Herd Management

Herd Health & Management

The health and happiness of our herd is very important to us, so our goats are well cared for. We keep our herd healthy and free of caprine diseases like: CAE, CL, Q-Fever, Johnes, through the use of biosecurity precautions and sample testing.

Kid Care:

Pre-Natal: Given to dams 6 months prior & 6 weeks prior to kidding:
SQ Multi-Min, CD&T, Poly-Bac B Somnus, Dewormings, & Oral vit/min weekly
Day 1: Keep kids warm & dry, dip cord care, ample colostrum for each kid
Day 2:       Disbud at 2-5 days (Depending on horn bud growth)
Dams post kidding - Deworm & give CMPKD3 orally
Day 3:       Bovi-Sera & C&D antitoxin #1 orally (IF bottle fed)
Oral colostrum paste (w/ ABDE+Selenium & Probiotics)
Week 2:    Coccidia prevention #1 (Toltrazuril orally)
                 Bovi-Sera & C&D antitoxin #2 orally (IF bottle fed)
                 Oral vitamin/mineral (such as Replamin Gel Plus, or Poly-Vi-Sol)
Week 4:    Pasteurella Vaccine #1 (Once PMH IN - Nasal)
                 Coccidia prevention #2 (Toltrazuril orally)
                 Oral vitamin/mineral (Replamin Gel Plus, or Poly-Vi-Sol)
Week 6: CD&T Immunization #1
                 Deworming #1 (Ivermectin Plus pour on, & 1 of following: Valbazen, Cydectin, or Zolvix)
                 Oral vitamin B paste (1 day after deworming)
                 Hooves trimmed as needed
Week 8: Pasteurella Vaccine #2 (Once PMH IN - Nasal)
                 BoSe or MultiMin SQ supplement (IF needed) or oral vit/min
Tattoos & ADGA registrations
Week 10:  CD&T Immunization #2
                 Deworming #2 (Ivermectin Plus pour on, & 1 of following: Valbazen, Cydectin, or Zolvix)
Oral vitamin B paste & Probiotics (day after deworming)
Band Bucklings → Wethers
Week 12:  Hooves trimmed
Coccidia prevention #3 (Toltrazuril orally)
Oral vitamin/mineral (Replamin Gel Plus, or Poly-Vi-Sol)
                 Weaned & ready for new homes!

Adult Care:

CD+T Vaccine (Covexin 9) Yearly in spring
Pasteurella Vaccine (Once PMH IN, or Poly-Bac Somnus SQ) Yearly in spring
BoSe SQ, or Multi-Min SQ injection 2 x yr, fall & spring
De-worming (Ivermectin Plus pour on, Valbazen, Cydectin, Zolvix) 3 x yr, or as needed
Coccidia Prevention (Toltrazuril “Baycox”) If (+) fecals, or symptoms
Hoof Trimming & famacha eye checks Monthly
Weekly oral Vitamin/Minerals (Flinstones children's vit) Weekly
Health Check (see nose to tail check up below) Daily

►Health checks include monitoring for:
Runny or crusty nose or eyes, red cloudy or watery eyes, eye lid color (pale=↑worms), coughing or panting, chewing/eating problems, mouth/teeth issues, bloating, scours, check for normal feces and urination, changes in coat, bumps or skin issues, hoof leg or gait problems, changes in weight or appetite, changes in activity level or behaviors, any symptoms of mastitis, etc......

Diet:

Water – Cleaned & refilled daily in a low sided bucket
Hay – Orchard Grass always available, add alfalfa pellets when milking
Grain – COB style with Ammonium Chloride (ex: Purina Goat Chow)
(feed 1 cup grain am & 1 cup grain pm to each Doe, Not for wethers)
Vitamins – 1x per week orally +
BoSe SQ, or Multi-Min SQ shot 2 x per year (fall & spring)
Minerals – Mineral block always available (Sweet Lix 3 in 1, or Mol-Mag)
Baking Soda – Clean fresh in a small tray always available for pH & bloat

Essentials:

Straw for bedding, water bucket short enough for them to reach bottom, orchard grass hay (only 1-2 bales at a time so they don't get moldy), something to hold hay up off the ground (not a net type feeder since they're dangerous), a grain tray, 1 bag of COB style grain (with ammonium chloride added), small tray for baking soda (we use hanging type so they don't step in it), large bag of baking soda, "Sweet Lix Meat maker" or "3 in1" mineral block, hoof trimmers, enclosed shelter big enough for your # of full grown goats along with their hay and minerals to stay dry, shelter should be able to close at night for predator protection.