A family farm near Christina Lake, B.C. is thankful after a whirlwind effort by neighbours and local farmers to save a baby goat. Little 鈥淐omet,鈥� named after Santa鈥檚 reindeer and the 鈥淐鈥� patterned in his fur, was born breached at Fuster Cluck Farms late Saturday, Dec. 18, Amy Enns-Haywood and husband Nigel told The Grand Forks Gazette.
VIDEO: Goats do yoga at B.C. ranch
READ MORE: RCMP help to save goats from wildfire
A local veterinarian was able to see Comet鈥檚 mother, also called Amy, through her difficult delivery, keeping her alive long enough for her to start suckling her kid.
Somehow, she managed to stand on her four legs so that Comet could feed on her colostrum-rich milk 鈥� the natural formula goatherds call 鈥渓iquid gold鈥� for its life-sustaining nutrients.
鈥淪he did everything she needed to keep her baby alive,鈥� Enns-Haywood said.
Tragically, Amy the goat died early the next morning. With her mother鈥檚 milk running low, Enns-Haywood and her neighbours tended to Comet. Enns-Haywood said she tried nursing him through a bottle she鈥檇 bought for baby girl, Riley.
Comet was having none of it, but nearby Jerseyland Organics came through with a special goat bottle and a supply of bovine colostrum. Meanwhile, about half a dozen others had volunteered to help.
鈥淲e had plans A, B, C and D rolling by 9 o鈥檆lock Sunday morning,鈥� Enns-Haywood explained.
鈥淚t was really touching to have the farming community come forward like that.鈥�
Comet is 鈥渄oing awesome,鈥� she continued, noting that the kid is probably more of a handful than newborn Riley ever was. 鈥淚 find him more high-maintenance,鈥� she laughed. Riley and Comet have grown quite close, she added.
Amy the goat came to Fuster Cluck with another goat, Clarisse, who gave birth to three kids on Dec. 13. Comet snuggles with them at night.
The Haywoods said they will plant a tree on his mother鈥檚 grave after the spring thaw.
@ltritsch1
laurie.tritschler@grandforksgazette.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
