Herd health
Disclaimer
We are not veterinarians. This page is not intended to provide medical advice. We have a wonderful veterinarian who works with us, and we greatly appreciate the care she provides for our goats. We strongly encourage you to consult your veterinarian for any health issues concerning your animals.
The opinions shared on this page are our own and represent approaches that have worked for our herd in their specific situations, areas, and climates. These may not be appropriate for your animals.
By engaging with this content, you acknowledge that you are responsible for seeking professional veterinary advice for your animals’ health. Thank you for being here! Let’s talk about herd health!
Holistic vs Traditional Care
Our approach prioritizes holistic and natural methods whenever suitable for the animal and situation. If these interventions do not lead to improvement, we consult our veterinarian and may then resort to traditional treatments, such as antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications. This protocol does not apply in emergencies, where we always seek veterinary guidance first.
Animal Husbandry
We maintain a logbook for our goat care, where we record important activities such as hoof trimming, supplement administration (like copper and selenium), herbal deworming, FAMACHA scores, lice and mite treatments, and other miscellaneous care tasks.
Hoof Trimming
- Does: I usually check and trim their hooves as needed while they're on the stand.
- Bucks: Their hooves are trimmed every 6-8 weeks.
- Kids: I trim their hooves around the same time as the bucks. Some goats require more frequent trimming than others.
Lice and Mite Treatment
- We treat for lice and mites once or twice a year, typically after our does kid. Many natural methods we've tried haven't been effective, but I do like a product from Crystal Creek called Lice and Mange Wash, although it's challenging to use in freezing climates. I prefer to apply it during warmer months. They also have an excellent udder ointment!
- Our best success with lice treatment has come from using Ultra Boss. We give our goats a charcoal capsule on the day we apply this product to help them detoxify, as it is quite strong. We avoid any pour-on treatments for pregnant goats.
Herbal Deworming
- We use two approaches for deworming:
- Daily Dose: Sprinkling herbs on the goats' grain.
- Herbal Drench: Mixing herbs with molasses and raw garlic for three days, followed by once a week for eight weeks.
- We rarely need chemical dewormers, and our FAMACHA scores are excellent! My favorite products are DWA and GI Soother from Fir Meadows, which I alternate and sprinkle on their food 2-3 times a week. We use Molly's Herbals for the three-day herbal treatment.
FAMACHA Scores and Fecal Testing
- We conduct individual fecal tests when we observe poor FAMACHA scores to determine the underlying issues. This year, there were severe cases of barber pole worms in our area, but fortunately, our goats were not affected.
- We have used chemical dewormers when facing severe cases of scours related to coccidia, with Albon and Baycox being effective options. It’s important to remember that dewormers can vary in effectiveness depending on your animals and local resistance issues. We avoid overusing dewormers and antibiotics to ensure they remain effective when truly needed.
Boosting Immune Health
Here are a few of my go-to books for goat care and herd management:
- The Accessible Pet, Equine, and Livestock Herbal Book by Katherine A. Drovdahl
- Natural Goat Care by Pat Coleby
- Raising Goats Naturally by Deborah Niemann (The Thrifty Homesteader)
- Holistic Goat Care by Gianaclis Caldwell
- Goats: Homeopathic Remedies by George Macleod
For eye problems, I recommend an herbal tincture called Eyebright and colloidal silver. While goats naturally produce Vitamin C, I provide my goats with extra buffered Vitamin C and zinc during times of stress.
Adult vs Kid Health
We believe in individualizing our care based on each goat's age, maturity, and specific needs. We provide a monthly dose of oral selenium and copper boluses for goats that show deficiencies in blood tests. Signs of copper deficiency include brittle fur, flaky skin, and "fish tail."
We manage copper supplementation carefully, as many of our goats also suffer from zinc deficiency, which can worsen with unnecessary copper boluses. All of our goats have free access to minerals and receive daily doses of kelp, Probios powder (a probiotic), and ZinPro120 mixed into their feed.
Milking goats receive Vitamin E daily. We also give all our goats grain according to their gender, age, and needs. Bucks receive grain during rut season when they tend to lose more weight. Milkers get grain, black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS), oats, and alfalfa pellets while on the stand.
Biosecurity
This is non-negotiable for us: we take biosecurity very seriously. We invest a lot of effort into our goats and do not take unnecessary risks with their health. We conduct annual blood tests for the three major concerns: Johne's, CL, and CAE, and we are grateful to report that we have never had a positive result. If we have any suspicions, we also send fecal tests for analysis.
Any new animal coming to our farm will be quarantined until we confirm its health. We only purchase goats from tested, clean herds. Additionally, we are not open to the public; visitors must wait in their vehicles while we sanitize their shoes and hands before they can exit.
Thank you for your understanding!
Biosecurity 2024 Test Results
