Health & Biosecurity
We take the health of our animals seriously. Many people seem to think we are strange or heartless when they hear we humanely and ethically dispatch, slaughter, and eat all of the animals we raise and still name each one. While legally, we stand by the fact that all the animals on our property are livestock, the best way we can explain our relationship with our livestock is that they are all pets until they aren’t. We give our livestock the best life we can, until they either move on to another property or until they are sent to Freezer Camp. We treat all of our livestock, depending on their tolerance of us, like they are another kitty or puppy. If you ask us how many pets we have, we’ll think real hard for a number because we lump in our livestock with our dogs and cats.
For our goats, we test for CAE, CL and Johnes diseases at a minimum. All goats over 6 months old are tested. We draw our own blood and ship out to the lab for testing. We aim to test around winter time at the end or beginning of a year to ensure samples stay cold during transport. Results will be available as completed.
When we decide we need new genetics, we only buy from clean tested herds. These goats are tested once they meet the 6 month requirement or once they complete their quarantine period. Results will be available as completed.
We also participate in the USDA’s APHIS, National Scrapie Eradication Program. All registered goats have tattoos from their respective farms that match their registration papers. All unregistered goats are either tagged with ear tags or tattooed as well. All tattoos will only be done with green ink for the best visibility. Goats sold or transported off premise will be tattooed or ear tagged, no exceptions.
Our goats that are retained are not disbudded. This is a hot controversial topic in the caprine world, but we stand by our decision to keep our herd horned.
We are not here to change anyone’s mind, but here is a document from the USDA/APHIS regarding horns, disbudding, and scurs.
With that said, if you are interested in purchasing a goat and wish for it to be disbudded, then we will absolutely be accommodating to that request. The best way to accomplish this is to email us with the breeding pair you’re interested in, then once the kid(s) is\are born we will contact you to inform you of the good news and require a paid in full amount deposit for the kid(s). We will then contact a veterinarian and schedule a disbudding appointment at their discretion for when. Once the disbudding is complete, we will inform you of how it went and pickup arrangements will be made and the process will continue like all other kids available. If for whatever reason, the kid does not survive the process, is irrevocably injured or maimed, we will not refund the paid in full amount deposit or substitute another kid for replacement. If for whatever reason, the kid grows scurs despite receiving the disbudding process, we will not refund the paid in full amount deposit or or substitute another kid for replacement. Hence, the importance of a veterinarian completing the process.
Is this process more involved than buying from a breeder that disbuds all kids? Yes!
Is it easier for us to send any unretained kids to Freezer Camp than to schedule and complete the process of animal sales? Also yes!
When we decide we need new genetics, we only buy from clean tested herds. These goats are tested once they meet the 6 month requirement or once they complete their quarantine period. Results will be available as completed.
We also participate in the USDA’s APHIS, National Scrapie Eradication Program. All registered goats have tattoos from their respective farms that match their registration papers. All unregistered goats are either tagged with ear tags or tattooed as well. All tattoos will only be done with green ink for the best visibility. Goats sold or transported off premise will be tattooed or ear tagged, no exceptions.
Our goats that are retained are not disbudded. This is a hot controversial topic in the caprine world, but we stand by our decision to keep our herd horned.
- Our goats live outside 24/7 (in their pens/shelters/rotational pasture tractors) with only a few exceptions. Their horns provide at least a tool of protection if needed (while we grab our bunny slippers and boom sticks) and temperature regulation (especially on our increasingly hotter summer days).
- We can’t find a way to not sound passive aggressive on this section, but we’re not veterinarians and in addition to the reasons mentioned above, we are not comfortable with personally burning our goats’ skulls without analgesics for showing purposes or the safety of people. We don’t declaw our house cats even though they try to use the carpets and furniture (and the occasional “making the biscuits” on human subjects) as their scratching posts. We don’t declaw or file down teeth of our registered show quality working German Shepherd dog or hound.
We are not here to change anyone’s mind, but here is a document from the USDA/APHIS regarding horns, disbudding, and scurs.
With that said, if you are interested in purchasing a goat and wish for it to be disbudded, then we will absolutely be accommodating to that request. The best way to accomplish this is to email us with the breeding pair you’re interested in, then once the kid(s) is\are born we will contact you to inform you of the good news and require a paid in full amount deposit for the kid(s). We will then contact a veterinarian and schedule a disbudding appointment at their discretion for when. Once the disbudding is complete, we will inform you of how it went and pickup arrangements will be made and the process will continue like all other kids available. If for whatever reason, the kid does not survive the process, is irrevocably injured or maimed, we will not refund the paid in full amount deposit or substitute another kid for replacement. If for whatever reason, the kid grows scurs despite receiving the disbudding process, we will not refund the paid in full amount deposit or or substitute another kid for replacement. Hence, the importance of a veterinarian completing the process.
Is this process more involved than buying from a breeder that disbuds all kids? Yes!
Is it easier for us to send any unretained kids to Freezer Camp than to schedule and complete the process of animal sales? Also yes!
We eat extra dairy goat kids we don't intend on keeping for replacement stock. I dare say it's sometimes easier than dealing with sales, and it helps feed our family.
-Sugar Top Farm, LLC
Biosecurity on our property doesn’t end with testing, but in animal management, pasture management and their respective practices. We do not allow visitors, (COVID has made this easier) on premise without appointments and supervision. Also note, appointments are required for all on premise activities. Do not visit without permission or appointment, it will be treated as trespassing.
Biosecurity basics and protocols prevent and minimize unwanted pathogens and bacteria. Our property is in compliance with Vermont State’s Animal Health Department’s Identification program and has a registered premise identification.
Not registered with VT State’s Animal Health Identification Program? State law requires all livestock transported within the State of Vermont to be officially identified before leaving the property of origin. Start your path here. Get your Premise Identification Number here!
Biosecurity basics and protocols prevent and minimize unwanted pathogens and bacteria. Our property is in compliance with Vermont State’s Animal Health Department’s Identification program and has a registered premise identification.
Not registered with VT State’s Animal Health Identification Program? State law requires all livestock transported within the State of Vermont to be officially identified before leaving the property of origin. Start your path here. Get your Premise Identification Number here!