, they were cleaned, healthy and all nursing from their mother. By Wednesday all four kids were still without supplemental feeding and walking, hopping and jumping around.

This was the first time the one-year-old Boer doe had ever given birth. Boer goats are commonly known to have multiples. Twins are normal, triplets happen, but quadruplets could be called a rarity.

“We’ve had twins and one set of triplets but I don’t know anybody that’s had four and especially had them all live,” said Moore.

The kids are notably smaller in size than a kid that was born a singleton, as is normal. The main hazards with multiples is suffocation in the womb or birth canal for the kids and inflammation or damage to the doe’s reproductive organs.

Moore mainly sells his goats as show goats to families or as good livestock to keep with a donkey or other herd animals.

“All these guys (goats) are really gentle and good with my kids,” said Moore.