Harvesting meat from an injured goat

Sad and sucky question.  We have a nubian doe, attacked by a dog.  He did major damage to rear leg.  It would take surgical techniques to close the wound and cover the bone, and it appears the tendons are gone, as well.  It's the 3rd day, and despite our efforts, infection and flystrike have set in.  Getting  a vet involved is not an option, and not up to me.  Do you think it's safe to try and harvest the meat, or no?  Thanks.  

My choice would be no do not harvest this meat.
If you had done so shortly after the attack I think it would have been fine.
Now that infection has set in I would not risk it.

sadness.
Personally, I don't like meat from injured animals as the stress chemicals make the meat tough and taste gamey.

Once infection or illness has set in, things get a little tricky - there may be health issues for the human so it's worth looking this up before making this decision.

Unless you are in dire need of the nutrition, I would suggest a simple ending and burial in the garden to help build the soil for growing future food.  I usually plant a fruit tree over the remains.  

Just be aware of water (don't want rotting meat contaminating the well) and get it deep enough that animals won't dig it up.  Sometimes lime helps speed things up.  

Thank you.  We will go with the compost plan.  Could the Lab use a lovely nubian doe for free?  I'm no longer willing to keep any goats here with the dogs, and will be coming over in a couple weeks for a SEPP stay.  She isn't in milk, but is 21 months old, so ready to breed for spring kids.  

I harvested a ewe that dislocated a hip badly a few days earlier.   I had a few veterinary phone calls and then had to find someone that could come out and help me.   It's not the same as an open wound/infection though.   I think I'd base this on the extent of the infection.    Is it localized only,  or is the animal showing signs of systemic infection;  fever, thirst, lethargy...   where on the body is the injury,  a far extremity or on/near the core?    I'm not SURE those are the deciding factors but in your situation I would probably take that into account.   I hate to see a whole animal go to waste.  Harvest and grind for dog food?  

I will agree with the others that once infection sets in salvaging the meat is no longer advisable.  If it were a survivable injury, and you could let the animal heal completely, that's different, but harvesting an animal that's gone (or about to go) septic would not be a good idea.

Had you made the decision to put the goat down shortly after the attack when it was obvious that the veterinary treatment was not going to be sought you could have salvaged any meat not in the immediate damage zone.  In that case I would discard/compost all visibly damaged meat and also anything a couple inches at least out from the edge of the wound zone.  Whether the rest of the animal became dog food or human food is a matter of personal discretion on a case by case basis.

Tracey Hamilton wrote:Thank you.  We will go with the compost plan.  Could the Lab use a lovely nubian doe for free?  I'm no longer willing to keep any goats here with the dogs, and will be coming over in a couple weeks for a SEPP stay.  She isn't in milk, but is 21 months old, so ready to breed for spring kids.  

We would love to have another nubian doe here at the lab!   We have two nubians here now and some Finn sheep.   They are happily munching the meadow and forest.   We have been doing the paddock shift system this summer and having them around the pond to help seal in the water.

Is this animal injured?   Will she need any special medical care?

I am excited to meet you!