Runtu R.I.P.

Runtu died last night - around 8:20 - in our sitting room. He'd been off colour for a few days but declined rapidly over the last two days. We'd quarantined him and were caring for him at home, but unfortunately our care (and antibiotics) weren't enough.

Runtu was a fabulous wee kid - great fun and quick witted. It's a sad loss.

It's our first loss - and the speed of decline startled us. I don't blog all the little illnesses and worries we have with the goats - but there is a pretty constant overhead of paying special attention to this or that goat because they're a bit peeky. So far they'd always responded and recovered.

The loss was so much greater because we'd found him a home - someone who wanted to breed from him. I might joke about curry a lot but I would much rather find them all homes.

Our goat keeping mentors have been impressed by the general health of our herd - and have oft heaped praise on Jussi for her attentiveness and skill. But of course, as farmers are fond of quoting - where there's livestock there's dead stock. It's just a pity that our first loss was such a brilliant, and valuable, kid.