Goat Management

Characteristics Goat population worldwide is over 350 million U.S. population is between 2 & 3 million Becoming more popular as people move to more rural areas Relatively inexpensive to purchase and reproduces efficiency Having 2- 3 offspring per year Don’t demand specialized housing or feedstuff

Patterning Get does into a routine. Feed at same time and place where you can pen the animals in a small enclosure. Easily caught and handled from there.

Reproduction Seasonal Breeders Length of daylight influences the secretion of hormones that affect the estrous cycle Seasonal species are responsive to melatonin Hormone produced by the pineal gland Response to declining periods of light Breed in the Fall 80% of all does come into heat between Sept 1 and Dec 31

Reproduction 3 systems for breeding Pasture Breeding AI Hand Mating

Pasture Breeding Does and Buck put into one field Very little labor and results in a large percentage of does conceiving Have no control over when does are bred

AI Growing in popularity Frozen semen is thawed and placed into the reproductive tract of the doe Done by using a plastic insemination pipette Heat detection is very important Cost is higher Can breed to superior bucks

Insemination site We want the tip of the catheter to be well inside the cervix, but not penetrate completely into the uterus. Reason-bacterial contamination

Take catheter and insert

Place catheter in cervix

Hand Mating Buck is kept in a separate pen from the does As does come into heat they are turned into pen with buck Breeding is observed, then doe is removed from buck and return to pen Gives you precise breeding dates Separate buck pen and shed, and more time is involved

Parturition Gestation period is between 145- 155 days Kids should have navels dipped in iodine to prevent infection Make sure kids receive colostrum Don’t touch kids right after birth Kids are weaned at 3 months

Disbudding Removal of the horn buds from a kid Two methods Chemical Disbudding iron

Castration Done before 12 weeks 3 methods Knife Burdizzo Elastrator

Knife

Burdizzo

Elastrator

Identification 4 different methods Tattooing Neck chains Branding Ear notching

Hoof trimming Removing the excess growth that occurs at the toes, heels, and sidewalls of the hooves Should be done every 6-8 weeks

Hoof Trimming

Parasites Internal Parasites one of most economically important constraints in raising livestock Animals certain to exposure of worms Confinement Pasture-based Results Decrease in productivity death

Controlling Parasites Worms are a major parasite within goat industry Should be dewormed on a regular basis About every 6-8 weeks Receive an injection of Clostridium Perfringes, Types C & D and Tetnus, once a year

Deworming 3 types of dewormers Avermectin Benzimidazoles Imidazothiazole

Avermectin Clear dewormers Not effective against tapeworms Ivomec, Dectomax, Cydectin Not effective against tapeworms

Benzimidazoles White dewormers Effective against tapeworms Safeguard Effective against tapeworms Can cause abortions

Imidazothiazole Tramisol May cause abortions The “safe” and “toxic” levels are very close, making product dangerous

Fecal Float Way to identify what type of worms goats have and what you need to vaccinate with Use a Modified Wisconsin Procedure Create a sucrose solution Combine 454g granulated sugar with 335mL of water Heat the solution until the sugar is completely dissolved and the solution is clear

Fecal Float Fecal samples are collected and weighed 3g of each sample is measured and suspended into 20 mL of the sucrose solution in a waxed paper cup Solution is stirred until solution is completely dispersed and then poured into a second cup

Fecal Float Liquid is poured into a 15 mL test tube until slightly raised above the top of the test tube then topped with a cover slip Allow to sit for 3-6 hours then observe under a microscope

The FAMACHA© System 1 – not anemic 5 -- severely anemic Eye color chart with five color categories Compare chart with color of mucous membranes of sheep or goat Classification into one of five color categories: 1 – not anemic 5 -- severely anemic

Examine in sunlight Open as shown - for a short time only Look at color inside lower eyelid

Barber pole worm egg

Haemonchus adults in the abomasum

Other Diseases Blackleg Bloat Bottle Jaw Coccidiosis Colic Enterotoxaemia Foot and Mouth Disease Foot Rot

Other Diseases Johne’s Disease Pregnancy toxemia Mastitis Tetanus Thickening of intestine Have to be slaughtered (no cure) Pregnancy toxemia Mastitis Tetanus Urinary Calculi