Any goat may be found in that position on occasion, but when it's done frequently, it's not a laughing matter, it's a symptom of CAE or some other serious condition. You need to speak with a veterinarian who is familiar with small ruminants. A good general book on the care of goats, which describes normal behaviors and the symptoms of some of the common diseases would do you a lot of good.

That's a classic symptom of CAE. I suggest having all your goats tested. When you get the results then decide what you want to do about it. Our friend had a milking heard o 6 does and all tested positive. At the next kidding she pasturized the colostrom and bottle fed the kids milk replacement. She kept the kids separate from the does all season and sausaged out the CAE's in the autumn. Two good books for goat owners are Mc Kenzies and Mercks. Tom

Unless things have changed in the last few years, you don't pasteurize colostrum, you heat treat it. There's a difference. If you're feeding milk, and not replacer, it does get pasteurized, but the colostrum does not.

Thanks guys. I have done some reading (I have Storeys Guide to Raising Dairy Goats) and from what I understand they would have gotten CAE from their mother when first born. My goats are brother and sisters so I would assume (please correct me if I'm wrong) that they all would have been exposed to this rotovirus then. They are my only goats, and I don't milk them, they are my pets. The girls don't do this, just him. Its my understanding that there is no cure, so other than making sure he is comfortable, there is nothing I can do. We don't plan on getting more goats, or breeding the ones we have. I am prepared to spend whatever is necessary to help any of my animals but I'm not sure what good it would do to do the test and find out its positive if I can't take any action. I spend a lot of time with them and am sure I'd know if he was in any pain. They run and play together, and his disposition is the same as the day I got him. The book doesn't mention when the symptoms usually appear, and it really only mentions swelling in the knees, pneumonia and weight loss. None of which he has. They will be 1 year old on the 9th of this month....do you know when the symptoms would appear? Please, I'd really appreciate some feedback. Thanks.

I have one huge packgoat that loves to eat on his knees. Loves it, he comes from a CAE, Johnes free heard and is on a scrapie program that has been in affect for years from the original heard.

You will find some goats like this position, if you watch the babies they milk from that position. This helps the milk get into the right stomach when the rumen isn't working just yet. He may just be comfortable with it. I think your fine.

The test is low cost if sent to your local State Vet, or a UC extention, like Davis.

you're right Patrick you don't pasturize colostrom. It's just that we use the colostrom temp setting switch on our pasturizer so I refer to it, incorrectly, as pasturizing. Tom

I have 6 goats. For 7 years one of my big boys loves to eat on his knees. I seen this last week they all are now, they must of watched him, and thought it was a good Idea!
I have a CAE free heard.
littlereo

I have a large , very tall wether that he's always eating while on his knees. My goaties are all pets and my babies, Rosco turned 8 on April 1st and has always eat while on his knees.