FOR THE NEWBIE GOAT FARMER

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SEVERE SCOURS

If your see your goat suddenly has scours (diarrhea), it needs immediate attention. Scours is generally a digestive problem and could be caused by infections and parasites. Other causes (non-infectious) can be from overfeeding, indigestion, lactic acidosis, copper deficiency and intoxications. Scours at most times are be fatal, as it causes of dehydration, weakness and sudden death. Please act quickly. As with any kind of potentially fatal situation, consult your veterinarian.

We give a 10-cc subQ injection of Goat Serum Concentrate (Immunoglobulin supplement for newborn kids effective for the treatment of immune deficiency) to the newborns as soon as they are born to avoid scours in kids. Bottles and nipples must be washed thoroughly after each use. Probios gel is excellent for balancing the good bacteria in the system and often can be used to correct a problem if caught right away. A severe worm infestation can also cause scours and worm medication must be given as well as something to stop the diarrhea. Medications used for humans, such as Pepto Bismol work well. Biopect is a very good anti-diarrheal.

SIMPLE FLY TRAP

Flies are not only a nuisance but can be a disease carrier. From season to season we have a problem with when they suddenly appear and start bothering us and the Goats. Here at the kebun we have come up with a simple fly trap made out of recycled water bottles. We usually use salted fish head bits but find rotting chicken meat the best to attract them into the trap, ust a little bit will do.

GOATS HAVE NO UPPER FRONT TEETH

Goats have no upper front teeth. Their upper front mouth is just one big tough gum but they do have lower front teeth. However in the back on their mouth they do have both upper and lower teeth. These molars are very very strong.

GOAT SKELETON

The above come’s  from the “Archeozoo” website.

Here is the complete reference for use:
– Article URL: http://www.archeozoo.org/en-article134.html
– Image URL: http://www.archeozoo.org/IMG/png/capra_hircus.png
– Draftsman: Michel Coutureau, Inrap
– According to the book: R. Barone, Comparative Anatomy of Domestic Mammals, ed. Vigot, 1976.

Credit to the Archezoo Webmaster

FEEDING YOUR GOATS CASSAVA

Cassava seems to help a lot as a natural alternative as a dewormer for the Goats. The strongle egg counts and coccodial oocyt were much lower when fed with foliage from the cassava plant. I must note here that they are also fed with leaves from the Jackfruit tree.

I think that it is evident that gastrointestinal parasite control based on commercially available dewormers are failing because of a natural buildup, evolution and eventual resistance against dewormers. Hence we have to look at natural control as an alternative, if cheaper and hassle free even better.

The leaves are collected by hand and let out to dry (if the sun is out and hot) for at least a day before being given to feed. The quantity is small at one time, perhaps around 4-7 leaves at one time for each animal, once a week. The leave of the Jackfruit is also collected by hand and let to dry too. The Goats seem to prefer these leaves to be really dry, brown bone dry in fact. Our Goats eat these leaves almost daily.

I strongly suggest that if you have access to these plants and want to introduce them to your Goats, please try them out in small quantities first and observe. It will be even better that you collect some ‘goat pellets’ and send them to the lab to do an egg count. After trying out these plants over a period of time retest again.

QUARANTINE BLOCK

As part of the stipulations for us to even qualify for our GAHP (Good Animal Husbandry Practices) application, a Quarantine Block has to be built. In the final stages of completion it will be fully concreted floor, all around drainage to a septic tank, rain gutters, fully fenced in, useable covered area of 900 square feet. Access is only directly through the vet room. There is also 3000 square feet of outdoor pens divided into 5 different sections.

MILKING METHOD

STAGES OF GOAT FETAL DEVELOPMENT

• 20 days Apparent Heart Beat
• 21-35days The lung bud branching and forming into the two principal bronchi
• 28-35 days Limb buds apparent
• 35-42 days Differentiation of mouth,digits and dew claws
• 42-49 days Nostrils and Eyes apparent, Mammary buds in females; empty scrotal sac in males, Jugular vein barely visible through the pink skin
• 42-84 days The bronchial divisions were differentiated and their air conducting system became established, lined with seudostratified and/or single-walled columnar epithelium
• 49-56 days Eyelids Close, Ear Canal Opens, Membranous soft center in the top of the head
• 56-63 days Jugular vein, facial vein and scrotal vessels all visible; Nostrils open
• 70-77 days Hairs appear on eyelids
• 77-84 days Horn Pits Appear;Ear vein prominent, Hairs on eyelids and muzzle
• 84-91 days Hairs on forehead, Pigmentation around horn pits, For males testes palpable in scrotum
• 91-98 days Skin whitish and thicker, Jugular, facial and scrotal veins no longer visible, Ear vein visible, Hairs along top of the neck, Top of the head has hardened-Also Lung Development-The respiratory bronchioles developed quickly，the primitive alveoli had developed,the respiratory bronchioles and primitive alveoli were lined by cuboid cells
• 98-105 days Tooth Eruption. Hair around eyes and muzzle; Hairs on chest, Eyelids separated, Temporary teeth buds just appear
• 105-112 days Body sparsely covered with hair, except limbs Also-Lung development-The respiratory divisions developed dramatically, the lung assumed a more “aerated” appearance.
• 112-119 days Dense hairs cover body and limbs, Teeth buds prominent
• 119 days 1-3 Incisors barely erupted in females at birth, Incisors at gum line in males at birth
• 119-154 days The alveoli developed and differentiated into flattened (type Ⅰ cell) and cuboid (type Ⅱ cell) epithelial cells of the lung development-here the baby can breath on it’s own.
• Normal Live Birth- 145 to 155 days

Above reproduced with the very kind permission from The Goat Lady Please visit her lovely store at  GetYerGoat the internet’s #1 Goat Gift Store!

KETOSIS

Ketosis is a pregnancy-related illness in does which can occur either right before or shortly after kidding. Ketosis is the result of producers not providing proper nutrition for pregnant does. The bred female does not receive adequate protein to feed both her and her kids in utero, so either just before or immediately after she kids, her body begins to draw upon its protein reserves so that she can provide milk for her offspring. Deadly ketones are produced as a by-product of this process, as her own body tissues begin to starve.

Treatment is simple. Oral administration of Propylene Glycol, Molasses, or Karo Syrup (which is Corn syrup) is necessary. The doe will dislike the oily propylene glycol, but it is by far the best product available for treating ketosis. Dosage is based upon weight of the animal. Prevention is easy. Feed the doe properly during gestation as well as after kidding. Bringing a doe back from a bout of ketosis is difficult, and death often results.

Can you spot the 50 day old Fetus inside the amnion?