Rare Quintuplet Goats Born At SUNY Cobleskill Barn

When senior agriculture engineering student Peter Croteau went to the livestock barn on Wednesday morning at 5 a.m. to feed the cows, it took a while before he began to notice the incredible thing happening in the goat pen.  A 4 year-old Boer-Kiko doe was delivering her kids.  She delivered 1, then 2, then 3.  She didn't stop there, but by this time, Croteau was a little overwhelmed.  Luckily freshman  agriculture business major Melissa Pinckney was around. She grew up on a 250-head sheep farm and has seen a lot of animal births.  The two gathered up what was now 4 goat kids as #5 was being born.

Peter then called SUNY Cobleskill Livestock Manager Donna Cappadona who drove as fast as she could from her home in Perth.  In the hour it took her to get to the barn, the goats had all been born and cleaned up.

"I have been working with Goats for 35 yrs and this is the first set of quintuplets," said Cappadona.  " I have had a set of quads and I thought that was a little much!"

The baby goats range in size from just over 3 pounds to just over 9 pounds.  So far, all seem healthy.  The 200 pound mom is caring well for the goats producing enough milk for all of them for now, but the students will make sure they are supplemented soon.

The livestock barn at SUNY Cobleskill welcomes visitors to come see their practices and to learn more.  For more information,  please contact Donna Cappadona at 518-852-0228 or e-mail cappaddm@cobleskill.edu.