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Meat Goat Herd Health Management1 |
Shearer, J. K2 |
Herd health programs
are management tools designed to meet the production goals
of producers. Meat goat producers should strive to raise three
kids per year from each doe to a market weight of 60 pounds
by six months of age. Achievement of this goal will depend
upon the implementation of sound feeding and health management
practices designed to satisfy the needs of animals being raised
under intensive production conditions. In particular, meeting
the nutritional demands for optimal reproductive efficiency
and lactation in does, and controlling losses due to parasitism
and infectious diseases are continual challenges.
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Kid Production |
Goats are seasonal
breeders with the natural breeding season beginning in August
and extending through February. This season is longer in the
Southeast where some goats may be bred as early as June and
as late as March. Healthy does readily conceive and often
carry multiple fetuses. Producers should select for does that
consistently produce and wean an average of 1.5 kids per pregnancy.
The length of gestation in goats is five months and although
it is possible to produce two sets of kids each year, most
herds are not managed to do so. Several meat goat producers,
however, are able to attain an average of three pregnancies
per doe every two years. |
The incidence of
twinning is markedly influenced by the doe's overall physical
condition and nutritional status. Operations which attempt
twice-a-year kidding will need to provide supplemental feed
to their does during lactation and at breeding times. "Flushing",
(feeding females to gain weight just a few weeks prior to
anticipated breeding) is one such feeding technique known
to be effective in the enhancement of ovulation rates and
kidding percentages. Increasing the number of ova shed during
the estrus period increases the likelihood of twinning. Where
management systems preclude supplemental feeding, the scheduling
of kidding during times when natural forage is plentiful can
produce similar results. In most goat meat operations in Florida,
kids are raised to market weight with the doe on natural forage.
However, weaning kids at two to four months of age with subsequent
transfer to a feedlot will encourage faster weight gains.
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Health Practices for Kidding Does |
The adult goat herd
should be vaccinated annually with Clostridium perfringens
type C & D toxoid and tetanus toxoid for the prevention
of overeating disease (enterotoxemia) and lockjaw (tetanus)
respectively, in kids. These vaccines should be administered
approximately four to six weeks prior to kidding in order
to provide a high level of immunity in the colostrum which
can be transferred to suckling kids at birth. Supplemental
selenium should be provided either in the feed/mineral mix
or by injection of 5 mg selenium (BoSe or MuSe) four to six
weeks prior to kidding. This is particularly important in
selenium-deficient areas of the Southeast. Deficiencies of
this important trace mineral are thought to contribute to
an increased rate of retained placenta in does. Deworming
should be performed routinely (every two to three months)
in Florida goat herds. Deworming programs should be designed
to include a deworming treatment for does 30 days prior to
and again at kidding. This is advised because information
in recent years suggests that the immune response to parasitic
infection is suppressed in the doe near kidding time. |
Kidding |
Kidding problems,
although uncommon in goats, should be considered whenever
labor becomes prolonged or appears to have stopped. Such difficulties
generally arise from the abnormal posture or presentation
of a fetus in the birth canal during labor. When multiple
fetuses are present, kidding may be impaired by the simultaneous
entry of more than one fetus into the pelvic canal. Proper
obstetrical manipulations should be performed. Do not hesitate
to call a veterinarian for assistance when necessary. It will
likely save the doe and kid needless trauma. |
Care of the Newborn |
The navel of newborn
kids should be dipped in 2 to 7% iodine (teat dip can be used).
Fresh colostrum (first milking) can be milked from the doe
and hand-fed with a nipple. The importance of the timely intake
of an adequate amount of fresh colostrum cannot be overemphasized
in preventing disease and death in neonatal kids. At least
two to four ounces of colostrum should be fed within the first
hour after birth if possible. Many producers maintain colostrum
from older does for the feeding of orphaned kids. It can be
conveniently stored by freezing in ice cube trays. Cubed colosturm
can be thawed and warmed for feeding as needed. |
Health Management Practices for Kids |
The period of developmental
transition from a pre-ruminant to a ruminant digestive system
in the weaning kid is a particularly crucial time. In situations
where feeding is not closely monitored, enterotoxemia can
be a costly disease. |
Enterotoxemia is
caused by Clostridium perfringens, an organism present in
the gut of many, if not all animals. Under the right circumstances,
it multiplies to high numbers and secretes an enterotoxin
(poison produced in the gut) which is absorbed from the gut
into the blood stream. This enterotoxin circulates to the
brain and other tissues causing serious tissue damage which
often results in death. Enterotoxemia may occur in goats of
any age. The disease is generally associated with overfeeding
and indigestion which frequently leads to "gut stasis",
an important factor in the pathogenesis of this disease. It
may occur in young kids when they are consuming considerable
quantities of grain, but are still getting plenty of milk.
Other factors which may predispose young or adult goats to
enterotoxemia are excess concentrate feed intake, sudden access
to palatable feed, or changes in feed or forages offered.
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Dehorning and castration
are minor surgical procedures which should be performed within
the first two weeks of age. Dehorning baby goats requires
skill and experience, otherwise serious injury can occur.
Cauterizing or burning of the horn buds with an electric dehorning
iron is preferred over surgical removal methods. Surgical
methods often require general anesthesia. Castration of buck
kids, if desired, can be done in combination with dehorning.
The use of local or general anesthesia is recommended. Remove
1/4 to 1/3 of the scrotum, expose the testicles, and remove
the testicle by cutting the cord above the testicle. An emasculator,
which is a cutting-crushing combination instrument, works
nicely for this purpose. Depending on the vaccinal status
of the dam, all minor surgical procedures in young kids should
be accompanied by an injection of tetanus antitoxin. Tetanus
or lockjaw, caused by Clostridium tetani, is highly fatal
in affected animals. The organism inhabits the soil and may
increase to high numbers when contaminated by feces. Since
the organism generally gains entrance to the body through
puncture wounds, or deep cuts, tetanus protection is advised
when surgical procedures are performed. |
White Muscle Disease
(WMD), a degenerative disease of muscle tissues, is frequently
observed in kids raised in geographical areas where selenium
is either deficient or unavailable in the soil. Kids affected
with WMD often appear "stiff". Many will "arch"
their backs and assume a noticeably abnormal posture when
standing. This disease can be treated if diagnosed early enough
but prevention through timely selenium injections and feed
supplementation is best. Current recommendations for young
kids are an initial injection of 1 mg selenium (BoSe) at one
week of age which should be repeated at weaning. |
Contagious ecthyma
(sore mouth) is a virus disease of goats and sheep which can
be controlled by vaccination at or around weaning. This disease
is particularly important due to its zoonotic potential (ability
to be transmitted from goats and sheep to man). This disease
should be suspected whenever pustular-type lesions are present
around the mouth or muzzle, and on teats. |
Parasitism |
The internal parasites
of major importance in young, growing kids are coccidia and
various nematodes (worms), particularly Haemonchus.
Coccidiosis can affect kids as early as two weeks of age.
Diarrhea is the most consistent sign. Kids become weak, dehydrated
and may demonstrate signs of abdominal discomfort. Rapid detection,
isolation, and prompt treatment of affected kids is important
for reducing losses. Coccidiosis is usually treated with Sulfas
or Amprolium. |
These drugs may also
be used in coccidia prevention strategies in problem herds.
Reducing exposure to feces is of prime importance in controlling
this disease. Thus feed bunks and hay mangers should be constructed
in such a way as to keep kids out. |
The nematodes of
goats which cause the majority of problems are the large stomach
worms (Haemonchus), although lungworms and tapeworms can be
important in some herds. Stomach worms suck blood and will
cause profound anemia, weight loss and weakness in animals
severely affected. Best advice for control at the present
time involves a vigorous sanitation and deworming program.
Consult a veterinarian for specific deworming advice. |
The external parasites
are equally important in parasitism problems of goats. They
can likewise result in anemia, weight loss and gradual debilitation.
The following external parasites affect Florida's dairy goats:
1) biting lice, 2) sucking lice, 3) nose bots, 4) Keds, 5)
blow fly larvae, 6) mites, and 7) sticktight fleas. They can
be controlled by insecticide sprays, dusts, or dips. As with
deworming medications goat owners are advised to consult their
veterinarian for specific information on alternative parasite
control. |
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Footnotes |
1.
This document is VM39, one of a series of the Veterinary
Medicine-Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department, Florida
Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date
February, 1985. Reviewed May, 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site
at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. |
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The Institute of
Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity
Institution authorized to provide research, educational information
and other services only to individuals and institutions that
function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed,
color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation,
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For more information on obtaining other extension publications,
contact your county Cooperative Extension service. |
U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of
Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative
Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating.
Larry Arrington, Dean. |
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Copyright Information |
This document is
copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the
State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions,
but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of
the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State
of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials
in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that
full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication,
its source, and date of publication. |
