REGION 13 Troy Veal, President (EC) tvanveal@yahoo.com REGION 8 Ervin Chavana, Vice President /Treasurer (EC) mengercreek@hotmail.com REGION 10 Tracy Diefenbach, Secretary (EC) tldief@fairpoint.net REGION 5 John Edwards (EC) eggstx@aol.com REGION 7 Dennie Clark (EC) hcgoat@hotmail.com REGION 12 Paul Kinslow (EC) paul@muellerauctions.net PAST PRESIDENT Brian Faris (EC) brfaris@ksu.edu REGION 1 Terry Brown capriole@pocketinet.com REGION 2 Boyd E. Willoughby wbccboers@allwest.net
REGION 3 Jeff Gibbs gibbsfarms@aol.com REGION 4 Kay Garrett kewlkay@hotmail.com REGION 5 Doug Widener dcbwidener@valornet.com REGION 6 Kallie York kjkohls13@aol.com REGION 9 Vicki Stich Ladyhogger59@hotmail.com REGION 11 Scott Hawthorn scott@ cedargrovefarms.com REGION 14 John Morrow morrowfarm@aol.com REGION 15 Sara Davis csdavis@oakhollowlivestock.com REGION 16 Brad Mackey bradmackey@bmackfarms.com *EC denotes Executive Committee member
January/February 2012 Dear ABGA and JABGA Members, Happy New Year! There is always excitement that comes with each new year, and the ABGA officers are full of anticipation for all of the great things we have in store for this year. As always, our most anticipated event of 2012 is the ABGA National Show. This year’s show will be June 11-16, 2012 in Duncan, Oklahoma at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center. It is our goal to make each National Show better than the last, and this year is no exception. Watch for the National Show packet in the next issue. It will contain the schedule, rules and applications; everything you will need to start making your plans to attend. In addition to National Show plans, membership renewals are in full swing. If you have not yet sent in your renewal form, please be sure to get those in as soon as possible to avoid any inactive member fees. Your renewal includes access to all of the great information and opportunities that ABGA has to offer, as well as an annual subscription to The Boer Goat Magazine. One last item to mention as we kick of 2012 is the upcoming elections for several of the regions on the ABGA Board of Directors. The term for Regions 5, 6, 7, 12 and 13 will be expiring this year. If you are interested in running for the Board of Directors, applications are due by March 1, 2012 and can be found on the ABGA website at www.abga.org. Once again, Happy New Year and we look forward to a great 2012 with you.
1207 S. Bryant Blvd., Suite C | San Angelo, TX 76903 Sandy Smith, Operations Manager, sandy@abga.org Mary Ellen Villarreal, Office Operations Supervisor, mary@abga.org Laurie Evans, Administrative Assistant, laurie@abga.org Belinda Constancio, Registration Support Staff, belinda@abga.org Sonia Cervantez, Accounting, sonia@abga.org Dee Ann Torres, Registration Support Staff, deeann@abga.org Aaron Gillespie, Show Coordinator, aaron@abga.org Miranda Carrillo, Member Services, miranda@abga.org
Sincerely,
Troy Veal, President American Boer Goat Association
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It can happen unexpectedly. One morning your goats are fine; eating and drinking and playing. That night when you go out to feed, one of them looks like it’s dying. What happened? Recognizing the signs of disease is vitally important. Treating animals early will reduce the morbidity and mortality rate, and help keep herds healthy. Knowing the difference between what is normal and healthy and what is not can help you catch diseases early. There are several different aspects of goats that need to be monitored. However, if you want to recognize the symptoms of a sick goat, you must first know the difference between a healthy and a sick one.
Attitude Just as with people, a sick goat will not be a happy goat. Normally, goats should be alert, curious and generally happy looking. A goat that is sick will act depressed. The goat may hang its head, seem dull and weak, may not want to do anything but lie there. They are miserable.
Appetite When a goat is healthy, they want to eat. They are eager to come to food. After they are full, they chew their cud. When a goat isn’t feeling well it will go off feed. It won’t be interested in food and may quickly become “sunken in” because the rumen isn’t full.
Body Condition
A goat in good body condition shouldn’t be too fat or too thin. Body condition can be determined using a quick numbering system, from 1 to 5. Goats that are a 1 are extremely thin, and a 5 is obese. Healthy goats should be in the range of a 3-4. Animals that are extremely thin usually have some sort of disease issue, unless they are just being underfed. Worms or other diseases may cause them to lose weight. Goats that are losing weight for no apparent reason should be evaluated for parasites, as this is usually the main cause. However, other issues, such as stomach or mouth problems, will also cause them to lose weight because they aren’t eating. Make a note of your goat’s body condition score at least 4 times a year, or every three months.
RespiRAtoRy system Healthy goats will breathe normally, and won’t cough or wheeze. A goat that is sick may have problems breathing, and will sound labored.
This can be a sign of a number of respiratory diseases. It should be noted that many respiratory diseases are highly contagious, and if a goat is having issues breathing it should be quarantined from the herd and treated immediately.
eyes The eyes of a healthy goat are bright and inquisitive. They will look alert, be clear. A goat that is sick may have watery eyes that look dull. The cornea may be cloudy or have spots, and the area around the eyes may be red. A sick goat may also be sensitive to light.
nose A goat that is healthy will have clear nostrils, and won’t be sniffling or sneezing. A goat that is sick may have runny, snotty or stopped up nose. It could be as simple as a cold, which will go away. However, if the symptoms persist, this may be a sign of another illness.
skin And CoAt The skin and coat of a healthy goat will be clean and glossy. A goat this is sick may have pimples, blisters, scabs, bald patches or have lumps. The coat may look dull and rough. If the goat has a skin problem, it may itch the area, which causes more inflammation of the skin.
FeCes And uRine The droppings of a healthy goat will be firm and pelleted. The urine should be a lighter shade of yellow if the goat is properly hydrated. A sick goat may have runny diarrhea, worm segments or loose feces. Difficulty or straining during urination and defecation, as well as bloody urine are also signs of sickness.
GAit Goats normally walk with a steady, even gait. They will look relaxed, with a fairly flat back. Goats that are having problems may limp, arch their back, or be unable to walk. They may also lie on their sides and paddle with their limbs. All of these are signs of a problem.
VoCAlizAtion The last thing to watch is vocalization. Some goats are noisier than others, and it’s good to take note of what your goats do normally. A sick goat may cry out more or grind their teeth which is a sign of pain. Although disease can be scary and costly, recognizing the signs early and treating the animals will result in the best prognosis. If animals are not acting normal, it is best to determine the cause and attempt to alleviate it. In all cases, if you are unsure, it is best to enlist the advice of experienced goat producers and veterinarians. www.abga.org | 7
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Illness is part of every livestock operation. The trick is to minimize it to prevent significantly reduced profit margins. Four primary defenses against disease can be applied by every livestock operation: nutrition, clean environments, space and genetics.
NutritioN Many conditions, like white muscle disease, are caused by nutritive imbalances. A cheap feed test or ration analysis can help a producer avoid nutritive imbalances that could destroy a herd. A specially-formulated, balanced ration can keep a goat’s immune system operating at optimum levels, preventing disease, reducing parasite impact, and saving money on treatments. A little back fat on a goat can prevent a lot of disease, but obesity can be as dangerous as emaciation. A quality, balanced, roughage-based ration can prevent many problems.
CleaN eNviroNmeNts A couple hundred years ago, researchers discovered that many hideous epidemics that ravaged human communities were caused by filth. Lack of basic cleanliness and improper disposal of body waste killed millions. Goats have been herded across wide areas by nomads for thousands of years and were the last class of livestock to be fed in confinement. As a result, goats are only beginning to genetically adapt to modern confinement or limited rotation systems. Keeping goats in confinement means the owner must work extra hard or risk the same epidemiccreating conditions that existed for humans before modern septic and hygiene habits. That means regularly cleaning barns, scrubbing water tanks and feeders, and scraping pens.
spaCe Overcrowding leads to forced contact. The old “four square feet per goat” is an absolute minimum designed for barn space for short periods of time. In large pastures, a sick animal is left behind the herd, reducing exposure for the healthy animals. In confinement, a sick animal needs to be isolated to prevent the repetitive contact that can overwhelm the immune system of even the healthiest goat. Isolation means water and feed sources need to be specific to that animal. Dipping a sick goat’s bucket into the communal water trough eliminates the effectiveness of isolating the animal. Care for sick animals last, and use some sort of foot covering to prevent transporting disease-filled feces back to the herd, especially if the herd is in a pen. Wash hands and change clothes before returning to
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the herd. And remember to control insects in sick pens.
GeNetiCs Some animals naturally have better immune systems than others. Animals with inferior immune systems put the entire herd at risk as they harbor and incubate parasites, viruses and bacteria. Like cancer and heart disease in humans, diseases, conditions and syndromes in goats often follow family lines. An animal that suffers from milk fever, pneumonia, parasites or pregnancy toxemia, when nutritive and environmental needs are met, will pass on to the offspring a higher risk factor for that problem. Good records can help pinpoint genetic weaknesses in a herd and those lines can be eliminated, reducing management and medical expense. Goat owners may run into several conditions, diseases and syndromes, including the 25 listed below. Individual parasites are not included.
Filth diseases Pneumonia is a set of symptoms – inflammation and infection in the lungs – rather than a disease with a single causative agent and treatment. Chlamydia, parasites, viral infections, ammonia burn from breathing air in urine-filled sheds, and even dust or mold in feed may cause pneumonia. Symptoms in goats are similar to symptoms in humans: coughing, fever, chest pain, shortness of breath and nasal discharge. Treatment depends on the cause. Clean barns with dry bedding, dustfree feed and other herd-management strategies can greatly reduce the severity of the disease, but pneumonia in some form is common. Parasites have become a serious problem in goats, as goats have little genetic resistance. Misuse of anthelmentics has compounded the problem, resulting in chemical resistant parasites. Symptoms of infestation include distended belly, emaciation despite a good appetite, brittle or dead-looking hair, diarrhea, poor hoof quality, hair loss, scratching, anemia, lethargy, poor thrift and death. Management is important in the fight against parasites. Goats void parasite eggs and larvae in feces, contaminating forage, water sources, and facilities they are around. Browsing verses grazing reduces internal parasite infestation. The closer a goat must graze to the ground and the more times a goat comes into contact with a single plant, the more parasites are ingested. Goats eating hay off the same patch of ground every day are in the worst possible situation. Feeders that prevent contact with feces is
vital. Goats also track manure with their feet, so preventing kids from bouncing around in feeders is also important. Lice is a contact problem. Infected animals brushing against other animals or facilities transfer the insects. Lice, like other parasites, eventually cause anemia and death. Ticks carry a variety of diseases that can cause problems for goats, including Q Fever, but healthy goats are more resistant to ticks than other species. Genetics can also play a significant role in parasite management, as goats that can naturally rebuff or limit parasite loads can pass that ability on to their offspring. Culling goats that need repeated chemical dosing to control parasites will eliminate an infection source and improve genetic resistance in the herd. Coccidiosis is caused by the protozoa coccidia. Normally present in the intestine, coccidia only becomes a problem when it overpowers the immune system of a stressed animal. It is the primary cause of bloody diarrhea in kids. It is also usually present when an animal develops polio, also called nervous coccidiosis. Polio symptoms include trembling, staggering, lethargy, lack of appetite and lowered body temperature. Polio can usually be reversed with thiamine. Bottle jaw is a condition in which fluid collects in the tissue between a goat’s mandibles, causing distortive swelling. Often fluid buildup is greatest in the evening when an animal has been eating with its head down all day. In the morning, the swelling may seem less, but will return as the animal feeds. It is the result of anemia, which is primarily caused by blood sucking parasites.
Nutritive maNaGemeNt diseases Acidosis is similar to laminitis in horses. It is caused by excessive grain intake or a sudden loading of carbohydrates. Animals appear distressed, often with distended abdomens, especially on the left side, similar to bloat. Stomach discomfort often causes teeth grinding and pressure can cause staggering. True laminitis often follows with heat in the hooves and the animal being unwilling to walk. Distorted hoof growth follows laminitis. Bloat is caused when an excess of air or froth builds up in the abdomen. If air or froth production exceeds the animal’s ability to
dispose of gas, the animal will eventually suffocate from pressure on the diaphragm. A bloated animal will have a hugely swollen, taunt stomach with audible, gasping breath. Ingesting large quantities of grain; sudden increases in green, legume-rich feeds; and chemical ingestion causing rumen flora death are the main causes of bloat. Mineral imbalances in the diet can predispose an animal to bloat. Colic is usually caused by ration changes, toxic plants, moldy feed or a lack of water that results in impaction. If the cramps are severe enough to twist the intestines, the animal will die without surgery. Symptoms are similar to acidosis but can include the goat looking at its stomach, kicking at its belly, and pressing its sides on objects. Once the gut twists, the animal may bleat in pain. Mycotoxin is a poison produced by some fungi that can invade grain and hay. Contaminated corn will have a bitter taste and occasionally an odor. Given a choice, animals will avoid feedstuffs contaminated with mycotoxin. It can cause bloat, acidosis, laminitis and even death. Some animals can eat more of it than others before suffering poisoning. Testing is available through almost any feed store, veterinarian or extension office. Urinary calculi is the caprine term for kidney stones. It is caused when minerals build up in the urinary system creating stones, which can become lodged in the urinary tract. It is rarely found in does, but can plague bucks and wethers. Some research suggests genetics dictate the size of the tubes of the urinary system. The smaller the tube, the more likely mineral deposits will become lodged. Feeding excessive mineral supplements, or creating a calcium/phosphorus imbalance, may also result in deposits that become stones when the kidneys filter out the extra. Symptoms include pawing the ground, bleating, straining to urinate, bloody urine or reduced urine flow. White muscle disease is caused by a lack of selenium in the diet. In areas where soils are naturally deficient in selenium, feedstuffs harvested from those soils will also be deficient. Adult animals will appear stiff, weak and lethargic; and some may become disoriented or violent. Newborns will be very weak and slow to
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respond. Many are born dead. A simple ration analysis can determine if there is sufficient selenium in the animal’s diet. Selenium can be supplemented in a mineral mix; a grain or pellet ration; or by injection. Pregnancy toxemia and Ketosis are caused when a heavily pregnant or lactating doe is using more nutrition to feed the kids than is available in her diet. Animals on a high-forage diet with lots of roughage seem to be less likely to be affected. Obesity, a lack of exercise, a high concentrate diet and highly processed rations compound the problem. Thin animals on poor diets can also suffer from pregnancy toxemia, but the condition seems to be more common in overweight animals on concentrates. Symptoms include lack of appetite, lethargy, reduced interest in herd mates and swelling in feet and legs. It may take a couple of weeks for symptoms to progress to the point where the animal’s breath smells sweet. Propylene glycol can help rebalance the blood sugar if administered properly.
caused by stickery material in the feed that works into the soft tissue of the mouth. Tooth abscesses are also possible. Several other bacteria can cause abscesses including staphylococcus, streptococcus, and pasteurella. Most are treatable with antibiotics. Proper diagnosis by a lab is important. Caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) was originally identified in dairy goats. It is a virus with a strong genetic resistance or susceptibility factor. Painful and debilitating arthritis is the primary symptom. Joints will stiffen and swell and will be hard but feverless. Other symptoms can include unexplained weight loss, chronic coughing and hardening of the udder. There is no cure or vaccine at this time. Foot rot is caused by the Fusiformis nodosus bacteria. It enters the hoof through a crack or injury and sets up an infection. Usually the sensitive laminae become inflamed, causing lameness. Many things can cause lameness, but foot rot can always be identified by the odor. Copper and iodine supplementation via mineral licks can significantly reduce susceptibility.
Hypocalcemia is also known as milk fever. It usually occurs shortly after kidding when a doe must use the calcium out of her body to produce milk because there isn’t enough calcium available in the diet. Heavy milkers are more prone to the problem.
Chlamydia is associated with pneumonia, abortion, floppy kid syndrome, stillborn kids, diarrhea, conjunctivitis (pink eye), arthritis and encephalitis. It is transmitted in a variety of ways including through sexual contact and water and feed sources. Blood, penal scraping and placenta tests are the most accurate for diagnosis. No vaccine is approved for goats.
Affected animals will be weak and will tremble and have muscle twitches. Most are unable to stand, and if not treated quickly with intravenous calcium will die. Recovery is rapid – usually within an hour. Adequate calcium and a proper calcium/phosphorus/magnesium ratio in the diet will prevent milk fever.
Mastitis is identified by inflammation in the udder. If diagnosed in the early stages, the udder will have a hard spot that seems feverish to the touch. Milk will be discolored, usually pink, and have clumps in it. In advanced cases, the entire udder may be hard and hot with the milk trapped inside by swelling.
BaCteria-iNduCed diseases
Mastitis is caused by bacterial infection and can result from bruising. If treated promptly, there will be little loss in milk production. If not treated, the udder may scar to the point the doe can no longer produce milk. Extreme cases can include gangrene and death.
Caseous lymphadenitis (CL) is a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. It enters through a break in the skin or mucous membranes. Once inside the body, it infects the lymph system, periodically causing lymph nodes along the jaw, under the ears, along the neck and near the udder to swell, abscess and break. Internal abscesses are also common. When the abscesses break, the fluid inside contaminates the environment, spreading the disease. There is a vaccine for CL, but no recognized cure at this time. However, not all abscesses are caused by CL. Facial abscesses can be
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Pinkeye is a highly contagious eye disease easily spread to most classes of livestock and humans. Symptoms include runny, light-sensitive eyes. When the eyes are examined, the eye will be red and irritated. Advanced stages may have a red/pink film over the entire eye. Sometimes the eye will actually rupture. Pinkeye can cause blindness by scarring the lens or other eye surfaces.
Soremouth is a viral infection that causes sores and scabs around the mouth, nostrils and eyes. It is contagious but not life threatening unless an animal quits eating. If a lactating doe develops sores on her udder, she may not let her kids nurse. Once an animal has been exposed, it will be immune for several years, and a vaccine is available. Enterotoxaemia is also known as Overeaters Disease. Clostridium perfringens type D bacteria produce the poisons responsible, when conditions in the digestive tract deprive them of oxygen. Many forms of this disease exist. Bloody diarrhea including chunks of intestinal lining are common at the advanced stages. It can strike animals of any age, with the highest mortality rates in kids. Sudden onset of watery diarrhea is usually followed by extreme weakness, lack of coordination, and the animal stretched out on its side paddling its feet. Death usually comes rapidly. A vaccine is available for this disease. Blackleg is also known as clostridial myositis. Caused by Clostridium chauvei, found in soil, this disease can progress so rapidly in goats that there seem to be no symptoms. The animal is simply found dead. In less drastic cases, a high fever will be accompanied by muscle swelling on the animal. Eventually, the swellings will spread, become “mushy,” and the skin will crackle over the swellings when pressed. Severe swelling in the head may block off nasal passages and blood flow. If diagnosed early enough, antibiotics can be effective. Joint ill or navel ill is caused when bacteria contaminate the umbilical cord and enter the bloodstream shortly after birth. Although rare, the symptoms are obvious. The kid’s joints swell dramatically as the joint capsules are infected. Fever is common. The kid will be unwilling to move and will often cry with pain at the advanced stages. Antibiotics are not usually effective once the joints have started swelling.
the bacterium Mycobacterium johnei, causing thickening of the intestinal walls, which reduces and eliminates the animal’s ability to absorb nutrients from feed. The animal appears to be starving as it loses body condition and grows weaker, regardless of the quantity and quality of feed available. The condition is contagious, especially in confined conditions, and there is no cure. Brucellosis causes abortions in the later months of pregnancy and is contagious to humans. It is passed sexually and in feed and water sources. Wildlife including infected deer, elk and bison are the primary sources of contamination for domestic livestock. Mexico also has a brucellosis problem and imported animals are a risk. Like hoof and mouth, this reportable disease requires the slaughter of the entire herd. A vaccine is available for cattle and sheep. Q fever is a multi-species zoonotic disease. It is most often diagnosed when an owner takes a placenta to a lab while investigating a series of abortions in a herd. Coxiella burnetii is the infective bacterium and is not species specific. It is a hardy bacteria that can survive a long time in the environment and be excreted in feces, urine and placental fluids. Once an animal is infected, it can continue shedding the bacteria long after symptoms are gone if the animal ever had symptoms. Birds, mammals and even ticks have tested positive for the bacteria. It has been found in all classes of livestock, but most humans are exposed by pets. In humans, the bacterium causes flu-like symptoms that last up to three weeks, but in extreme cases can result in chronic endocarditis. Diagnosis of Q fever is relatively rare, but makes big headlines when it is discovered because of the risk to humans. A proper regimen of tetracycline or chloramphenicol is an effective treatment, but no preventative vaccine is available in the US at this time. Proper disposal of placentas and a regular cleaning system are the best preventatives for Q Fever.
An infection causing the umbilical cord to attach to the body can also be called navel ill. Keeping kidding areas clean and freshly bedded will prevent most cases of either infection. Some producers dip newborns’ umbilical cords in iodine to help prevent contamination. Johne’s Disease is a recently documented disease that was originally thought to only affect dairy herds. Now it has been discovered in meat animals, also. It is a chronic and incurable infection of the intestines by
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Following proper vaccination protocol is critical to avoiding abscesses at vaccination sites. By following these key concepts, you’re much more likely to have success during vaccination, as well as prevent the spread of caseous lymphadenitis, commonly referred to as CL.
Buy Small to maintain FreShneSS When vaccinating with C/D&T buy the small bottles, unless you are vaccinating a large number at one time. This will allow you to discard what isn’t used each time. After multiple withdrawals of medicine, the rubber stopped is not as secure to prevent contamination.
cool pack. The reciprocal applies in the winter.
Sanitary practiceS produce clean reSultS Dust and other contaminants adhere quickly to the top of an unprotected vial. It is very important to wipe the top of the bottle with alcohol before each withdrawal of vaccine. It is just as important to create a clean injection site. Goats lay in dirt and many times other things. Any time that dirt and “other” things are pushed under the skin you have created any opportunity for abscess.
avoiding oFF- or extra-laBel vaccine
inject cautiouSly and correctly
Be cautious about using vaccines in an offlabel or extra-label manner. This should only be done under the direction of your veterinarian. These products have not been proven to be safe or effective, and tissue damage is more common with uses of this type.
The vaccine needs to end up between the skin and the muscle. Make a wrinkle of loose skin between your thumb and index finger, and insert the needle into the center of the wrinkle. Make sure the needle is all the way
Also, do not combine vaccines to make your own combinations, unless the labels or your veterinarian recommend it.
think milk: check expiration dateS Always check the vaccine’s expiration date a few days before you intend to use the product. Otherwise, you’ll end up like me every season: bringing in the goats to work, and figuring out that your vaccine is long expired. That will leave as bad a taste in your mouth, as that first bite of cereal does when you’ve used spoiled milk.
Store vaccine properly Read the label and follow all instruction regarding storage, mixing and handling of vaccines. Heat, sunlight and freezing destroy almost all vaccines. When working outside, carry and keep vaccines in an insulated ice chest with frozen ice packs. The ice chest will also keep dust off the vaccine vials, which will certainly reduce contamination to the vaccine in the bottle.
check your mail-order purchaSeS If your vaccines are shipped to you during the summer, ensure they are shipped with
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under the skin and not protruding out the other side. Vaccine injected between layers of skin will make the unsightly knot.
one goat, one needle To prevent spread of CL and other infectious diseases it is vital that a needle is not used on more than one goat. Using the same needle also creates risk of contaminating the entire vial of vaccine when drawing up vaccine for next goat. Never leave a needle in the top of any medication or vaccine bottle. This creates an open air entry to contaminate the vaccine easier than reinserting a needle. This is what we do in our program. I can assure you when we didn’t stick to this regimen the results were not ideal.
Show me Iowa ClaSSIC Boer Goat Sale During the Show Me Iowa Classic Boer Goat Sale on Saturday, Nov. 19, 82 lots were offered by seven consignors. The event was held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. The day started early with buyers viewing the animals and conversing with the consignors, followed by an informative fencing seminar given by Sara McArtor from Premier 1 before the sale began. The high-selling fullblood buck was JBI Southern Heat, which sold to Rhonda and Jason Miller, Bloomfield, Iowa, for $3,000. The high-selling fullblood doe was JBI Flirting Around, selling to Andy and Karen Vander Stoep, Hollandale, Minn., for $2,850. The high-selling percentage doe was JBI Z266 and was purchased by Harmon Farms, Hull, Iowa, for $2,000. All three were consigned by JBI Boer Goats. The volume buyer was Charles Larson, Owatonna, Minnesota who purchased 10 head for $10,300. The overall sale average was $1,010 on 82 lots. We, the consignors, would like to thank all who participated in the sale – both online and in person – for making the sale a success this year. Come see us again next year! Information provided by Jerry Brown
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“There aren’t any good goat vets around here.” This is a common complaint from goat owners, even in areas where goats are a traditional part of agriculture. Good advice about medicating goats is hard to find, and it’s not hard to understand why with the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laws about off-label use of antibiotics. A veterinarian risks his license every time he sells an antibiotic or recommends one for use on a goat. One veterinarian in Texas lost his license because he recommended a regimen of LA 200 for a bunch of sick 4-H goats. He didn’t know the county fair was only two weeks away, the 4-H leader forgot to mention it.
Relationships matteR. Most veterinarians recommend forming a relationship with a vet before you need one, because it’s easier for a vet to prescribe off-label antibiotic use if he has a good relationship with the client. If he doesn’t know the potential client, he has to depend on first impressions and the rumors he’s heard about the farm. To begin forming this relationship, find out which vets in the community are willing to work with goats. Then set an appointment to invite the vet out to look over your herd and facilities before you have an emergency.
The goats were sold, and many of them slaughtered. All of those carcasses tested positive for antibiotic residue. The FDA investigated, and the veterinarian lost his license.
“Visiting will let me know if you’re just going from wreck to wreck and never cleaning up, or if you have some biosecurity and management systems in place,” said Dr. William Edmiston who has spent many years as a practicing veterinarian in central Texas. “I know if it’s a disease problem or a mismanagement or nutritional problem.”
An anonymous, well-known veterinarian says, “I decide how much I know about goats before I step out of my pickup.”
During these visits, Edmiston also listens to how the owner talks about the animals to determine if the goats are pets or a business investment.
Almost half of her clientele is caprine; and she speaks all over the U.S. to goat groups. But goat owners are the biggest danger to her practice.
Pets are the high-risk market, as far as vets are concerned, he says. These owners usually have little experience with livestock and few animal husbandry skills. They may also let emotions influence management decisions and may spend more than the market value of an animal on medication. They are also the ones most likely to get a veterinarian into legal trouble.
“The government isn’t going to go after some goat owner, they’re going to make an example out of me if somebody overdoses a goat, or there’s antibiotic residue in the milk or meat,” she says. Since it doesn’t look like FDA regulations are going to change any time soon, goat owners need to have a good relationship with a veterinarian – involving mutual trust on following the vet’s recommendations. But most owners only get one limited chance to prove they are going to be a trustworthy client. So how does a producer convince a veterinarian to give them a try? And what determines if a goat owner is a good risk or not?
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“If it’s named, it may not bark or shed in the house, but it’s a pet,” Edmiston says. “If it’s a pet, you’d better be prepared to pay companion animal prices.” A good set of herd health records and some basic knowledge of animals are important, but most vets are willing to help a new goat owner, if the owner is willing to listen and learn, says Ken Newens, a ranch country veterinarian who practices in La Junta, Colo.
“Know what the animal normally does,” he says. “Know the normal body temperature (and other vitals) and normal behavior of the animals. How can you tell me what’s wrong if you don’t know what’s normal?” Set up a health management plan with the vet so he knows you’re serious about taking care of your animals and that you respect his advice, an anonymous veterinarian says. “I’ve got all the time in the world for someone who wants to learn, but if you’re the sort of owner who’s stumbling from one wreck to another without learning, then I don’t have much time to help you,” he says. Newen says he’s wary of taking on new goat owners as clients. “When a client calls me and has a list of people he’s talked to before he called me, I’m not very interested in helping,” Newens says. He tries to avoid goats, because he believes many goat owners don’t respect his advice. But he has a few goat-owning clients. “The worst thing you can tell me is ‘I found on the internet that…,” he says. “There is some good information on the internet, but if you want bad advice, the internet is also the place to go.”
it’s all about Respect. It’s also critical, when building a relationship with a vet, to respect the education and experience a veterinarian has. He spent almost a decade in school learning about injuries, disease and drugs. Even if he’s not a goat expert, his hypothesis is based on years of education and practical experience with disease and medication. When a vet recommends a treatment for an animal, follow it diligently. Don’t change dosages or mix drugs. If a new problem arises, or you are still concerned, call the vet back. He may want to change the treatment, but if he doesn’t, don’t be too quick to change it on your own. You are risking all future medical help from that vet if you do. And because vets talk to each other, you may find that every vet that stops at your farm suddenly knows nothing about goats, regardless of the wonderful things you heard about them. Invest some respect, goodwill and trust in your vet and he or she will usually give you all the knowledge he or she possesses. After all, that’s what a vet goes to school for.
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www.powerflexfence.com
Full Line of Permanent & Portable Fencing
417-741-1230 • info@powerflexfence.com
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22 | The Boer Goat