raising healthy goats and lambs

8/10/2019 Raising Healthy Goats and Lambs

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RAISING HEALTHY GOATSAND LAMBS

Understanding the fundamentals


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Introduction Humans domesticated goats as early as 10,000 years ago

From this primitive type, our modern, high-producing

breeds were developed

Todays Angora produces 10 kg of mohair each year

The Boer (South African meat-goat) grows quickly to

220 pounds

Modern dairy goat breeds produce over 1000 kg of milk

in 10 months


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Social disposition

Goats are inquisitive

Goats are highly social

Goats accept the need tolive together

Goats will accept peopleas part of the herd

Goats are willing to followtheir human head goat


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About meat goatsIn January 2005 there

were 1.9 million headsof meat goats in theU.S.

The demand for goat-meat is increasing

Meat from goat is calledchevon

Chevon is low in fat andcholesterol


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About dairy goats

In January 2005, dairygoats totaled 283,500heads in the U.S.

Goats milk forms acurd that people findeasier to digest

People allergic to cowsmilk can digest goatsmilk without a problem


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About sheep

People in West Asiahunted wild sheepfrom the beginningof the stone age

About 10,000 BC,some people in West

Asia began to keep

tame, domesticatedsheep forthemselves.


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Compare & contrast

Sheep Goat

Species: Ovis aries (ovine) Capra hircus (caprine)

Hair: Wool Mohair/Cashmere

Meat: Lamb/Mutton Cabrito/Chevon

Gestation period: 145 days 149 days

# at birth: 1- 4 1-3


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HousingThe building must

be dry insideAdequatelyventilated

A very snug, airtightbuilding will allow

moisture build up and

condensation inside,

causing respiratory

problems in goats


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HousingBuild wooden sleepingplatforms

Deep bedding pack

Small exercise yard

Place gate latches outof reach

These prevent animals

from sleeping on the floorand helps to keep them

warm and dry


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Housing

Separate olderbreeding bucks/rams

to their individualspace

More than one young

buck/ram can be kepttogether


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Feeding and watering

Provide hay feeder

Provide a box for

salt mineral mix

Place them where you

can fill them without

having to get into the

pen with the animals


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Feeding and watering

Provide access toclean fresh water

Automatic waterers

are wonderful as they

cut down on spillage


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Nutrition Pasture grazing

The most efficient system is controlled grazing.

Pastures are divided into smaller units (paddocks)

Forage is grazed to a predetermined height

Sheep/goats prefer to eat forage no taller than 6 inches.

Paddocks should not be grazed lower than 2 inches.


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Nutrition

Sheep/Goats areruminants

Have a largefermentation vat orrumen, as part of

the digestive system


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The rumen


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Diseases of the rumen and digestivesystem

Digestive problems

Overgrown teeth

Hardware disease

Choke & Indigestion

- Bloat 3 types

Choke bloat

Dry bloat

Frothy bloat

Wire


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Bloat prevention

Maintain at least 50%

grassDo not start grazingwhen the pastures arewet from dew or rain

Do not turn hungryanimals on freshlegume pasture

Cull frequent bloatersfrom your herd


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Diseases of the rumen and digestive

system

Internal Parasites

Coccidiosis

Intestinal wormsLungworms

Tapeworms


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Symptoms of internal

parasites

Pale (or white) eyes and gums

Diarrhea

Clumpy stools

Fluffed hair

Listlessness

Rumen failure

Chronic coughing (lung worms)- dry cough,

especially after running or other exercise.

Bottle jaw" (severe infestation)- swelling under the

jaw.


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Treatment of internal

parasites

For coccidiosis, Sulfas,antibiotics forsecondary bacterialinfections, and the

therapeutic dose ofamproliumareavailable for use


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Treatment of internal

parasites

For the treatment of

Intestinal andlungworms, severaldrugs are available

including Ivomec,Panacur, valbazen,synanthic


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External parasites

LiceMites

Ticks

KedsScrewworm

Nose bot fly


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Prevention of external

parasites

Quarantine new

animals

Reduce stressfactors

Adequate nutrition

Regular checks (esp.during dewormingexercises)


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Other common diseases of

sheep and goats

From new-born to adult

Navel ill

Tetanus

Joint ill

Foot rot

Mastitis

Metritis

Bladder stones (males)

Abscesses


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Important producer

knowledge

Preventative health careincludes good nutrition,vaccination programsand the isolation of sickanimals

Sheep graze very closeto the ground and sotend to be moresusceptible to internal

parasites than mostother farm animals


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Important producer

knowledge

Most parasite larvae do

not crawl more than 5inches from the ground

Sheep brought from thewestern U.S. have littleor no resistance tointernal parasites

Breeds with relativelyhigh resistance toparasites include theCaribbean types ofsheep


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Important producer

knowledge

Theres a growingmarket for goat

products in SWFlorida, but there isa shortage of localprocessing facilities

Mmmmm

Mmmm

Mmmmm

mmmmmmmm


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Information provided in thispresentation will increase your

awareness,

but field experience is priceless

raising healthy goats and lambs

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