Reproduction and deworming effects of feeding pine to goats.

Are you ready to breed your goats? Consult this checklist for a healthy kidding season.

Indiscriminate deworming, either by deworming on a schedule or without seeing any specific symptoms of a high worm load, can breed medication-resistant worms on your property. Before deworming, conduct a five-point check to assess if treatment is necessary. This involves assessing the eye, back, tail, coat, and jaw areas.

Different goat breeds come in different shapes and sizes. A large belly can mean pregnancy, body fat, a full rumen, or just relaxed ligaments. Weights can help measure medication doses but are not specifically indicative of body fat. A Body Condition Score helps identify obese animals and those needing to gain weight.

Goat relationships are crucial for maintaining harmony. Introducing unfamiliar goats can be traumatic, and fighting and stress lead to health risks and drops in productivity. Even after a short separation, goats will fight to re-establish hierarchy. It is important to get this right from the start.

Premature kids often die from hypothermia, breathing issues, and illness before we can intervene. Evaluating a floppy kid’s needs as soon as possible helps you decide your level of intervention.

Whether you legally must have permanent identification on your goats, or if it’s just a good idea, here are guidelines to tagging your herd.

Caseous lymphadenitis is a chronic, contagious bacterial infection characterized by abscesses near the lymph nodes, usually on the neck or near the udder. Commonly found in goats and sheep, and sporadically in horses, cattle, camelids, swine, fowl, and even people. Two forms of the disease include the external (skin) form and the internal (organ) form.

Caprine arthritis and encephalitis is a viral infection often manifested as arthritis in adult goats and, less
commonly, as progressive inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) in kids. Most often found in dairy goat breeds and sometimes in sheep.

Developing a euthanasia plan with your veterinarian ensures animal welfare in the worst situations. While some goat owners prefer other euthanasia methods, this sheet focuses strictly on the gunshot and captive bolt methods. Check your local laws to ensure all parts of this tutorial are legal within your area and decide if this is the best plan for your farm.