About the Author
Karen Kopf
Articles by Karen Kopf
The Fear of Fescue
Red bag, abortions, thickened placentas, founder, necrosis, failure to freshen — all are symptoms of fescue toxicity … and yet tall fescue is one of the most common forages for livestock in both pasture and baled grass hay.
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Listeriosis in Goats
Listeriosis, also called Circling Disease and Silage sickness, is a life-threatening disease caused by bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii. Listeria is zoonotic and can be transferred to humans. It thrives in aerobic conditions and can withstand temperatures from 34-113 degrees F. It persists almost anywhere, including soil, manure piles, gastrointestinal
tracts, the top layer of silage, and moldy hay or feed. It is also commonly found in the feces of infected birds, animals, fish, and insects as well as sewage.
Finding the Balance: Maintaining Health with Goat Minerals
Supplementation of goat minerals is required for good health but improper supplementation can be dangerous, even deadly.
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Deep Freeze! How to Keep Goats Warm in Cold Weather
Add to Favorites How cold is too cold for a goat? Temperature can be the least of challenges when determining how to keep goats warm in cold weather. I’ve lived …
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The Doe Code
Add to Favorites Oh, the game is strong with this experienced one… She knows the Doe Code all too well! Contractions about a minute apart. Why is our goat in labor …
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Goat Care During Fire Season
When raising goats, prepare for many seasons: breeding season, kidding season, show season, winter — and for many in the western states, FIRE season.
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Chlamydia in Goats and Other STDs to Watch For
When we think of breeding, we think of babies — not biosecurity — but diseases such as chlamydia in goats can be transmitted sexually.
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Are You Feeding Straw or Hay for Goats?
If you dread choosing hay for goats, you are not alone … there is much to know about what to feed goats.
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Listeriosis in Goats: Dangers of Feeding Moldy Hay
Circling Disease and Silage Sickness are other names for listeriosis in goats, commonly associated with feeding moldy hay.
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Geissebei Trekkinggeissen
Add to Favorites Wandering in the Swiss Alps, surrounded by goats, is a dream that has filled my head since I was a little girl listening to the story of Heidi by …
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