The profitability of a goat enterprise depends largely on the animals’ health and productivity. It is crucial, therefore, that a goat farmer has the skills to identify an animal in poor health, diagnose the illness and treat it, or obtain assistance from other knowledgeable goat farmers, state animal health officials or private vets. The key is to act swiftly.
While the advice that follows can be helpful, the diagnoses and treatment policies are not carved in stone. They need to be tested and adapted where necessary because of the varying goat production conditions across the world
Prevention is always better than cure, and it is therefore important that any goat introduced to an existing flock be disease-free and healthy. Begin by ensuring that goats always have access to clean drinking water, and enough and the correct quality of grazing, browsing and supplementary feed.
Coupled with the requirements above, it is imperative to have a strict vaccination programme to control common diseases, as well as internal and external parasites. Isolate sick goats, so that whatever disease they are suffering from does not spread to healthy animals. Treat every sick goat and keep records of the treatments given.
Animals that are often ill should be culled. Weak animals cost money, and may also pass on their weak genetics to offspring.
Be aware of common goat diseases and their symptoms prevalent in the area, and implement an appropriate preventative vaccination programme. Vaccines are not always 100% effective, however, so animals should be monitored daily, even following vaccinations.
Goat farmers should administer a combination vaccine against clostridial diseases. These include lamb dysentery, pulpy kidney, tetanus, black quarter, clostridial metritis, blood gut and pasteurella pneumonia.
Multivax-P Plus is ideal for this purpose. Inject it under the skin of the inner thigh when goats are four to five months old and then again one month later. All adult goats should be vaccinated with Multivax-P Plus every year in spring (September) and again one month later. Other vaccinations should be given only if a problem is identified, for example enzootic abortion and goat/sheep brucellosis.”
Essential goat health management products for on-farm use include:
Wound spray containing insecticide against flies and maggots, Hoof trimmer/shears, Antiseptic soap, Soft rope for restraining goats being treated, Elastrator (elastic castration pliers) and latex rubber elastrator rings, Ear tags and ear tag applicator
Burdizo (bloodless castration device), Box of disposable latex gloves, Scale to weigh animals. Spray dip machine (knapsack sprayer) for dip product application, or sheep/goat dip-tank if more than 50 goats are being dipped and many more
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