Posted by Vicki McGaugh on May 19, 2001 at 10:35:37:
In Reply to: Re: to dip, or not to dip.......that is the question posted by Linda F. on May 19, 2001 at 08:06:08:
A very well known dairy person told us years ago" no amount of iodine is going to save a kid from navel ill if it is born in a sloppy wet barn" it is part of my herd management sheet I give out. I dip for a whole nother reason, since unless you are right there to catch the kid, it really is to late. I use the 7% iodine, and spray it, I want the cord to dry up as quickly as it can, and the iodine does this. Keeps the flys off the cord also. The very best thing you can do for your doe is to move her into a clean pen or to clean her pen. Remember it does no good to just surface clean (like adding clean shavings to the top) since she will dig into the bedding to deliver, so clean all the way down to the bottom. I use maternity pens, made from cattle panels so they can see their friends. Makes my life so much easier if I happen to miss a birth, with an intercom I don't miss many. Vicki