VN May 2023

Vetnuus | May 2023 8 Somatic cell counts (SCC) in goats can be confusing and often higher than expected. During the non-natural lactation period, the SCC can increase significantly with no disease present. Mastitis is a serious problem and can be caused by many organisms. Treatment must be done promptly as does can get very sick. It can also spread fast, which can affect kid survival. Cattle intramammarypreparations work in goats and must be administered like for cattle. The label recommends one full tube per quarter at 12 hourly intervals. Using half tubes leads to antimicrobial resistance. Teats must be cleaned, the intramammary administered aseptically, and tubes must not be pushed deeper than a few millimetres because that may damage the teat sphincter and/or canal. Parental antibiotics and anti-inflammatories may also be needed. Dairy goats must not be seen as small cows, but basic udder health and dairy management are similar and general udder health programs are similar. 3,4 In males, there can be a large variation in testicular size and semen quality between the breeding and non-breeding season, even in breeds that are not so seasonal. Therefore, breeding soundness tests must be interpreted keeping the seasonal variation in mind. Flush feeding effectively stimulates both males and females to get into season. The sperm cycle is about 47 days, so flushing must be done from about 6-7 weeks before planned breeding. 18,19 Goats have a much smaller pelvis than sheep; thus, kids are much smaller than lambs, which generally means dystocias are rare. However, dystocias must be approached with great care and gentleness as the uterine wall is much thinner and more fragile than sheep and cattle, and the angle is much steeper. The cervical opening is also much smaller. It is important to use lots of lubricant and work slowly. During the initial examination, try to determine if there is any damage to the uterus or if the uterine opening has been torn. If either of these has happened, it is better to recommend euthanasia as repairing the damage is very difficult, and most does will not survive. Tails The vertebrae of the goat’s tail make it very difficult for them to sit on their haunches as the tail is angled for upward movement. Their tails are shorter than sheep’s tails and are not docked. Goats always walk with their tails up. Condition scoring Goats carry their fat reserves around their chest and in their abdomen. In goat’s condition, scoring is done by examining the chest and lumbar area. Scores are from 0, which is very emaciated, to 5, which is very fat. 11 External parasites Unlike sheep, kids will not follow their mothers during the day. Kids are hidden by the does. They thus spend a lot of time lying down in the first few weeks of life. This behaviour makes them very vulnerable to fleas. If goats are kept in high-density enclosures like kraals, or indoors, this can lead to serious infestations, which can be fatal. It is important to treat the kids, does and environment during such outbreaks. Pyrethroids and fipronil can be used on the goats while cleaning out areas seems to be the most effective environmental control. Kids are also affected by tick paralysis due to their behaviour and smaller size. It is important to physically remove the ticks to prevent further toxin absorption. Ixodus Rubicundus (Karoo paralysis) occurs mostly from April to June, and Spring paralysis (Rhipichephalus) occurs from September – November. Some ticks can also cause encephalitis or Pituitary abscesses by crawling down the ear canal or base of horns. Florfenicol is effective for treatment, but remember, it is not good for breeding males. G oats , especially the M ohair types , are also prone to lice and mites . T his can cause substantial losses if not treated promptly . Internal parasites Roundworms,specificallyHaemonchus,areasbigaproblemingoats as in sheep, with Haemochus resistance against anthelmintics just as common as in sheep. Targeted selective treatment, vaccination and selective breeding are efficient management tools in controlling roundworms. Using Famacha also helps; however, goats tend to be paler than sheep, so caution must be applied with scores of 3 or more as the infection may be more serious than sheep showing the Leading Article