Check out this link.
http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/SP/MG/Documents/copper_wire.pdf
25.8.11
EAR TAGS
PREMIER 1 SUPPLY
How ear tags can help you…
1. Can indicate sex
Benefit?
Allows rapid sorting by sex while sheep and goats are moving down a chute or in a holding pen. No need to get your hands dirty or spend expensive time to check “the plumbing.”
How to do this:
• Males: Insert primary tag in left ear
• Females: Insert primary tag in right ear
2. Can indicate year of birth
Benefit?
No need to catch them to check their teeth. A tag will tell you the age from 40 ft away. Enables faster
decisions when sorting for culling or breeding.
Two ways to do this:
a. Use a different color for each year. Lambs with purple tags were born in 2007. Lamb with yellow tag 2006.
b. Begin tag number series with the year of birth. Tag 7275 indicates lamb is the 275th lamb tagged in 2007.
3. Can indicate sire (& dam)
Benefit?
No need to check records for breeding decisions.
Three ways to do this:
a. Use a different-color second tag for each sire
(blue tags = Sire XYZ; purple tags = Sire ABC).
b. Have sire name printed on the tag of its progeny.
(We will do this for you at no extra cost.)
c. Hand-write the ewe’s tag number with a marking pen on the lamb’s tag. If space is limited write it on the inner surfaces of the tag.
Note: Since tags can be lost, we strongly advise using 2 sire/dam tags (one in each ear).
4. Can indicate single, twin or triplet
Benefit?
Speeds up sorting for breeding and sale purposes. Reduces need to keep and consult records.
To do this: Use a different color for each. Repeat this color year after year.
At Premier—
• blue = single
• green = twin
• orange = triplet
5. Can indicate problems
Benefit?
Allows rapid, positive culling for animals with foot problems, dystocia, mastitis, prolapse, etc.
Two ways to do this:
a. Snap a black tag in every problem animal.
b. Use an ear notcher to mark the animal.
Ear Tag FAQ
How can I reduce tag losses?
• Insert tag midway between the skull and the tip of the ear (see diagram below). We observed in our own sheep over the years that tags placed very close to the skull in sheep were more likely to become infected.
Why? A combination of the tissue being thicker and the wound less able to heal (not enough air to dry it up).
• Avoid the large veins in the ear
Why? When damaged, the veins heal slowly and are more prone to infection.
• Don’t use nylon (e.g. Snapp or Swivel) tags as long-term tags.
Why? UV light will eventually cause them to become brittle.
• Avoid double-button round tags for sheep and goats.
Why? They are more likely to snag and tear on grass and wire fences.
• Avoid low-fiber diets.
Why? Sheep on high-grain or liquid diets are desperate to chew. If one starts chewing tags, its penmates will soon do likewise and pull the tags out. For maximum retention and the lowest risk of bleeding and infection, place ear tags in either of the 2 red spots. (One-piece loop tags only fit in the lower red spot.) Avoid the large veins.
How do I keep track of an animal if a tag falls out?
1. Install 2 tags (one in each ear)—with the same number. Official tags can’t be duplicated—but you can use the same individual animal number on the second “backup” tag if you don’t add a flock or premise number.
2. Tattoo the animal. No animal number is more permanent.
What tags does Premier use?
We are always experimenting, so we use many tags. Our preferred system is to:
1. Tag baby lambs with 2 EasyTags, size 1 (same numbers for each tag) within 4 weeks of lambing.
2. Use tag color/numbers/placement to indicate twin-single-triplet/year of birth/sex.
3. For lambs we retain, we substitute an EasyTag, size 5 tag (much easier to see at distance) in the same hole.
4. Never install official tags until the animal is ready to leave the farm. Why our applicator design is
different from others…Good tag retention requires accurate placement (between the veins, midway
between skull and tip of ear, etc.). Tagging sheep and goat ears requires more care and precision than cattle ears because their ears are small. Accurate placement is difficult if the tag projects forward from the applicator (as it does for most applicators)—because a sheep/goat
will jerk its head away as soon as a tag touches an ear.
That’s why Premier’s tag applicator holds the flag portions of the tag back inside the applicator— away from the ear. That means animals won’t feel anything until you squeeze it shut.
How long does it take to get ear tags from Premier?
Less than 2 business days to print and ship them. Then it’s up to UPS ground or US mail to get it to you. We can expedite the shipment—but it will cost you more for the faster shipping methods.
Custom-imprinted tags?
• We will custom imprint tags with your choice of numbers, farm/ranch name, brands and/or logos.
Consecutive numbers and farm/ ranch names are free! Brands or logos have a one-time $15 setup fee.
• Can we imprint numbers out of sequence or individual names? Yes. But it takes more time per tag so the cost is $1.50 per tag (for any tag size).
What tag colors imprint the best—and the worst?
The tag colors in the charts on pp. 14–17 are arranged in order of readability from a distance.
Light colors such as spearmint, salmon, yellow and white tags are the most readable from a distance.
Dark colors such as brown, purple and red are the least readable.
Premier Tip…
If you use tags in your breeding flock, it’s wise to install a tag in both ears when they are baby lambs.
Why? Because lamb wounds heal quickly. And it’s easy to cut out the first tag and install a larger tag without stess to the animal or risk of infection.
13.12.10
Minerals
Fias Co Farm
Molly Nolte
4659 Seneca Drive
Okemos, MI 48864
We offer loose minerals, free choice, at all times. We offer it in a way that it cannot be "soiled" (stepped in or pooped in), because if it does get soiled, the goat will not eat it. We do not use mineral blocks because the kids climb on them and soil them and then the goats will not use it.
We use a cattle mineral mix that we can find, and buy, locally and has in it what we want for our goats. We mix it equal parts minerals to Diamond V Yeast Culture.
Diamond V Yeast Culture XP-DFM (which you should be able to order through your local feed store) is all natural and helps increase ruminal yeasts and bacteria, which, in turn, aids in digestion and helps the goats better utilize their food. It a sense, think of it as a "food booster". It also contains extra protein and vitamins. (NOTE: This is not the same thing as brewers yeast, bread yeast or nutritional yeast.) We find when we feed this yeast our goats health is generally better and their coats are shinier in the summer and thicker in the winter. We also find that it increases milk yield. There are a few forms of Diamond V Yeast such as XP and XP-DFM. We use, and really like, the "XP-DFM" . This XP-DFM is on the expensive side
($40 per 50 lb. bag), and we have to have our local feed store special order it for us, but it lasts a very long time and we feel it is most definitely worth the cost and effort. Just ask your feed store to special order it.
Do not use a mineral mix labeled for "sheep and goats". This mix is really just for sheep and will not contain copper (sheep can't have copper). Goats do need copper. You are better off using a general livestock mix.
Look for mixes that contain the proper ratio of about 2 parts Calcium to 1 part Phosphorus.
We also offer baking soda free choice in a separate container. Baking soda aids the goat to buffer their rumen, which aids in digestion and helps avoid bloat. The goats will use it if they need it. If the baking soda "gets old" and you feel it is time to refresh it, just sprinkle the old remainder soda on a stall floor.
Goats like their minerals and baking soda fresh, so I offer only as much as they will finish off in a couple of days. This helps avoid waste.
We offer our minerals in such a way that the goats can't "soil" them. We hang the mineral feeders, which we have modified by cutting out a section in the middle so they will hang on a modified "livestock panel". We have modified the livestock panel by using bolt cutters to remove a section. The goats can now stick their heads through the panel to get to the minerals, but cannot step in them. The other side of the panel is our chicken coop, and the goats are not allowed in there, so they cannot get at the minerals from the other side. Hardware cloth keeps the chicken out of the minerals from the other side.
Fias Co Farm
Copyright (c) 1997-2010
Molly Nolte. All rights reserved.
http://fiascofarm.com/
Molly Nolte
4659 Seneca Drive
Okemos, MI 48864
We offer loose minerals, free choice, at all times. We offer it in a way that it cannot be "soiled" (stepped in or pooped in), because if it does get soiled, the goat will not eat it. We do not use mineral blocks because the kids climb on them and soil them and then the goats will not use it.
We use a cattle mineral mix that we can find, and buy, locally and has in it what we want for our goats. We mix it equal parts minerals to Diamond V Yeast Culture.
Diamond V Yeast Culture XP-DFM (which you should be able to order through your local feed store) is all natural and helps increase ruminal yeasts and bacteria, which, in turn, aids in digestion and helps the goats better utilize their food. It a sense, think of it as a "food booster". It also contains extra protein and vitamins. (NOTE: This is not the same thing as brewers yeast, bread yeast or nutritional yeast.) We find when we feed this yeast our goats health is generally better and their coats are shinier in the summer and thicker in the winter. We also find that it increases milk yield. There are a few forms of Diamond V Yeast such as XP and XP-DFM. We use, and really like, the "XP-DFM" . This XP-DFM is on the expensive side
($40 per 50 lb. bag), and we have to have our local feed store special order it for us, but it lasts a very long time and we feel it is most definitely worth the cost and effort. Just ask your feed store to special order it.
Do not use a mineral mix labeled for "sheep and goats". This mix is really just for sheep and will not contain copper (sheep can't have copper). Goats do need copper. You are better off using a general livestock mix.
Look for mixes that contain the proper ratio of about 2 parts Calcium to 1 part Phosphorus.
We also offer baking soda free choice in a separate container. Baking soda aids the goat to buffer their rumen, which aids in digestion and helps avoid bloat. The goats will use it if they need it. If the baking soda "gets old" and you feel it is time to refresh it, just sprinkle the old remainder soda on a stall floor.
Goats like their minerals and baking soda fresh, so I offer only as much as they will finish off in a couple of days. This helps avoid waste.
We offer our minerals in such a way that the goats can't "soil" them. We hang the mineral feeders, which we have modified by cutting out a section in the middle so they will hang on a modified "livestock panel". We have modified the livestock panel by using bolt cutters to remove a section. The goats can now stick their heads through the panel to get to the minerals, but cannot step in them. The other side of the panel is our chicken coop, and the goats are not allowed in there, so they cannot get at the minerals from the other side. Hardware cloth keeps the chicken out of the minerals from the other side.
Fias Co Farm
Copyright (c) 1997-2010
Molly Nolte. All rights reserved.
http://fiascofarm.com/
VITAMIN AND MINERAL DEFICIENCIES IN GOATS
Suzanne W. Gasparotto
HC 70 Box 70
Lohn, TX 76852
Phone 325/344-5775
Originators of Tennessee Meat Goats
VITAMIN AND MINERAL DEFICIENCIES IN GOATS
Proper vitamin and mineral levels are essential to the good health of goats. Although no single mineral can be singled out as more important than others, copper, zinc, and selenium levels are especially critical. The interaction of minerals is astoundingly complex. The most difficult task in raising goats is getting nutrition right, and vitamins and minerals are key. Most producers are not knowledgeable enough to formulate their own feed ration with appropriate levels of minerals and vitamins included. Achieving this is a complex task that is best left to a trained goat nutritionist.
Selenium: Major portions of the United States have soils that are deficient in selenium. Selenium deficiency is widespread in most of the eastern coast of the U.S., into the Great Lakes area, and throughout the northwestern part of this country. Plants grown in these soils are selenium deficient and therefore cannot provide adequate selenium to the goats that eat them.
Selenium deficiency, like Vitamin E deficiency, can cause white muscle disease (nutritional muscular dystrophy), causing the goat to have difficulty controlling its muscles. Newborns with weak rear legs may be selenium-deficient. Kids may be too weak to nurse their dams. Pneumonia may result from weakness in muscles that control breathing.
Producers raising goats in areas having selenium-deficient soil must make sure that this mineral is added to feed. Many producers give BoSe injections to newborn kids, as well as to adult goats. BoSe is a vet prescription item. Contact the local county extension agent or your veterinarian for information on your particular area or google 'selenium levels United States' for data.
Zinc: Zinc is needed in the synthesis of proteins and DNA and in cell division. Excessive salivation, deformed hooves, stiff joints, chronic skin problems, abnormally small testicles, and reduced interest in mating are some of the signs.
Copper and Molybdenum: Unlike sheep, for whom copper is toxic, goats must have copper in their diet. Inadequate copper levels can cause loss of hair color, coarse hair that has hooked end tips, abortions, stillbirths, anemia, frequent bone fractures, poor appetite, weight loss, and decreased milk production.
Molybdenum and copper amounts must be balanced or health problems appear. More than 3 ppm of molybdenum binds up copper and creates a deficiency of copper in the goat.
It is also possible to cause copper toxicity in goats by feeding too much copper. Researchers and producer experiences seem to be proving that goats need more copper than originally believed. Make sure that the copper level in feed is correct for your goats by consulting a trained caprine nutritionist knowledgeable about your area.
Water: Yes, water. The goat's body is normally more than 60% water. Rumen contents must be about 70% water to function properly. Even a slight dip in water consumption can result in a goat with fever and off feed.
Iron: Unless a goat is anemic, iron deficiency is generally not a problem in foraging goats. Certain onion-type plants can, however, cause anemia. Stomach worms, sucking lice, and blood loss are common causes of anemia in goats. Goats that are seriously ill with anemia may be supplemented with injectable iron (Ferrodex 100) or oral adminstration of Red Cell. Conversely, an excess of iron can contribute to decreased fertility in goats.
Iodine: Iodine is as essential in goats' diets as it is in humans. Goiters are the most visible sign of iodine deficiency. Newborns whose dams are iodine deficient can be born with goiters. Commercial feeds and minerals contain non-iodized salt, so it may be necessary to offer iodized salt on a free-choice basis. A quicker method of getting iodine into the goat is to paint 7% iodine on the hairless tailweb and to offer kelp (seaweed) free choice.
Calcium and Phosphorus: Calcium and phosphorus must be in proper balance or serious illnesses can occur. Female goats that have been bred at too young of an age can develop lameness and/or bowed legs if they are calcium deficient. Calcium is essential to bone formation and muscle contractions (including labor contractions). A calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 2-1/2 to 1 is proper and helps prevent urinary calculi. Too much phosphorus in relation to calcium causes urinary calculi. An imbalance of calcium and phosphorus can result in birth defects.
Salt: If a goat lacks salt in its diet, it may be seen licking the ground -- trying to get salt from the dirt. Offer salt as part of an appropriate mineral mix on a free-choice basis. Do not force-feed salt by mixing it with processed feed; this procedure is used to limit feed consumption. Salt is often used as a feed limiter, as heavily salted rations cause goats to eat less. A pregnant doe who consumes too much salt may have udder problems -- edema (subcutaneous accumulation of fluids).
Sulfur: Excessive salivation may be a sign of sulfur deficiency. A properly balanced loose mineral and vitamin mix is required. Direct supplementation of sulfur can result in the binding up of iron and copper.
Potassium: Goats on forage usually get all the potassium they need. Penned animals need potassium added to their processed grain mix. Emaciation and muscle weakness are signs of severe potassium deficiency.
Magnesium: Goats deficient in magnesium have lowered urine and milk production and may become anorexic.
Manganese: Slow growth rates in kids (especially buck kids), reduced fertility and abortions in does, improperly formed legs, and difficulty in walking are general signs of manganese deficiency. Too much calcium interferes with manganese absorption.
Vitamin A: Inadequate amounts of Vitamin A in a goat's diet can lead to thick nasal discharge, difficulty in seeing or blindness, respiratory diseases, susceptibility to parasites, scruffy hair coat, and diarrhea. Kids with coccidiosis need more Vitamin A because they have reduced intestinal absorption of nutrients. Adults are likely to be less fertile and more susceptible to diseases if they do not have adequate levels of this essential fat-soluble vitamin.
B Vitamins: A sick goat must be supplemented with B vitamins, particularly Vitamin B 1 (thiamine). The B vitamins are water soluble, so they need to be replenished daily. One of many conditions that depletes the goat's body of B vitamins is diarrhea (which is a symptom of greater problems). Goats whose rumens are not functioning properly or have had their feed regimen changed should be supplemented with B vitamins, particularly B1 (thiamine).
One of the most common examples of Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency is polioencephalomalacia (goat polio). Thiamine must be given to counteract severe neurological problems. Thiamine-deficient goats display rigid bent necks that won't straighten and a loss of eye focus. This disease usually results from eating moldy hay, feed, or sileage; however, it occasionally occurs because the organism exists under certain environmental conditions and a susceptible goat picks it up. The symptoms mimic those of tetanus and dehydration. Because all B vitamins are water soluble, it is difficult to overdose them.
Vitamin B12, an injectable red liquid requiring a vet prescription, is essential in the treatment of anemia.
Vitamin D: Enlarged joints and bowed legs (rickets) are a result of Vitamin D deficiency. Penned goats must have Vitamin D added to their feed.
Vitamin E: Feeding sileage or old hay can produce Vitamin E deficiency and result in white muscle disease. The injectable prescription product BoSe contains both selenium and vitamin E and is often given to newborns in selenium-deficient areas. Vitamin A-D-E Gel is available for supplemental oral use.
Conclusion
This list is by no means comprehensive but is intended to provide a producer overview. If you get nothing else from this article, understand that proper goat nutrition is very complex and not for amateurs.
For producers affected by Tall Fescue Toxicity, several companies around the USA make a fescue-balancer loose mineral. If mineral deficiencies are widespread in your herd, Mineral Max II is available. An injectable cobalt-blue colored liquid that must be obtained from a vet, Mineral Max II contains zinc, manganese, selenium, and copper in chelated (timed-release) form. It is given to goats IM (into the muscle) usually one injection per year and in decreasing amounts as the goat ages. Mineral Max II is made by Sparhawk Labs in Lenexa, Kansas for RXV Products in Westlake, Texas. It may be available under other brand names. Do not give BoSe and Mineral Max II together.
Producers who live near a feed mill that makes commercial goat feed are encouraged to use their services and purchase their products. Such firms employ livestock nutritionists who have knowledge of the nutritional needs of goats in the areas for which they manufacture their products. If such mills are non-existent in your area, contact your county extension agent or closest agricultural university for assistance. These folks should have knowledge about feed mixtures that the average producer does not possess. Find out what your area is deficient in and make sure that is added into your feed supply.
Do not attempt to formulate your own feed unless you are a trained goat nutritionist. If such expertise is not available in your area, locate and hire a goat nutritionist to formulate a feed ration for you. This service is not expensive but you may be required to buy four to six tons of feed, so contact your neighboring goat producers about working together on this purchase. There are computer programs into which the nutritionist can input information unique to your farm and your management techniques to develop a feed mix specifically for your needs. The health and well-being of your goats are depending upon your making wise decisions about their nutrition. Find a place to cut costs other than goat nutrition. You cannot starve a profit out of a goat.
Suzanne W. Gasparotto
ONION CREEK RANCH
5-11-09
HC 70 Box 70
Lohn, TX 76852
Phone 325/344-5775
Originators of Tennessee Meat Goats
VITAMIN AND MINERAL DEFICIENCIES IN GOATS
Proper vitamin and mineral levels are essential to the good health of goats. Although no single mineral can be singled out as more important than others, copper, zinc, and selenium levels are especially critical. The interaction of minerals is astoundingly complex. The most difficult task in raising goats is getting nutrition right, and vitamins and minerals are key. Most producers are not knowledgeable enough to formulate their own feed ration with appropriate levels of minerals and vitamins included. Achieving this is a complex task that is best left to a trained goat nutritionist.
Selenium: Major portions of the United States have soils that are deficient in selenium. Selenium deficiency is widespread in most of the eastern coast of the U.S., into the Great Lakes area, and throughout the northwestern part of this country. Plants grown in these soils are selenium deficient and therefore cannot provide adequate selenium to the goats that eat them.
Selenium deficiency, like Vitamin E deficiency, can cause white muscle disease (nutritional muscular dystrophy), causing the goat to have difficulty controlling its muscles. Newborns with weak rear legs may be selenium-deficient. Kids may be too weak to nurse their dams. Pneumonia may result from weakness in muscles that control breathing.
Producers raising goats in areas having selenium-deficient soil must make sure that this mineral is added to feed. Many producers give BoSe injections to newborn kids, as well as to adult goats. BoSe is a vet prescription item. Contact the local county extension agent or your veterinarian for information on your particular area or google 'selenium levels United States' for data.
Zinc: Zinc is needed in the synthesis of proteins and DNA and in cell division. Excessive salivation, deformed hooves, stiff joints, chronic skin problems, abnormally small testicles, and reduced interest in mating are some of the signs.
Copper and Molybdenum: Unlike sheep, for whom copper is toxic, goats must have copper in their diet. Inadequate copper levels can cause loss of hair color, coarse hair that has hooked end tips, abortions, stillbirths, anemia, frequent bone fractures, poor appetite, weight loss, and decreased milk production.
Molybdenum and copper amounts must be balanced or health problems appear. More than 3 ppm of molybdenum binds up copper and creates a deficiency of copper in the goat.
It is also possible to cause copper toxicity in goats by feeding too much copper. Researchers and producer experiences seem to be proving that goats need more copper than originally believed. Make sure that the copper level in feed is correct for your goats by consulting a trained caprine nutritionist knowledgeable about your area.
Water: Yes, water. The goat's body is normally more than 60% water. Rumen contents must be about 70% water to function properly. Even a slight dip in water consumption can result in a goat with fever and off feed.
Iron: Unless a goat is anemic, iron deficiency is generally not a problem in foraging goats. Certain onion-type plants can, however, cause anemia. Stomach worms, sucking lice, and blood loss are common causes of anemia in goats. Goats that are seriously ill with anemia may be supplemented with injectable iron (Ferrodex 100) or oral adminstration of Red Cell. Conversely, an excess of iron can contribute to decreased fertility in goats.
Iodine: Iodine is as essential in goats' diets as it is in humans. Goiters are the most visible sign of iodine deficiency. Newborns whose dams are iodine deficient can be born with goiters. Commercial feeds and minerals contain non-iodized salt, so it may be necessary to offer iodized salt on a free-choice basis. A quicker method of getting iodine into the goat is to paint 7% iodine on the hairless tailweb and to offer kelp (seaweed) free choice.
Calcium and Phosphorus: Calcium and phosphorus must be in proper balance or serious illnesses can occur. Female goats that have been bred at too young of an age can develop lameness and/or bowed legs if they are calcium deficient. Calcium is essential to bone formation and muscle contractions (including labor contractions). A calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 2-1/2 to 1 is proper and helps prevent urinary calculi. Too much phosphorus in relation to calcium causes urinary calculi. An imbalance of calcium and phosphorus can result in birth defects.
Salt: If a goat lacks salt in its diet, it may be seen licking the ground -- trying to get salt from the dirt. Offer salt as part of an appropriate mineral mix on a free-choice basis. Do not force-feed salt by mixing it with processed feed; this procedure is used to limit feed consumption. Salt is often used as a feed limiter, as heavily salted rations cause goats to eat less. A pregnant doe who consumes too much salt may have udder problems -- edema (subcutaneous accumulation of fluids).
Sulfur: Excessive salivation may be a sign of sulfur deficiency. A properly balanced loose mineral and vitamin mix is required. Direct supplementation of sulfur can result in the binding up of iron and copper.
Potassium: Goats on forage usually get all the potassium they need. Penned animals need potassium added to their processed grain mix. Emaciation and muscle weakness are signs of severe potassium deficiency.
Magnesium: Goats deficient in magnesium have lowered urine and milk production and may become anorexic.
Manganese: Slow growth rates in kids (especially buck kids), reduced fertility and abortions in does, improperly formed legs, and difficulty in walking are general signs of manganese deficiency. Too much calcium interferes with manganese absorption.
Vitamin A: Inadequate amounts of Vitamin A in a goat's diet can lead to thick nasal discharge, difficulty in seeing or blindness, respiratory diseases, susceptibility to parasites, scruffy hair coat, and diarrhea. Kids with coccidiosis need more Vitamin A because they have reduced intestinal absorption of nutrients. Adults are likely to be less fertile and more susceptible to diseases if they do not have adequate levels of this essential fat-soluble vitamin.
B Vitamins: A sick goat must be supplemented with B vitamins, particularly Vitamin B 1 (thiamine). The B vitamins are water soluble, so they need to be replenished daily. One of many conditions that depletes the goat's body of B vitamins is diarrhea (which is a symptom of greater problems). Goats whose rumens are not functioning properly or have had their feed regimen changed should be supplemented with B vitamins, particularly B1 (thiamine).
One of the most common examples of Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency is polioencephalomalacia (goat polio). Thiamine must be given to counteract severe neurological problems. Thiamine-deficient goats display rigid bent necks that won't straighten and a loss of eye focus. This disease usually results from eating moldy hay, feed, or sileage; however, it occasionally occurs because the organism exists under certain environmental conditions and a susceptible goat picks it up. The symptoms mimic those of tetanus and dehydration. Because all B vitamins are water soluble, it is difficult to overdose them.
Vitamin B12, an injectable red liquid requiring a vet prescription, is essential in the treatment of anemia.
Vitamin D: Enlarged joints and bowed legs (rickets) are a result of Vitamin D deficiency. Penned goats must have Vitamin D added to their feed.
Vitamin E: Feeding sileage or old hay can produce Vitamin E deficiency and result in white muscle disease. The injectable prescription product BoSe contains both selenium and vitamin E and is often given to newborns in selenium-deficient areas. Vitamin A-D-E Gel is available for supplemental oral use.
Conclusion
This list is by no means comprehensive but is intended to provide a producer overview. If you get nothing else from this article, understand that proper goat nutrition is very complex and not for amateurs.
For producers affected by Tall Fescue Toxicity, several companies around the USA make a fescue-balancer loose mineral. If mineral deficiencies are widespread in your herd, Mineral Max II is available. An injectable cobalt-blue colored liquid that must be obtained from a vet, Mineral Max II contains zinc, manganese, selenium, and copper in chelated (timed-release) form. It is given to goats IM (into the muscle) usually one injection per year and in decreasing amounts as the goat ages. Mineral Max II is made by Sparhawk Labs in Lenexa, Kansas for RXV Products in Westlake, Texas. It may be available under other brand names. Do not give BoSe and Mineral Max II together.
Producers who live near a feed mill that makes commercial goat feed are encouraged to use their services and purchase their products. Such firms employ livestock nutritionists who have knowledge of the nutritional needs of goats in the areas for which they manufacture their products. If such mills are non-existent in your area, contact your county extension agent or closest agricultural university for assistance. These folks should have knowledge about feed mixtures that the average producer does not possess. Find out what your area is deficient in and make sure that is added into your feed supply.
Do not attempt to formulate your own feed unless you are a trained goat nutritionist. If such expertise is not available in your area, locate and hire a goat nutritionist to formulate a feed ration for you. This service is not expensive but you may be required to buy four to six tons of feed, so contact your neighboring goat producers about working together on this purchase. There are computer programs into which the nutritionist can input information unique to your farm and your management techniques to develop a feed mix specifically for your needs. The health and well-being of your goats are depending upon your making wise decisions about their nutrition. Find a place to cut costs other than goat nutrition. You cannot starve a profit out of a goat.
Suzanne W. Gasparotto
ONION CREEK RANCH
5-11-09
22.4.10
Prevention of Diseases
Suzanne W. Gasparotto
Lohn, TX 76852
Phone 325-344-5775
Originator of Tennessee Meat Goats
DISEASES OF GOATS: PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND MANAGEMENT
A major concern of responsible goat producers is the introduction of diseases onto their property. Prevention is of course the producer's desire, but realistically speaking, control and management are most likely to be goal.
Disease can enter the producer's farm or ranch from many sources. Introducing new animals is the usual avenue but definitely not the only way that illness finds its way into the herd.
1) Bringing new animals into the herd from offsite. Quarantine and handling procedures will be addressed in this article.
2) Offering stud service. This typically involves bringing other producers' does onto the property for service by an on-site buck.
3) Goat shows. A huge source of infection and illness, shows are like children's day-care centers -- incubators for disease.
4) Visitors. Infectious materials can enter on visitors' shoes, clothing, and hair; on the tires of their vehicles; in hay, water, tubs/buckets, feed and other supplies that visitors have brought with them.
5) Unclean conditions in pens and pastures.
6) Poor health management practices within the herd.
7) The producer's family members and pets.
Most producers are aware that they should quarantine new animals brought from outside the ranch property in order to protect their goats from whatever diseases the new animals might be carrying. However, the reverse is just as true: newly-introduced goats need to be protected from organisms present on the ranch to which they've never had their immune systems previously exposed. Recognize that these goats are on a new property in a changed environment and often in a much different climate from which they had been previously adapted for living. From the moment they left their previous homes, these new goats' immune systems are under constant assault.
Set up a pen and shelter sized to accommodate the producer's anticipated needs and locate it away from pens and pastures where healthy animals are regularly kept. The pen should be large enough to provide space for proper exercise and should have at least a three-sided shelter with roof to protect the new goats from bad weather. Nearby but not within this pen/shelter area, there should be several smaller gated pens and sheds where sick and/or contagious animals can be confined for observation and treatment. Place a shallow plastic cat-litter pan and a gallon of bleach outside each pen and require persons entering and exiting to wet the soles of their shoes in the bleach. The producer and all other persons handling these goats should consider using disposable gloves.
New and/or ill goats should be kept in appropriate parts of these "sick pens." Goats new to the ranch should be quarantined for a minimum of four weeks, during which time they should be dewormed, vaccinated, and otherwise examined, based upon the producer's management practices. If blood testing for specific diseases is part of the program, do it while the goats are in quarantine. If the tests come back positive and the new goats are already running with the main herd, exposure to disease has probably already occurred.
Offering breeding services on the ranch is an avenue for contamination. Before making a decision to offer such services, the producer should read this writer's Article entitled Pros and Cons of Offering Breeding Services on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com. A lot of decisions must be made and agreements put into writing before the first goat arrives on the servicing ranch.
Participating in goat shows is almost a no-win situation with regard to disease. The producer must take extraordinary precautions to protect both goats and human participants from exposure to contagious bacteria, viruses, and other organisms. Animals and people, both young and adult, present risks to all in attendance. Consult an experienced goat-show participant to find out what steps to take to protect you and your goats from taking "unwanted visitors" home with you. At the very minimum, sick goats and ill people should not attend shows and should not be allowed to participate. If they are, leave immediately. Don't even unload your animals. The health of your goats is much more important than a forfeited entry fee or a winning ribbon.
Visitors, relatives, children, pets, and even the producer can easily bring to the ranch infectious bacteria, viruses, and other organisms without ever realizing it. Using a shallow plastic cat-litter pan and a bottle of bleach, the producer should have all visitors step through the solution. This is the very minimum protective action that goat ranchers should take. If the producer knows that visitors or family members have had direct access to goats from outside the ranch, then those folks should be asked to change clothes and shoes before they enter your property. A visit by kids to the 4H barn is a good source of contamination -- a fact that probably never crosses peoples' minds.
Unclean/unsanitary pens, feed troughs, and water containers are excellent sources of infection -- worms and coccidia oocysts thrive in these environments. Flies carry disease from goat to goat. Less often recognized is the exposure to disease that occurs when infective birthing materials are left in pens/pastures for healthy goats to contact. Infected placentas left lying around after birthing are transmitters of abortion diseases such as chlamydiosis; many other diseases are spread through placental material and mucous secretions. Footrot/footscald is highly infectious and contaminated ground very efficiently spreads these diseases. Viral-borne diseases such as some types of Pinkeye at quickly passed around in crowded herds. Caprine Arthritic Encelphalitis (CAE) is a viral disease that is spread through body fluids and mother's milk. Cutting open and draining an active Caseous Lymphadinitis (CL) abscess and exposing the exudate (pus) to other goats and the ground upon which they walk is one of the main ways that CL is spread throughout a herd. Reusing contaminated needles, syringes, and scalpels is another easy way to transmit disease.
Raising quality goats requires planning and hard work. Doing the planning part in advance will cut down on the amount of hard work each producer faces daily.
How to select a healthy goat
by Patricia Stewart
Picking a healthy goat is very important whenever you are bringing a new goat home. There are some nasty diseases with no cures, and once they get established in your soil, there's nothing you can do but start over on a new piece of land. Start out by just observing behavior and general coat condition. A healthy goat should have clear eyes and nose, a shiny hair coat with no bald patches, and a twinkle in its eye. Bald patches may be a sign of a mite or lice infection, causing the goat to rub due to irritation.
If you are buying from a breeder, ask them if they test for CAE, Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis. This disease has been an issue for a long time in goats, and thankfully, conscientious goat farmers are finally taking it seriously. There are three blood tests, any of which will give you a heads up if there's a problem. Any possibly "positive," should be automatically checked with one of the other tests to verify. CAE shows up after awhile with stiff and swollen legs, awkward walking, sometimes a click from the knees of an infected goat. The udder is often hard and the animal's coat may be oily or scaly. If you are buying from a large farm, ask if they practice CAE prevention, which means the kids are bottle fed, never nursing off of mom. CAE is most commonly spread in the milk, but often doesn't show up as an illness for many months or years.
If you see any signs of swelling beneath the jaw or any oozing sores, do not buy that goat. Do not buy a goat from that farm, and wash your hands immediately. Caseous lymphadentitis, CL, is a highly contagious disease spread by discharge. The abcesses swell up in the lymph glands and as they pop, they spread the disease.
Always ask the seller what type of vaccinations they give. When was the last time the goat was wormed, and what kind of wormer was used. A healthy goat should not have visible ribs or backbone. It should have healthy pink eyelids and gums and manure that comes in pellets, individually. A goat that is passing runny or clumpy manure is not at its best. It may just be a rich diet or stress, or it may have a severe case of worms.
Keeping a goat healthy is really pretty easy. Good hay, adequate grain, fresh water and draft free home. But curing a sick goat is often impossible. I would not recommend ever buying from a sale barn, as those animals are exposed to many different germs under high stress conditions. This makes the more susceptible to bringing a problem home with them. Often times, the animals are taken to the sale barn because they are sick, or old, and the owner can't, or doesn't want to invest in healing them.
It's a good idea to keep any new goat in isolation from the existing herd, for at least two weeks. Usually, if something is "brewing" that is enough time to see how the animal does, without endangering the rest of the herd. But remember, goats are herd animals, so if possible, buy two new ones, at least, so they can keep each other company during the quarantine. They'll be much hardier and happier that way.
Introduction to a Meat Goat Quality Assurance Program
and HACCP Roger Merkel
Langston University
Biosecurity PPP #1 - Establish a biosecurity plan for your farm
Consider your production operation and devise a plan to ensure your animals are protected from diseases entering your herd. Potential ways in which diseases could enter your farm include: visitors, feed deliveries, new animal acquisition, and show animals returning to the herd, stray animals, rodents, birds, and others. The potential risk from these various areas should be examined in the context of your production situation. Plans should be made to protect animals from identified risks and to deal with animals that become ill so that diseases occurring on your farm are not transmitted beyond your farm gate.
Biosecurity PPP #2 - Minimize or avoid contact between your animals and animals not on your farm
Many diseases are transmitted through animal to animal contact. Avoiding contact with animals not on your farm will reduce disease outbreaks. Consider the location of pastures and grazing areas in relation to your neighbors’ animals. If new facilities are planned, consider the location of neighboring livestock barns and pens. Do not build facilities in or near drainage areas from livestock facilities. If your animals are very valuable, for example breeding males whose semen is collected for sale; consider double fencing along adjoining property lines to further protect them from neighboring animals. At exhibitions, house animals using solid partitions to minimize contact. Control stray animals, both domestic and wild. Maintain quarantine procedures. Do not haul other animals with your own and clean mud and manure from livestock trailers.
Biosecurity PPP #3 - Establish a quarantine protocol for animals entering your herd
Preventing diseases entering your herd from new animals begins during purchase. Be sure to ask the seller for health and production records on animals you plan to buy. Ask about the disease or herd health program followed. Also, look at the whole herd, not just the few animals you plan to purchase. This will give an indication of the health program followed. Upon arrival at your farm, place new animals in quarantine for a minimum of 30 days. Consult a veterinarian for a quarantine vaccination and deworming protocol and any diagnostic tests that should be performed. Buckets, shovels, fencing, etc., used in the quarantine area should not be moved and used in the general herd. Feed and care for quarantined animals last and do not re-enter your herd before changing clothing and washing boots to prevent carrying diseases from new animals to your herd. As an example, if a quarantined animal has a caseous lymphadenitis abscess that bursts, a person may inadvertently step in the pus from that abscess and carry that on his or her boots. If that person then reenters the farm herd, he may contaminate the ground or other animals.
Quarantine animals upon return from exhibitions or fairs if they have had contact with other animals. Follow the same quarantine guidelines for these animals as with purchased animals. Do not haul animals other than your own to and from shows.
Biosecurity PPP #4 - Establish a protocol for visitors to your farm
Many visitors to your farm will likely be producers themselves. To ensure that diseases are kept from entering your farm area, establish a protocol for any visitors and their vehicles. Control traffic entering your farm and have a separate parking area or ensure that vehicles are clean of mud and manure. This includes livestock trailers, feed delivery trucks, and veterinary vehicles. Consider having disposable boots available for visitors who wish to tour your facilities and herd. Alternatively, have a footbath with disinfectant where visitors can clean their shoes before and after seeing your animals. Have a wash basin or facility for visitors to wash their hands before and after handling animals. Explain that your procedures protect not only your herd, but theirs as well.
Biosecurity PPP #5 - Do not allow persons who have had contact with livestock in foreign countries on your farm, or bring clothing or other items from them to your farm, for a period of 5 days after their arrival in the U.S.
Largely in response to outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in other countries, the USDA published guidelines for persons from, or who have traveled to, foreign countries where FMD is present. These persons are encouraged not to have contact with livestock for 5 days after entering the U.S. Some states or institutions, such as Langston University, recommend a 10-day waiting period. The virus causing FMD can be carried in hair and nasal passages, clothing, luggage, shoes, etc. Following this PPP helps safeguard the entire U.S. livestock industry. Outbreaks of FMD, while not a threat to humans, result in the necessary destruction of all infected and potentially infected animals with enormous industry and economic consequences.
Preventing or minimizing contact between foreign travelers and your herd for the period after their arrival may also prevent the spread of other diseases as well.
Lohn, TX 76852
Phone 325-344-5775
Originator of Tennessee Meat Goats
DISEASES OF GOATS: PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND MANAGEMENT
A major concern of responsible goat producers is the introduction of diseases onto their property. Prevention is of course the producer's desire, but realistically speaking, control and management are most likely to be goal.
Disease can enter the producer's farm or ranch from many sources. Introducing new animals is the usual avenue but definitely not the only way that illness finds its way into the herd.
1) Bringing new animals into the herd from offsite. Quarantine and handling procedures will be addressed in this article.
2) Offering stud service. This typically involves bringing other producers' does onto the property for service by an on-site buck.
3) Goat shows. A huge source of infection and illness, shows are like children's day-care centers -- incubators for disease.
4) Visitors. Infectious materials can enter on visitors' shoes, clothing, and hair; on the tires of their vehicles; in hay, water, tubs/buckets, feed and other supplies that visitors have brought with them.
5) Unclean conditions in pens and pastures.
6) Poor health management practices within the herd.
7) The producer's family members and pets.
Most producers are aware that they should quarantine new animals brought from outside the ranch property in order to protect their goats from whatever diseases the new animals might be carrying. However, the reverse is just as true: newly-introduced goats need to be protected from organisms present on the ranch to which they've never had their immune systems previously exposed. Recognize that these goats are on a new property in a changed environment and often in a much different climate from which they had been previously adapted for living. From the moment they left their previous homes, these new goats' immune systems are under constant assault.
Set up a pen and shelter sized to accommodate the producer's anticipated needs and locate it away from pens and pastures where healthy animals are regularly kept. The pen should be large enough to provide space for proper exercise and should have at least a three-sided shelter with roof to protect the new goats from bad weather. Nearby but not within this pen/shelter area, there should be several smaller gated pens and sheds where sick and/or contagious animals can be confined for observation and treatment. Place a shallow plastic cat-litter pan and a gallon of bleach outside each pen and require persons entering and exiting to wet the soles of their shoes in the bleach. The producer and all other persons handling these goats should consider using disposable gloves.
New and/or ill goats should be kept in appropriate parts of these "sick pens." Goats new to the ranch should be quarantined for a minimum of four weeks, during which time they should be dewormed, vaccinated, and otherwise examined, based upon the producer's management practices. If blood testing for specific diseases is part of the program, do it while the goats are in quarantine. If the tests come back positive and the new goats are already running with the main herd, exposure to disease has probably already occurred.
Offering breeding services on the ranch is an avenue for contamination. Before making a decision to offer such services, the producer should read this writer's Article entitled Pros and Cons of Offering Breeding Services on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com. A lot of decisions must be made and agreements put into writing before the first goat arrives on the servicing ranch.
Participating in goat shows is almost a no-win situation with regard to disease. The producer must take extraordinary precautions to protect both goats and human participants from exposure to contagious bacteria, viruses, and other organisms. Animals and people, both young and adult, present risks to all in attendance. Consult an experienced goat-show participant to find out what steps to take to protect you and your goats from taking "unwanted visitors" home with you. At the very minimum, sick goats and ill people should not attend shows and should not be allowed to participate. If they are, leave immediately. Don't even unload your animals. The health of your goats is much more important than a forfeited entry fee or a winning ribbon.
Visitors, relatives, children, pets, and even the producer can easily bring to the ranch infectious bacteria, viruses, and other organisms without ever realizing it. Using a shallow plastic cat-litter pan and a bottle of bleach, the producer should have all visitors step through the solution. This is the very minimum protective action that goat ranchers should take. If the producer knows that visitors or family members have had direct access to goats from outside the ranch, then those folks should be asked to change clothes and shoes before they enter your property. A visit by kids to the 4H barn is a good source of contamination -- a fact that probably never crosses peoples' minds.
Unclean/unsanitary pens, feed troughs, and water containers are excellent sources of infection -- worms and coccidia oocysts thrive in these environments. Flies carry disease from goat to goat. Less often recognized is the exposure to disease that occurs when infective birthing materials are left in pens/pastures for healthy goats to contact. Infected placentas left lying around after birthing are transmitters of abortion diseases such as chlamydiosis; many other diseases are spread through placental material and mucous secretions. Footrot/footscald is highly infectious and contaminated ground very efficiently spreads these diseases. Viral-borne diseases such as some types of Pinkeye at quickly passed around in crowded herds. Caprine Arthritic Encelphalitis (CAE) is a viral disease that is spread through body fluids and mother's milk. Cutting open and draining an active Caseous Lymphadinitis (CL) abscess and exposing the exudate (pus) to other goats and the ground upon which they walk is one of the main ways that CL is spread throughout a herd. Reusing contaminated needles, syringes, and scalpels is another easy way to transmit disease.
Raising quality goats requires planning and hard work. Doing the planning part in advance will cut down on the amount of hard work each producer faces daily.
How to select a healthy goat
by Patricia Stewart
Picking a healthy goat is very important whenever you are bringing a new goat home. There are some nasty diseases with no cures, and once they get established in your soil, there's nothing you can do but start over on a new piece of land. Start out by just observing behavior and general coat condition. A healthy goat should have clear eyes and nose, a shiny hair coat with no bald patches, and a twinkle in its eye. Bald patches may be a sign of a mite or lice infection, causing the goat to rub due to irritation.
If you are buying from a breeder, ask them if they test for CAE, Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis. This disease has been an issue for a long time in goats, and thankfully, conscientious goat farmers are finally taking it seriously. There are three blood tests, any of which will give you a heads up if there's a problem. Any possibly "positive," should be automatically checked with one of the other tests to verify. CAE shows up after awhile with stiff and swollen legs, awkward walking, sometimes a click from the knees of an infected goat. The udder is often hard and the animal's coat may be oily or scaly. If you are buying from a large farm, ask if they practice CAE prevention, which means the kids are bottle fed, never nursing off of mom. CAE is most commonly spread in the milk, but often doesn't show up as an illness for many months or years.
If you see any signs of swelling beneath the jaw or any oozing sores, do not buy that goat. Do not buy a goat from that farm, and wash your hands immediately. Caseous lymphadentitis, CL, is a highly contagious disease spread by discharge. The abcesses swell up in the lymph glands and as they pop, they spread the disease.
Always ask the seller what type of vaccinations they give. When was the last time the goat was wormed, and what kind of wormer was used. A healthy goat should not have visible ribs or backbone. It should have healthy pink eyelids and gums and manure that comes in pellets, individually. A goat that is passing runny or clumpy manure is not at its best. It may just be a rich diet or stress, or it may have a severe case of worms.
Keeping a goat healthy is really pretty easy. Good hay, adequate grain, fresh water and draft free home. But curing a sick goat is often impossible. I would not recommend ever buying from a sale barn, as those animals are exposed to many different germs under high stress conditions. This makes the more susceptible to bringing a problem home with them. Often times, the animals are taken to the sale barn because they are sick, or old, and the owner can't, or doesn't want to invest in healing them.
It's a good idea to keep any new goat in isolation from the existing herd, for at least two weeks. Usually, if something is "brewing" that is enough time to see how the animal does, without endangering the rest of the herd. But remember, goats are herd animals, so if possible, buy two new ones, at least, so they can keep each other company during the quarantine. They'll be much hardier and happier that way.
Introduction to a Meat Goat Quality Assurance Program
and HACCP Roger Merkel
Langston University
Biosecurity PPP #1 - Establish a biosecurity plan for your farm
Consider your production operation and devise a plan to ensure your animals are protected from diseases entering your herd. Potential ways in which diseases could enter your farm include: visitors, feed deliveries, new animal acquisition, and show animals returning to the herd, stray animals, rodents, birds, and others. The potential risk from these various areas should be examined in the context of your production situation. Plans should be made to protect animals from identified risks and to deal with animals that become ill so that diseases occurring on your farm are not transmitted beyond your farm gate.
Biosecurity PPP #2 - Minimize or avoid contact between your animals and animals not on your farm
Many diseases are transmitted through animal to animal contact. Avoiding contact with animals not on your farm will reduce disease outbreaks. Consider the location of pastures and grazing areas in relation to your neighbors’ animals. If new facilities are planned, consider the location of neighboring livestock barns and pens. Do not build facilities in or near drainage areas from livestock facilities. If your animals are very valuable, for example breeding males whose semen is collected for sale; consider double fencing along adjoining property lines to further protect them from neighboring animals. At exhibitions, house animals using solid partitions to minimize contact. Control stray animals, both domestic and wild. Maintain quarantine procedures. Do not haul other animals with your own and clean mud and manure from livestock trailers.
Biosecurity PPP #3 - Establish a quarantine protocol for animals entering your herd
Preventing diseases entering your herd from new animals begins during purchase. Be sure to ask the seller for health and production records on animals you plan to buy. Ask about the disease or herd health program followed. Also, look at the whole herd, not just the few animals you plan to purchase. This will give an indication of the health program followed. Upon arrival at your farm, place new animals in quarantine for a minimum of 30 days. Consult a veterinarian for a quarantine vaccination and deworming protocol and any diagnostic tests that should be performed. Buckets, shovels, fencing, etc., used in the quarantine area should not be moved and used in the general herd. Feed and care for quarantined animals last and do not re-enter your herd before changing clothing and washing boots to prevent carrying diseases from new animals to your herd. As an example, if a quarantined animal has a caseous lymphadenitis abscess that bursts, a person may inadvertently step in the pus from that abscess and carry that on his or her boots. If that person then reenters the farm herd, he may contaminate the ground or other animals.
Quarantine animals upon return from exhibitions or fairs if they have had contact with other animals. Follow the same quarantine guidelines for these animals as with purchased animals. Do not haul animals other than your own to and from shows.
Biosecurity PPP #4 - Establish a protocol for visitors to your farm
Many visitors to your farm will likely be producers themselves. To ensure that diseases are kept from entering your farm area, establish a protocol for any visitors and their vehicles. Control traffic entering your farm and have a separate parking area or ensure that vehicles are clean of mud and manure. This includes livestock trailers, feed delivery trucks, and veterinary vehicles. Consider having disposable boots available for visitors who wish to tour your facilities and herd. Alternatively, have a footbath with disinfectant where visitors can clean their shoes before and after seeing your animals. Have a wash basin or facility for visitors to wash their hands before and after handling animals. Explain that your procedures protect not only your herd, but theirs as well.
Biosecurity PPP #5 - Do not allow persons who have had contact with livestock in foreign countries on your farm, or bring clothing or other items from them to your farm, for a period of 5 days after their arrival in the U.S.
Largely in response to outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in other countries, the USDA published guidelines for persons from, or who have traveled to, foreign countries where FMD is present. These persons are encouraged not to have contact with livestock for 5 days after entering the U.S. Some states or institutions, such as Langston University, recommend a 10-day waiting period. The virus causing FMD can be carried in hair and nasal passages, clothing, luggage, shoes, etc. Following this PPP helps safeguard the entire U.S. livestock industry. Outbreaks of FMD, while not a threat to humans, result in the necessary destruction of all infected and potentially infected animals with enormous industry and economic consequences.
Preventing or minimizing contact between foreign travelers and your herd for the period after their arrival may also prevent the spread of other diseases as well.
18.12.09
Cashmere Processing and Harvesting Procedures
The Need to Understand Cashmere Processing and Harvesting Procedures
Mickey Nielsen, Liberty Farm Cashmere 2009
This article must be reproduced in its entirety and the name and contact information must be included at the beginning of any reprint. americancashmere@aol.com
Understanding Processing
Before you harvest your cashmere it is important to understand the mechanical processing of cashmere. Because the Cashmere goat has a dual coat (guard hair and down) it must be placed through a separator/dehairer. This separator/dehairer works by centrifugal force. As it spins around the heavier weight guard hair is thrown down to the under bins and the lighter cashmere fiber continues to travel to the end of the processer. When the guard hair is too long and fine it holds tight to the spinning drums and is not thrown down. Then the processing must stop to clean all the long guard hair from the drums as no other fiber can be processed until it is removed. This causes time loss and added cost to you the client. At times the guard hair cannot be completely removed; if it is too long or too fine then processing has to stop.
The scoured cashmere is placed through the separator a minimum of five times and it takes a minimum of six hours for each pound of cashmere.
What causes your fleece to travel through that separator more than the minimum is what you need to know about. Because the more times your fleece has to go through the separator the more potential damage happens to your delicate cashmere. You as the breeder/producer can control the quality of your cashmere product with some understanding and a few extra steps at harvest time.
The list of quality inhibitors looks like this;
too much guard hair, too long of guard hair, too fine of guard hair, matted down, short down, inconsistent length of down, weathered tips, vegetation contamination, and mixed grades.
Too much guard hair; this can be something that you need to correct in your breeding. As in some goats have high density of down and some have low density of down in relation to the guard hair. If you want to improve your yield improve your density first. The other reason you may have too much guard hair is the failure to skirt your shorn fleece before sending it into the processor. Many cashmere goats have excessive guard hair on the breech area. Taking a close look at this area before including it in your line can improving your product.
Too long of guard hair; this too can be changed with your breeding program. Any guard hair more than an inch longer than the down is too much. This can also be changed in the shearing shed by doing a double shear. Double shear means cutting off all the excessively long guard hair before you shear off the complete fleece. Skirting your fleece after you shear to eliminate the long guard hair is another option, but this is very time consuming and for most producers it just doesn’t happen. This is done by spreading the fleece out and pulling all the long guard hairs out of the shorn fleece.
Too fine of guard hair; can only be corrected through breeding. This is a really nasty problem to deal with because the dehairer cannot remove guard hair that is of the same micron as your down. You want the guard hair to be two to three times the micron of down. The dehairer also can not remove kemp (hollow cored hair).
Matted down; it is important to shear your cashmere goats before they start to shed, once they start to shed the down becomes trapped in the guard hair and if not removed quickly it becomes matted. If you cannot easily pull the mats apart with your fingers the separator cannot dehair it. Do not include these kinds of mats in your line.
Short down; is generally a breeding problem and needs to be corrected there. If you have goats with short down (less than 1.25 inch) it may be best to comb the down out as this does not cause any loss of length as shearing does. Short down will be kicked out of the separator with the guard hair.
Inconsistent length of down; is a breeding issue and a skirting issue. If you have a goat with major inconsistent lengths of down, separate out the areas of different lengths into different lines. Consistency is very important to look at when considering a goat for breeding.
Weathered Tips; is caused when guard hair does not cover the down. This must be taken into account when measuring the length of the fiber, and placing it into a processing line as these tips will become noils and may cause processing problems.
Vegetation contamination; “Being frugal and keeping 'every little bit' is not a benefit. It is like adding moldy strawberries into your fruit salad.” Diana Blair, Going to The Sun Fiber Mill.
Some parts of the fleece you just have to throw away because of the vegetation. If you don’t take it out at harvest time it will contaminate the whole clip.
Mixed grades; can ruin your end product. Educate yourself to detect fine from coarse fiber. Know what cashmere is and what cashgora is.
The first year clip is actually the hardest to dehair. The micron count between the guard hair and down is almost the same, plus the down tips are what the goat was born with and has very poor tencel strength, thus causing breakage and noiling. Some producers shear off the baby fleece in June for this reason.
Keep the baby fiber out of your other fiber
The Harvest
Plan to harvest on days that are dry and your goats are dry. A fleece that is wet or damp from snow or rain is very difficult to harvest and does not store well. Depending on where you live you may have to shut them up for a day or two to keep them dry before harvesting.
It is recommended that you shear your goats from youngest to oldest and white to dark. This helps to ensure two things. Shearing your younger goats first helps avoid accidently spreading any illness or disease that your older goats may have. White to dark fiber keeps your white line of fiber pure from dark hairs. Do not plan to trim hoofs at the same time as shearing, this can cause those trimmed hoof parts to get caught up in the shorn fleece. Processers hate this as it is hard on their equipment.
Tools and Equipment
Shearing: Cashmere goats are typically shown in the standing position.
You will need a stanchion or a head-bail to secure your goats in while shearing, quality power shears, new teeth and cutting blade for every 10 goats, shear oil, blade lubricant and blade cleaner. Individual marked bags for each fleece or grade lines, a garbage bin, broom, power outlet, and good lighting.
Combing: All the above apply except the power shears. Although a smaller grooming clipper set is nice to have on hand to tidy up the rear end. Double coated dog combs or rakes work well for combing cashmere goats. Find one with a nice comfortable grip that fits your hand well. You don’t want the rake to wide as they can be hard to work with.
Draft; your goats into handling pens noticing which goats look like their coats are lifting. These goats are the goats you want to harvest first. Draft them into pens according to age, sex, and color. Work from youngest to oldest, lightest to darkest. This is a great time to also get a good look at the condition of your goats and to give any needed boosters or parasite control.
Consider how long your goats will be penned up and if they require shade, food and water. Also notice the conditions you will be working in and what your requirements will be.
Sample the Fleece; once the goat is in the stanchion in three to five spots to compare uniformity and fineness grade. Also take note of vegetation in fleece and long guardhair. Decide what needs to be removed from the clip and if the clip needs to be sorted into different grades.
Recording the correct fleece weight harvested for each goat is important for clip improvement in the future. Record the method of harvest, uniformity, fineness, weight, color and any other trait that you desire. It is important to keep records on your harvest so you can keep improving your clip. Have each goat’s records and record all information gathered.
Skirting; the fleece can happen while you shear or after you shear. Skirting must be done while you comb as trying to remove lesser quality fiber after you comb is more difficult.
To skirt while you shear, decide which areas of the fleece you will not be keeping in the clip and toss these areas aside as you shear. You will not keep areas that have heavy vegetation (top line or neck), shorter than 1 ¼ inches, heavy stains, excessive guard hair to down ratio, matted or dung filled fiber.
If the fleece has more than one color, fineness grade or one inch difference in length from neck to breech; separate these areas into different lines.
Summary
The more understanding you can gain about the processing of animal fibers, the different pitfalls to avoid in your clip, and a better idea of what your animals produce the greater chance you have of producing quality cashmere products with less waste of your time and effort.
The need to place your fiber into as few of grade lines as possible and the need for a quality end produce have to be balanced. This is why consistency in your herd is important. You are charged for processing a minimum of one pound for each grade line.
There is much to learn about your cashmere goats and the process of producing quality cashmere products. Don’t give up, just keep learning. Ask your processer what you can do to improve your clip for next year. All of this will help to ensure a quality return product in the end.
Mickey Nielsen, Liberty Farm Cashmere 2009
This article must be reproduced in its entirety and the name and contact information must be included at the beginning of any reprint. americancashmere@aol.com
Understanding Processing
Before you harvest your cashmere it is important to understand the mechanical processing of cashmere. Because the Cashmere goat has a dual coat (guard hair and down) it must be placed through a separator/dehairer. This separator/dehairer works by centrifugal force. As it spins around the heavier weight guard hair is thrown down to the under bins and the lighter cashmere fiber continues to travel to the end of the processer. When the guard hair is too long and fine it holds tight to the spinning drums and is not thrown down. Then the processing must stop to clean all the long guard hair from the drums as no other fiber can be processed until it is removed. This causes time loss and added cost to you the client. At times the guard hair cannot be completely removed; if it is too long or too fine then processing has to stop.
The scoured cashmere is placed through the separator a minimum of five times and it takes a minimum of six hours for each pound of cashmere.
What causes your fleece to travel through that separator more than the minimum is what you need to know about. Because the more times your fleece has to go through the separator the more potential damage happens to your delicate cashmere. You as the breeder/producer can control the quality of your cashmere product with some understanding and a few extra steps at harvest time.
The list of quality inhibitors looks like this;
too much guard hair, too long of guard hair, too fine of guard hair, matted down, short down, inconsistent length of down, weathered tips, vegetation contamination, and mixed grades.
Too much guard hair; this can be something that you need to correct in your breeding. As in some goats have high density of down and some have low density of down in relation to the guard hair. If you want to improve your yield improve your density first. The other reason you may have too much guard hair is the failure to skirt your shorn fleece before sending it into the processor. Many cashmere goats have excessive guard hair on the breech area. Taking a close look at this area before including it in your line can improving your product.
Too long of guard hair; this too can be changed with your breeding program. Any guard hair more than an inch longer than the down is too much. This can also be changed in the shearing shed by doing a double shear. Double shear means cutting off all the excessively long guard hair before you shear off the complete fleece. Skirting your fleece after you shear to eliminate the long guard hair is another option, but this is very time consuming and for most producers it just doesn’t happen. This is done by spreading the fleece out and pulling all the long guard hairs out of the shorn fleece.
Too fine of guard hair; can only be corrected through breeding. This is a really nasty problem to deal with because the dehairer cannot remove guard hair that is of the same micron as your down. You want the guard hair to be two to three times the micron of down. The dehairer also can not remove kemp (hollow cored hair).
Matted down; it is important to shear your cashmere goats before they start to shed, once they start to shed the down becomes trapped in the guard hair and if not removed quickly it becomes matted. If you cannot easily pull the mats apart with your fingers the separator cannot dehair it. Do not include these kinds of mats in your line.
Short down; is generally a breeding problem and needs to be corrected there. If you have goats with short down (less than 1.25 inch) it may be best to comb the down out as this does not cause any loss of length as shearing does. Short down will be kicked out of the separator with the guard hair.
Inconsistent length of down; is a breeding issue and a skirting issue. If you have a goat with major inconsistent lengths of down, separate out the areas of different lengths into different lines. Consistency is very important to look at when considering a goat for breeding.
Weathered Tips; is caused when guard hair does not cover the down. This must be taken into account when measuring the length of the fiber, and placing it into a processing line as these tips will become noils and may cause processing problems.
Vegetation contamination; “Being frugal and keeping 'every little bit' is not a benefit. It is like adding moldy strawberries into your fruit salad.” Diana Blair, Going to The Sun Fiber Mill.
Some parts of the fleece you just have to throw away because of the vegetation. If you don’t take it out at harvest time it will contaminate the whole clip.
Mixed grades; can ruin your end product. Educate yourself to detect fine from coarse fiber. Know what cashmere is and what cashgora is.
The first year clip is actually the hardest to dehair. The micron count between the guard hair and down is almost the same, plus the down tips are what the goat was born with and has very poor tencel strength, thus causing breakage and noiling. Some producers shear off the baby fleece in June for this reason.
Keep the baby fiber out of your other fiber
The Harvest
Plan to harvest on days that are dry and your goats are dry. A fleece that is wet or damp from snow or rain is very difficult to harvest and does not store well. Depending on where you live you may have to shut them up for a day or two to keep them dry before harvesting.
It is recommended that you shear your goats from youngest to oldest and white to dark. This helps to ensure two things. Shearing your younger goats first helps avoid accidently spreading any illness or disease that your older goats may have. White to dark fiber keeps your white line of fiber pure from dark hairs. Do not plan to trim hoofs at the same time as shearing, this can cause those trimmed hoof parts to get caught up in the shorn fleece. Processers hate this as it is hard on their equipment.
Tools and Equipment
Shearing: Cashmere goats are typically shown in the standing position.
You will need a stanchion or a head-bail to secure your goats in while shearing, quality power shears, new teeth and cutting blade for every 10 goats, shear oil, blade lubricant and blade cleaner. Individual marked bags for each fleece or grade lines, a garbage bin, broom, power outlet, and good lighting.
Combing: All the above apply except the power shears. Although a smaller grooming clipper set is nice to have on hand to tidy up the rear end. Double coated dog combs or rakes work well for combing cashmere goats. Find one with a nice comfortable grip that fits your hand well. You don’t want the rake to wide as they can be hard to work with.
Draft; your goats into handling pens noticing which goats look like their coats are lifting. These goats are the goats you want to harvest first. Draft them into pens according to age, sex, and color. Work from youngest to oldest, lightest to darkest. This is a great time to also get a good look at the condition of your goats and to give any needed boosters or parasite control.
Consider how long your goats will be penned up and if they require shade, food and water. Also notice the conditions you will be working in and what your requirements will be.
Sample the Fleece; once the goat is in the stanchion in three to five spots to compare uniformity and fineness grade. Also take note of vegetation in fleece and long guardhair. Decide what needs to be removed from the clip and if the clip needs to be sorted into different grades.
Recording the correct fleece weight harvested for each goat is important for clip improvement in the future. Record the method of harvest, uniformity, fineness, weight, color and any other trait that you desire. It is important to keep records on your harvest so you can keep improving your clip. Have each goat’s records and record all information gathered.
Skirting; the fleece can happen while you shear or after you shear. Skirting must be done while you comb as trying to remove lesser quality fiber after you comb is more difficult.
To skirt while you shear, decide which areas of the fleece you will not be keeping in the clip and toss these areas aside as you shear. You will not keep areas that have heavy vegetation (top line or neck), shorter than 1 ¼ inches, heavy stains, excessive guard hair to down ratio, matted or dung filled fiber.
If the fleece has more than one color, fineness grade or one inch difference in length from neck to breech; separate these areas into different lines.
Summary
The more understanding you can gain about the processing of animal fibers, the different pitfalls to avoid in your clip, and a better idea of what your animals produce the greater chance you have of producing quality cashmere products with less waste of your time and effort.
The need to place your fiber into as few of grade lines as possible and the need for a quality end produce have to be balanced. This is why consistency in your herd is important. You are charged for processing a minimum of one pound for each grade line.
There is much to learn about your cashmere goats and the process of producing quality cashmere products. Don’t give up, just keep learning. Ask your processer what you can do to improve your clip for next year. All of this will help to ensure a quality return product in the end.
8.6.09
HERD MANAGEMENT
CULLING IN A MEAT-GOAT HERD
Suzanne W. Gasparotto
HC 70 Box 70
Lohn, TX 76852
Phone 325/344-5775
Originators of Tennessee Meat Goats
"Healthy," "hardy," and "adaptable" are adjectives that must be descriptive of goats in a meat-goat herd. Unlike humans, there are no EMS services, doctors, or hospitals "on call" for the weak and infirm; if not culled, they will spread illness and attract predators to the herd. Each goat must function at its optimum every day of its life in order to survive, thrive, and not be a risk to the rest of the herd.
How does a producer decide who and when to cull? The following list is in no particular order and may leave something out that is important to your unique situation. Conditions and needs vary from location to location. Some of these categories overlap.
1) Age and Sex. Pasture/forage-raised meat goats tend to *peak* at six to seven years of age. An udder on breeding does begin to show wear and tear from briars/bushes and from nursing multiple kids. Males usually have shorter life spans than females. A six-year-old male goat is middle aged; his teeth are beginning to wear down and he finds it more difficult to feed himself on forage. The rougher the conditions, the younger they should be culled.
2) Hooves and Legs. Goats must be able to travel over much territory daily as they forage/browse and keep up with the herd. Staying with the herd means protection from predators. Bad hooves make this impossible. "Bad" hooves include overgrown feet and claws that are too soft. Goats with weak pasterns (the part of the leg above the hoof's fetlocks) will not be able to survive on forage. Weak pasterns may be attributable to White Muscle Disease and can sometimes be remedied by giving injections of selenium and vitamin E (BoSe).
3) Udders and teats. Pendulous udders and bulbous teats are difficult for newborns to grasp and nurse. Multiple pregnancies resulting in litters of kids are very hard on pliable udder and teat tissues. Udders that are sagging and/or have poor attachment to the body are prone to injury as the goat walks over varying kinds of terrain daily. Mastitis (infected udder) is usually incurable and recurs with subsequent kiddings (chronic), making it a cull factor. A doe with a damaged or torn udder should be culled.
4) Teeth and Mouth. Goats have all four sets of permanent teeth usually by four years of age. After that, teeth begin to buck outward, spread, and wear down from years of grasping and tearing plant materials. A goat with worn-down teeth can't feed itself and will starve to death. An overbite or under bite prevents the goat from properly grasping and efficiently grinding its food because its teeth are out of alignment.
5) Body Conformation. Pelvic structure is important for does to kid easily. Hips that are too narrow make for difficult delivery of kids. A large body barrel is important for carrying multiple fetuses. In both females and males, a sizeable rumen is a sign of a good digestive factory. (A goat with a big rumen is not a fat goat.) A doe that has problems kidding over and over again should be culled.
6) Non-Breeders. Both males and females who do not breed on a recurring basis should be culled. This obviously includes hermaphrodites (goats with both male and female genitalia).
7) Poor Mothering Instincts. Does that are not interested in nursing their kids don't belong in a meat-goat herd. Sometimes bottle babies who grow up to become mothers exhibit this behavior, never having been dam-raised themselves. This is just one more reason to never have bottle babies.
8) Low or No Milk Output. Occasionally a doe kids and has no milk. Sometimes the problem is nutritional. Some diseases (Caseous Lymphadenitis, Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis, mastitis, abortion diseases) reduce milk production. If the producer determines that the doe is genetically a poor milker, cull her.
9) Recurring Kidding Problems. A doe that consistently needs assistance in kidding should not be kept in the herd. The producer will lose production when does on pasture produce weak or dead kids or they die in childbirth.
10) Abortion Diseases. Each producer must decide how to handle abortion diseases in the herd. Since goats are the poor step-children of the livestock industry, many illnesses/diseases have not been well researched and medications have not be developed specifically for goats. Producers must either use off-label products or nothing at all. Many abortion diseases fall into this category. Oxytetracycline 200 mg/mL is the drug of choice in most cases. The producer may consider the costs, both in time and money, to be prohibitive and instead choose to cull the does affected. Because the various abortion diseases which affect goats are transmitted in so many different ways over which the producer has little to no control, this writer does not believe that severe culling will resolve this problem long-term. Such constant turnover presents its own risks -- the producer will cull some does that possess desirable characteristics and will further risk the introduction of new diseases via new goats into the herd . Aggressively addressing the issue with medicines and improved hygiene should result in a herd of does with improved resistance to the organisms. Example: Preventatively injecting pregnant does with Oxytetracycline 200 mg/mL every 40 days from breeding until birthing and efficiently and properly disposing of infected placental materials are essential steps towards reducing abortions..
11) Internal Parasites. Maintain records so that parasite-tolerant goats can be retained and wormy and coccidiosis-prone goats can be identified for culling. (There is no such thing as a parasite-resistant breed of goats.) Parasite-tolerance means that the goat can tolerate a certain level of internal parasites and still function effectively. Assuming that the goats are not overcrowded and pastures are rotated every three weeks (the life cycle of a stomach worm), parasite-tolerance is a trait that can be passed from generation to generation (heritable trait). Depending upon dewormers and coccidiosis medications to control internal parasites will not result in a parasite-tolerant herd. Instead, the producer will have a herd of goats whose internal parasites have developed immunity all classes of dewormers.
12) Unthrifty. Goats that do not maintain body weight/conformation and are always too thin should be checked for internal parasites. (A goat with visible ribs is too thin. A thin layer of subcutaneous fat should cover the ribs.) Sometimes these goats are heavily infested with worms or coccidia oocysts or might have Johnes Disease. If unthrifty goats cannot be turned around quickly, cull them.
13) Slow Growers. Some producers cull because they consider the growth/weight gain rates to be sub-par. A variety of factors unrelated to the breed or cross-breed can affect growth rates: worms, coccidiosis, inadequate nutrition (overcrowding leading to lack of forage/browse), and un-identified chronic illness to name a few. Inexperienced producers may incorrectly conclude that the goats need to eat more grain concentrates for faster weight gain. Not true. A goat can only process so much feed into muscle and bone; the rest goes to deposit fat and exit the body via waste materials..
Some breeds are historically known as slower growers than others. This writer does not view this condition as a drawback. There are many different markets for varying live weights of slaughter goats and the demand so much exceeds the supply that the meat-goat producer should be able to sell his production without difficulty. The keys to profit are to know your market, breed for your market, and keep input in the form of feed, labor, and medication to the minimum.
14) Disease Tolerant. There are some goats that are simply not healthy animals. For a variety of reasons, their immune systems can't handle the stresses that goats encounter daily. For some reason -- sometimes never discovered -- they are illness prone. Give such a goat a chance to get well and adapt; if it can't, cull it. It is a threat to the rest of the herd.
15) Culling for Incurable Diseases: Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL), Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis (CAE), Johnes Disease.
CL is manageable in meat-goat herds. See this author's article on Managing CL with Formalin on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com. Colorado Serum will soon have a CL vaccine for goats. Remember that goats must be negative for CL for it to work. If a goat has multiple CL abscesses, it should be culled; that goat probably got a very large dose of the bacteria and will be a recurring problem.
CAE usually isn't a problem in meat-goat herds, because animals destined for slaughter generally don't live long enough to display full-blown symptoms.
Johnes Disease -- a chronic wasting disease -- is hard to diagnose and is thankfully apparently not wide spread in meat-goat herds. When all else is ruled out, test for Johnes. If contagious Johnes (yoh-knees) is in the herd, the producer has a serious herd-wide problem and needs to cull heavily and immediately.
16) Number of Offspring Born. Some producers cull for single births. Many first-time mothers have singles -- particularly when they are young. It is God's way of protecting their young bodies from too much demand on them. Give the doe a second chance.
This writer finds triplets and quadruplets to be less desirable than singles and twins. Most does struggle to feed three or four kids. Bottle babies are cost- and time-inefficient for meat-goat producers. Twins are the ideal. Studies have revealed that twins bring the most money to the bottom line.
17) Non-pigmented Hairless Skin. If the producer lives in climatic conditions where the sun's rays are very strong, pink skin is prone to melanoma (skin cancer) -- particularly on tail webs. Unless caught very early, skin cancer is impossible to remove. Sometimes it is not cost effective to remove regardless of when discovered.
18) Guard Hair. In very cold climates, guard hair is essential to keep the body warm.
19) Overly Aggressive/Difficult "Keepers." Bucks and does that are overly aggressive are dangerous animals. All goats need a certain level of aggressiveness in order to survive. Outright mean goats will injure or kill other goats in the herd and should be culled. Goats that repeatedly jump fences and gates make the producer's job more difficult and can destroy carefully-established breeding programs.
There are pros and cons to almost all issues involving culling. Each producer must evaluate his own needs and make decisions that fit his goals. ***
Important! Please Read This Notice!
All information provided in these articles is based either on personal experience or information provided by others whose treatments and practices have been discussed fully with a vet for accuracy and effectiveness before passing them on to readers.
In all cases, it is your responsibility to obtain veterinary services and advice before using any of the information provided in these articles. Neither tennesseemeatgoats.com nor any of the contributors to this website will be held responsible for the use of any information contained herein.
The author, Suzanne Gasparotto, hereby grants to local goat publications and club newsletters, permission to reprint articles published on the Onion Creek Ranch website under these conditions: THE ARTICLE MUST BE REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REPRINT. Acknowledgement must also be made that the articles were first published in GOAT RANCHER Magazine, for which Suzanne Gasparotto writes exclusively. We would appreciate notification from any clubs or publications when the articles are used. (A copy of the newsletter or publication would also be a welcome addition to our growing library of goat related information!)
KHIMAIRA FARM
2974 Stonyman Road
Luray VA 22835 USA
540-743-4628 (Voice) 540-743-7932 (Fax)
web@khimairafarm.com (e-mail)
Presented to: Florida Goat Conference June 14, 1997 Linda S. Campbell
CULLING DAIRY GOATS
Culling within your herd is an ongoing process; it never ends. It should start the day you bring home your first goat. Before it can even begin, however, you have to decide upon the goals for your herd. If you have a commercial dairy, good production will be a major requirement. If you are selling fluid milk, then volume will be more important than fat percentages. If the majority of milk is used for cheese production, then fat and protein content will play important roles. Long and even lactations will also yield a higher return for your dairy. Excellent tools for those breeding dairy animals are available through the American Dairy Goat Association. These include the linear appraisal system, official testing (DHIR), sanctioned shows and blood typing (which may soon be replaced with DNA typing as technology changes).
• Is your herd on pasture and traveling many miles to forage? If this is the case, you’ll want a strong emphasis on feet and legs.
• If you only want a family milk supply, you’ll probably be much less demanding that conformation be quite the level required by someone with a breeding operation. Good temperament, however, will probably be an important criterion, especially if young children are spending time with the animals.
• If you are dam raising kids, then a strong mothering instinct will be essential in your selection process.
• Do you want to have a small hobby herd selling foundation stock to other breeders? If this is the case, you’ll probably be inclined to spend more effort on selecting for good type as well as production. If it’s important that you stand at the front of the class in the show ring then a strong mammary will be a definite goal.
What is a cull in one herd might be perfectly acceptable in another. The longer we breed our dairy goats, the more demanding of perfection we can become. At the same time, our goals are likely to change to reflect our level of knowledge or the use of the animal. This experience factor will greatly influence the end result of our culling efforts. Talk with fellow breeders in your area and at shows and seek their opinions.
RECORD KEEPING
In order to determine patterns of problems within the herd, it can be very helpful to keep complete records of animals that have been removed from the herd. An easy summary and overall view of reasons for culling can be seen if a simple chart method of record keeping is used. The pieces of information can be varied according to personal choice, but some items could include:
• Date
• Name
• Tag or ID Number
• Registration Number
• Age when culled
Next we start identifying the reasons for removing the animal:
• Reproductive problems: This can range from infertile animals through difficulty in kidding.
• Production: By using more specific information, this could include low production, low butterfat, high somatic cell count, short lactation.
• Mastitis: If you have cultured the milk to try to determine the causative agent, this could be a very useful item to see if there is some pattern.
• Other Diseases: Specify the problem. Often when an animal goes down in condition from one major problem, stress situations can make the animal susceptible to illnesses such as pneumonia. Try to record primary and secondary causes. When deciding whether or not to cull for particular diseases, consider whether or not the animal will be able to fully recover. For example, sore mouth is a nuisance disease, but once the animal recovers, it basically as no residual or ongoing problems. Caseous lymphadentis, however, is a disease that will cause lingering problems, infect others in the herd, and there’s no permanent cure. You have to decide what you will tolerate.
• Temperament: If the goat is too aggressive or just plain stubborn with an attitude problem, she may be just fine in a very small herd, but a real nuisance in a large herd.
• Structural problems: Using the linear appraisal method of looking at body components can be helpful in identifying specific problems. Maybe the front end assembly is consistently a problem, or perhaps weak pasterns, or postiness. Again, animals that must spend hours foraging will need good feet and legs to live a long and productive life. The animal that barely leaves her pen will not have as much dependence on that area of strength.
• Injury: Sometimes involuntary culling must occur due to accidents. This could range from dog attacks to falling gates or poor fences. If you are seeing consistent specific injuries, you should make management changes to reduce those injuries.
• Finally: take note of where your culls are going. Animals that are culled for poor health or disease should not be passed on to uninformed buyers, but rather sold for meat. When a goat goes through local stock sales, we have little control over how the animal will be used. It seems that the largest majority of goats sold through such operations are health culls. Goats that can’t be a part of a strong show string can still find a good niche as a family milker, and most of those sales can be successfully done in a one on one arrangement.
SUMMARY
So, if you can take some time to identify your goals for your dairy goat operation, you will have taken a major step in progressing towards those goals. Decide what is important to you in your own personal situation. Keep those complete records on the culls you make, and you’ll find that you may be able to identify consistency of problems that you may have missed by relying upon memory or by only noting minimal information.
Remember that culling is necessary and ongoing, and by keeping your goals in mind, you’ll soon find that you’ve make progress in producing the dairy goat that suits your specific purposes and helps you achieve your goals.
Key word: CULL - (Think: Cut Your Losses! )
Culling
Jodie A. Pennington Professor - Dairy
Jeremy Powell Assistant Professor Veterinarian
Culling is essential to the overall productivity of the herd. Goats will be injured, some will not become pregnant during the breeding season and some will produce less milk than you are willing to accept. Some animals become unthrifty and “waste away.” Animals with these symptoms may not have a single disease but a syndrome. Generally, if a goat is well fed and has good teeth and a low parasite load, it should thrive in a sound environment. If it begins “wasting away” and does not respond to antibiotics, it should be culled.
The major causes of this syndrome, in addition to poor nutrition, parasitism and dental problems, are paratuberculosis or Johnes disease caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (contrary to cattle, goats show little or no diarrhea and thickening of the intestinal walls); internal abscesses associated with caseous lymphadenitis due to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (ovis) or Corynebacterium pyogenes; locomotor problems (particularly arthritis due to retrovirus infection [CAE virus or caprine arthritis encephalitis]); and any chronic hidden infections (e.g., metritis, peritonitis or respiratory problems). Tumors occur rarely. These diseases are usually not treatable, and many are contagious. Also, the chronic nature of their symptoms make the diseases difficult to diagnose. Culling is the best option for the infected goat in most cases.
Suzanne W. Gasparotto
HC 70 Box 70
Lohn, TX 76852
Phone 325/344-5775
Originators of Tennessee Meat Goats
"Healthy," "hardy," and "adaptable" are adjectives that must be descriptive of goats in a meat-goat herd. Unlike humans, there are no EMS services, doctors, or hospitals "on call" for the weak and infirm; if not culled, they will spread illness and attract predators to the herd. Each goat must function at its optimum every day of its life in order to survive, thrive, and not be a risk to the rest of the herd.
How does a producer decide who and when to cull? The following list is in no particular order and may leave something out that is important to your unique situation. Conditions and needs vary from location to location. Some of these categories overlap.
1) Age and Sex. Pasture/forage-raised meat goats tend to *peak* at six to seven years of age. An udder on breeding does begin to show wear and tear from briars/bushes and from nursing multiple kids. Males usually have shorter life spans than females. A six-year-old male goat is middle aged; his teeth are beginning to wear down and he finds it more difficult to feed himself on forage. The rougher the conditions, the younger they should be culled.
2) Hooves and Legs. Goats must be able to travel over much territory daily as they forage/browse and keep up with the herd. Staying with the herd means protection from predators. Bad hooves make this impossible. "Bad" hooves include overgrown feet and claws that are too soft. Goats with weak pasterns (the part of the leg above the hoof's fetlocks) will not be able to survive on forage. Weak pasterns may be attributable to White Muscle Disease and can sometimes be remedied by giving injections of selenium and vitamin E (BoSe).
3) Udders and teats. Pendulous udders and bulbous teats are difficult for newborns to grasp and nurse. Multiple pregnancies resulting in litters of kids are very hard on pliable udder and teat tissues. Udders that are sagging and/or have poor attachment to the body are prone to injury as the goat walks over varying kinds of terrain daily. Mastitis (infected udder) is usually incurable and recurs with subsequent kiddings (chronic), making it a cull factor. A doe with a damaged or torn udder should be culled.
4) Teeth and Mouth. Goats have all four sets of permanent teeth usually by four years of age. After that, teeth begin to buck outward, spread, and wear down from years of grasping and tearing plant materials. A goat with worn-down teeth can't feed itself and will starve to death. An overbite or under bite prevents the goat from properly grasping and efficiently grinding its food because its teeth are out of alignment.
5) Body Conformation. Pelvic structure is important for does to kid easily. Hips that are too narrow make for difficult delivery of kids. A large body barrel is important for carrying multiple fetuses. In both females and males, a sizeable rumen is a sign of a good digestive factory. (A goat with a big rumen is not a fat goat.) A doe that has problems kidding over and over again should be culled.
6) Non-Breeders. Both males and females who do not breed on a recurring basis should be culled. This obviously includes hermaphrodites (goats with both male and female genitalia).
7) Poor Mothering Instincts. Does that are not interested in nursing their kids don't belong in a meat-goat herd. Sometimes bottle babies who grow up to become mothers exhibit this behavior, never having been dam-raised themselves. This is just one more reason to never have bottle babies.
8) Low or No Milk Output. Occasionally a doe kids and has no milk. Sometimes the problem is nutritional. Some diseases (Caseous Lymphadenitis, Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis, mastitis, abortion diseases) reduce milk production. If the producer determines that the doe is genetically a poor milker, cull her.
9) Recurring Kidding Problems. A doe that consistently needs assistance in kidding should not be kept in the herd. The producer will lose production when does on pasture produce weak or dead kids or they die in childbirth.
10) Abortion Diseases. Each producer must decide how to handle abortion diseases in the herd. Since goats are the poor step-children of the livestock industry, many illnesses/diseases have not been well researched and medications have not be developed specifically for goats. Producers must either use off-label products or nothing at all. Many abortion diseases fall into this category. Oxytetracycline 200 mg/mL is the drug of choice in most cases. The producer may consider the costs, both in time and money, to be prohibitive and instead choose to cull the does affected. Because the various abortion diseases which affect goats are transmitted in so many different ways over which the producer has little to no control, this writer does not believe that severe culling will resolve this problem long-term. Such constant turnover presents its own risks -- the producer will cull some does that possess desirable characteristics and will further risk the introduction of new diseases via new goats into the herd . Aggressively addressing the issue with medicines and improved hygiene should result in a herd of does with improved resistance to the organisms. Example: Preventatively injecting pregnant does with Oxytetracycline 200 mg/mL every 40 days from breeding until birthing and efficiently and properly disposing of infected placental materials are essential steps towards reducing abortions..
11) Internal Parasites. Maintain records so that parasite-tolerant goats can be retained and wormy and coccidiosis-prone goats can be identified for culling. (There is no such thing as a parasite-resistant breed of goats.) Parasite-tolerance means that the goat can tolerate a certain level of internal parasites and still function effectively. Assuming that the goats are not overcrowded and pastures are rotated every three weeks (the life cycle of a stomach worm), parasite-tolerance is a trait that can be passed from generation to generation (heritable trait). Depending upon dewormers and coccidiosis medications to control internal parasites will not result in a parasite-tolerant herd. Instead, the producer will have a herd of goats whose internal parasites have developed immunity all classes of dewormers.
12) Unthrifty. Goats that do not maintain body weight/conformation and are always too thin should be checked for internal parasites. (A goat with visible ribs is too thin. A thin layer of subcutaneous fat should cover the ribs.) Sometimes these goats are heavily infested with worms or coccidia oocysts or might have Johnes Disease. If unthrifty goats cannot be turned around quickly, cull them.
13) Slow Growers. Some producers cull because they consider the growth/weight gain rates to be sub-par. A variety of factors unrelated to the breed or cross-breed can affect growth rates: worms, coccidiosis, inadequate nutrition (overcrowding leading to lack of forage/browse), and un-identified chronic illness to name a few. Inexperienced producers may incorrectly conclude that the goats need to eat more grain concentrates for faster weight gain. Not true. A goat can only process so much feed into muscle and bone; the rest goes to deposit fat and exit the body via waste materials..
Some breeds are historically known as slower growers than others. This writer does not view this condition as a drawback. There are many different markets for varying live weights of slaughter goats and the demand so much exceeds the supply that the meat-goat producer should be able to sell his production without difficulty. The keys to profit are to know your market, breed for your market, and keep input in the form of feed, labor, and medication to the minimum.
14) Disease Tolerant. There are some goats that are simply not healthy animals. For a variety of reasons, their immune systems can't handle the stresses that goats encounter daily. For some reason -- sometimes never discovered -- they are illness prone. Give such a goat a chance to get well and adapt; if it can't, cull it. It is a threat to the rest of the herd.
15) Culling for Incurable Diseases: Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL), Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis (CAE), Johnes Disease.
CL is manageable in meat-goat herds. See this author's article on Managing CL with Formalin on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com. Colorado Serum will soon have a CL vaccine for goats. Remember that goats must be negative for CL for it to work. If a goat has multiple CL abscesses, it should be culled; that goat probably got a very large dose of the bacteria and will be a recurring problem.
CAE usually isn't a problem in meat-goat herds, because animals destined for slaughter generally don't live long enough to display full-blown symptoms.
Johnes Disease -- a chronic wasting disease -- is hard to diagnose and is thankfully apparently not wide spread in meat-goat herds. When all else is ruled out, test for Johnes. If contagious Johnes (yoh-knees) is in the herd, the producer has a serious herd-wide problem and needs to cull heavily and immediately.
16) Number of Offspring Born. Some producers cull for single births. Many first-time mothers have singles -- particularly when they are young. It is God's way of protecting their young bodies from too much demand on them. Give the doe a second chance.
This writer finds triplets and quadruplets to be less desirable than singles and twins. Most does struggle to feed three or four kids. Bottle babies are cost- and time-inefficient for meat-goat producers. Twins are the ideal. Studies have revealed that twins bring the most money to the bottom line.
17) Non-pigmented Hairless Skin. If the producer lives in climatic conditions where the sun's rays are very strong, pink skin is prone to melanoma (skin cancer) -- particularly on tail webs. Unless caught very early, skin cancer is impossible to remove. Sometimes it is not cost effective to remove regardless of when discovered.
18) Guard Hair. In very cold climates, guard hair is essential to keep the body warm.
19) Overly Aggressive/Difficult "Keepers." Bucks and does that are overly aggressive are dangerous animals. All goats need a certain level of aggressiveness in order to survive. Outright mean goats will injure or kill other goats in the herd and should be culled. Goats that repeatedly jump fences and gates make the producer's job more difficult and can destroy carefully-established breeding programs.
There are pros and cons to almost all issues involving culling. Each producer must evaluate his own needs and make decisions that fit his goals. ***
Important! Please Read This Notice!
All information provided in these articles is based either on personal experience or information provided by others whose treatments and practices have been discussed fully with a vet for accuracy and effectiveness before passing them on to readers.
In all cases, it is your responsibility to obtain veterinary services and advice before using any of the information provided in these articles. Neither tennesseemeatgoats.com nor any of the contributors to this website will be held responsible for the use of any information contained herein.
The author, Suzanne Gasparotto, hereby grants to local goat publications and club newsletters, permission to reprint articles published on the Onion Creek Ranch website under these conditions: THE ARTICLE MUST BE REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REPRINT. Acknowledgement must also be made that the articles were first published in GOAT RANCHER Magazine, for which Suzanne Gasparotto writes exclusively. We would appreciate notification from any clubs or publications when the articles are used. (A copy of the newsletter or publication would also be a welcome addition to our growing library of goat related information!)
KHIMAIRA FARM
2974 Stonyman Road
Luray VA 22835 USA
540-743-4628 (Voice) 540-743-7932 (Fax)
web@khimairafarm.com (e-mail)
Presented to: Florida Goat Conference June 14, 1997 Linda S. Campbell
CULLING DAIRY GOATS
Culling within your herd is an ongoing process; it never ends. It should start the day you bring home your first goat. Before it can even begin, however, you have to decide upon the goals for your herd. If you have a commercial dairy, good production will be a major requirement. If you are selling fluid milk, then volume will be more important than fat percentages. If the majority of milk is used for cheese production, then fat and protein content will play important roles. Long and even lactations will also yield a higher return for your dairy. Excellent tools for those breeding dairy animals are available through the American Dairy Goat Association. These include the linear appraisal system, official testing (DHIR), sanctioned shows and blood typing (which may soon be replaced with DNA typing as technology changes).
• Is your herd on pasture and traveling many miles to forage? If this is the case, you’ll want a strong emphasis on feet and legs.
• If you only want a family milk supply, you’ll probably be much less demanding that conformation be quite the level required by someone with a breeding operation. Good temperament, however, will probably be an important criterion, especially if young children are spending time with the animals.
• If you are dam raising kids, then a strong mothering instinct will be essential in your selection process.
• Do you want to have a small hobby herd selling foundation stock to other breeders? If this is the case, you’ll probably be inclined to spend more effort on selecting for good type as well as production. If it’s important that you stand at the front of the class in the show ring then a strong mammary will be a definite goal.
What is a cull in one herd might be perfectly acceptable in another. The longer we breed our dairy goats, the more demanding of perfection we can become. At the same time, our goals are likely to change to reflect our level of knowledge or the use of the animal. This experience factor will greatly influence the end result of our culling efforts. Talk with fellow breeders in your area and at shows and seek their opinions.
RECORD KEEPING
In order to determine patterns of problems within the herd, it can be very helpful to keep complete records of animals that have been removed from the herd. An easy summary and overall view of reasons for culling can be seen if a simple chart method of record keeping is used. The pieces of information can be varied according to personal choice, but some items could include:
• Date
• Name
• Tag or ID Number
• Registration Number
• Age when culled
Next we start identifying the reasons for removing the animal:
• Reproductive problems: This can range from infertile animals through difficulty in kidding.
• Production: By using more specific information, this could include low production, low butterfat, high somatic cell count, short lactation.
• Mastitis: If you have cultured the milk to try to determine the causative agent, this could be a very useful item to see if there is some pattern.
• Other Diseases: Specify the problem. Often when an animal goes down in condition from one major problem, stress situations can make the animal susceptible to illnesses such as pneumonia. Try to record primary and secondary causes. When deciding whether or not to cull for particular diseases, consider whether or not the animal will be able to fully recover. For example, sore mouth is a nuisance disease, but once the animal recovers, it basically as no residual or ongoing problems. Caseous lymphadentis, however, is a disease that will cause lingering problems, infect others in the herd, and there’s no permanent cure. You have to decide what you will tolerate.
• Temperament: If the goat is too aggressive or just plain stubborn with an attitude problem, she may be just fine in a very small herd, but a real nuisance in a large herd.
• Structural problems: Using the linear appraisal method of looking at body components can be helpful in identifying specific problems. Maybe the front end assembly is consistently a problem, or perhaps weak pasterns, or postiness. Again, animals that must spend hours foraging will need good feet and legs to live a long and productive life. The animal that barely leaves her pen will not have as much dependence on that area of strength.
• Injury: Sometimes involuntary culling must occur due to accidents. This could range from dog attacks to falling gates or poor fences. If you are seeing consistent specific injuries, you should make management changes to reduce those injuries.
• Finally: take note of where your culls are going. Animals that are culled for poor health or disease should not be passed on to uninformed buyers, but rather sold for meat. When a goat goes through local stock sales, we have little control over how the animal will be used. It seems that the largest majority of goats sold through such operations are health culls. Goats that can’t be a part of a strong show string can still find a good niche as a family milker, and most of those sales can be successfully done in a one on one arrangement.
SUMMARY
So, if you can take some time to identify your goals for your dairy goat operation, you will have taken a major step in progressing towards those goals. Decide what is important to you in your own personal situation. Keep those complete records on the culls you make, and you’ll find that you may be able to identify consistency of problems that you may have missed by relying upon memory or by only noting minimal information.
Remember that culling is necessary and ongoing, and by keeping your goals in mind, you’ll soon find that you’ve make progress in producing the dairy goat that suits your specific purposes and helps you achieve your goals.
Key word: CULL - (Think: Cut Your Losses! )
Culling
Jodie A. Pennington Professor - Dairy
Jeremy Powell Assistant Professor Veterinarian
Culling is essential to the overall productivity of the herd. Goats will be injured, some will not become pregnant during the breeding season and some will produce less milk than you are willing to accept. Some animals become unthrifty and “waste away.” Animals with these symptoms may not have a single disease but a syndrome. Generally, if a goat is well fed and has good teeth and a low parasite load, it should thrive in a sound environment. If it begins “wasting away” and does not respond to antibiotics, it should be culled.
The major causes of this syndrome, in addition to poor nutrition, parasitism and dental problems, are paratuberculosis or Johnes disease caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (contrary to cattle, goats show little or no diarrhea and thickening of the intestinal walls); internal abscesses associated with caseous lymphadenitis due to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (ovis) or Corynebacterium pyogenes; locomotor problems (particularly arthritis due to retrovirus infection [CAE virus or caprine arthritis encephalitis]); and any chronic hidden infections (e.g., metritis, peritonitis or respiratory problems). Tumors occur rarely. These diseases are usually not treatable, and many are contagious. Also, the chronic nature of their symptoms make the diseases difficult to diagnose. Culling is the best option for the infected goat in most cases.
MANAGEMENT OF BREEDING BUCKS AND DOES
Carol Raczykowski Reviewed by Dr. William Holleman
(Reprinted from Pygmy Goat WORLD magazine with permission)
Sterility in the buck is usually the exception rather than the norm and is usually temporary. Male fertility is affected by such things as age, maturity, nutritional status, general health, endocrine balance and normality of sex organs. Sperm quality, nutrition, body weight, maturity, stress, disease, mating frequency, seasonal climatic changes, and management also play roles in male fertility. With so many things affecting fertility, it's a wonder that sterility is rarely a problem.
A buck kid starts mounting behavior as early as one day old. Puberty, the age at which spermatozoa is present in the ejaculate, can vary depending on breed, age and nutrition. Pygmy bucks are capable of breeding as early as 8-12 weeks of age, and they are one of the most outwardly sexually aggressive animals I've treated.
From the time of birth the male body begins to changing to prepare them for this experience. A buck is born with his urethral process and glans penis adhered to the inside of his sheath (prepuce) by the frenulum membrane. This adhesion makes it impossible for the buck to copulate until testosterone (a steroid) and practice mounting frees penis from the prepuce. He will then be able to fully extend his penis and copulate.
As this takes place, the buck kid will start urinating on front legs and beard and develop a strong odor. Part of his odor is due to the urine, but mostly it is a result of the influence of testosterone on the scent glands located near his horns. This behavior and odor make the buck more attractive to females and stimulates their estrus and receptivity.
The blubbering noise and behavior is one of the buck's comical displays. In the early 1990s, someone won $10,000 on the television program, America's Funniest Home Videos showing this behavior.
To a buck, this is serious business. He may paw the ground, wet on his chest and forelegs and exhibit mounting and thrusting behavior. He may nudge the doe and lick her genitalia and smell her urine. This precedes another comical action called flehmen in which the buck raises his head and curls his upper lip in odor detection mode; it looks like he is smiling. All of this usually occurs very quickly with a cooperative doe, and a successful breeding occurs when the buck mounts and ejaculates. Ejaculation is best confirmed by the buck's head jerking back immediately before he dismounts. The doe may react by moving her hindquarters forward, and a drippy discharge can usually be seen coming from her vulva.
To increase the volume of semen and concentration and number of the sperm, you can put the buck on a lead and allow him to make a few false mounts on the doe before he ejaculates. This may not work with all bucks, but it is sometimes done with great success in semen collection.
How the Reproductive System Works
Each intricate part of the buck's reproductive system has one or more function, and every one must operate properly for the whole system to work. The following is a brief description of the major parts and the roles they play.
The major function of the testes is to produce high quality sperm. Muscle contractions help sperm move from the testes into the ductus (or vas) deferens. From there the sperm travel through the abdominal cavity in the ductus deferens to the urethra where it exits the body through the penis. Sperm is stored several paces with various functions. The epidiydymis functions as a maturing station, and sperm are held there for up to 14 days before entering the ductus deferens. During this maturation process, the fertilizing ability and motility of the sperm is increased. When the sperm reaches the ductus deferens, it is mature.
On the sperm's journey various glands add their secretions. The prostate gland's secretion thickens the semen and helps regulate the acid base balance. The vesicular glands add fructose and citric acid to nourish the sperm. The bulbourethral gland secretes liquid that neutralizes the acidic urethra before the sperm travel along it in an ejaculate. After all the ingredients are added the sperm officially becomes semen capable of fertilization.
The penis' S-shaped sigmoid flexure is controlled by contracting muscles and, in turn, so is the erection. Erection is the result of sexual excitement that stimulates blood flow to specific tissues in the penis which increase pressure in the organ and straighten the sigmoid flexture. At the same time, retractor muscles relax and the penis is extended from the sheath. Ejaculation is a nervous system reflex, the result of muscular contractions that begin in the epididymis.
If the buck fails to ejaculate, one of the first things to check for is a condition known as a persistent frenulum. This membrane usually detaches as a buck matures but rarely it does not. To examine a buck for this, he is set on his rump and the sigmoid flexure is pressed from behind to manually extrude his penis. If you are not sure how to do this or what to look for, your veterinarian can help. Simple corrective surgery can fix the problem.
If the buck fails to impregnate does, it's time to investigate with a breeding soundness examination. This is also a good time to check for the presence of extra teats and other hereditary defects, such as hernias and jaw malformations. A buck with any faulty traits or who is hormonally unbalanced should not be used.
The first thing to look for in the physical examination is general health. Does the buck look healthy, including a shiny hair coat, clear eyes and nose? Feet, joints and teeth in good condition? Are his temperature, respiration and pulse normal? Is he too fat or too thin?
The reproductive organs should be examined next. This includes palpation of the testicles for size, symmetry and other normal values, and inspection of the prepuce and penis. The larger the testicles, for a given age, the better the sperm production. Bucks with above average scrotal circumference for their age and birth weight can be expected to produce offspring with earlier sexual maturity and greater fertility. Scrotal circumference can be measured with a measuring tape and then transcribed to a ruler. The measurement should be taken at the widest part of the scrotum with both testes held at the same level. The scrotum should be firmly attached.
The texture of the scrotum is important. Normal testicular tissue should feel resilient and approximately as firm as muscle. Some problems may be associated with texture and size/swelling. For example, testicular atrophy (marked by abnormal spermatozoa) results in elongation or smaller than normal testes. Abnormally small testes may indicate severe malnutrition or an intersex (genetic) condition.
Bucks occasionally get orchitis, an inflammation in one or both testicles. This soft swelling (no heat) is usually physiologically caused and not infectious. This may have something to do with semen storage in the testicles but if it becomes a chronic problem, the testicles may harden and shrink, causing sterility.
Inspect the prepuce and penis for infection or injury. For example, in posthitis (pizzle rot) the prepuce will be inflamed with ulcerations or scabs and accumulation of urine and dirt. These lesions make breeding too painful or physically impossible. It can take a few days to a few weeks to treat this condition before the buck will be willing to breed.
Collection and evaluation of semen is part of a comprehensive breeding soundness exam. The best semen sample comes from using an artificial vagina, versus electroejaculation. Morphology, numbers, motility (movement) and longevity of the sperm are all important. The normal sperm count in a buck is about 2,000 per millileter. Too many malformed sperm indicate poor quality semen. Very young and very old bucks may have more sperm irregularities, as well as those who are deficient in selenium. A densometer can be used to count sperm, but semen color can give you some indication. Thick, milky semen is good. Thin, milky semen is mediocre and clear/amber semen may indicate poor quality. Sperm motility is difficult to check in collection samples. Physiology and biochemistry of the semen is also important. Semen evaluation is best left to a veterinarian or an experienced qualified semen collector/processor.
If he passes the breeding soundness examination with flying colors but he still not settling does, you need to consider other management possibilities. Is he overweight? Obesity definitely plays a big role in fertility. What are you feeding him? Feeds like timothy grass and clover with high estrogen content may suppress the antigens of a buck and in time the testicles may atrophy (shrink) and feel cold. An emaciated buck can become sterile. In either sex, the reproductive system is one of the first functions to shut down during starvation. Excess fat or thinness can be reversed with better management.
Reluctance or inability to mount may be due to painful hind legs, hips, stifles, hocks or feet, and the cause should be defined. Arthritis seems to be fairly common in older stud bucks. Is it due to excessive calcium in the diet or housing on cold, damp, bedding? All possible causes need to be considered. You can use a buck after injury, when he is healed, and if he is able to work, however, if you suspect a structural fault or disease, further use is not be recommended since he may pass these features. It is best to be very discriminate in propagating any negative traits; the buck is the major part of your herd.
A high fever in a buck can render him temporarily or permanently sterile. Sperm is produced at an optimum temperature, and this process is very sensitive to heat. If the temperature is increased dramatically, it affects the testicles and the quality and life span of sperm. A buck regulates the temperature of the scrotum and testes by controlling the distance they are from the body. When it is cold, the dartos muscle contracts to pull the testes closer to the body. When it is hot, the muscle relaxes and allows the testes to hang further from the body. When a buck has a fever it is almost impossible for his body to maintain the proper temperature for sperm production. Very hot weather can also render a buck temporarily sterile. Remember, the sperm in the ejaculate originated 4-6 weeks ago; what he produces today is a result of what happened way back then. This is an important fact to remember when you are looking for answers to a sterility problem or planning ahead for breeding.. Think in terms of more than just the last several weeks.
Infection may be another cause for sterility. If the penile sheath is injured it is vulnerable to infection. If the sheath is allowed to accumulate sebum (fatty secretion of the sebaceous glands) he may transmit coital vesicular exanthema which creates small ulcers on and around the vulva of the doe. For this and other reasons, cleanliness of the buck is very important, especially in a buck that is used heavily on a large variety of does from a number of herds. In heavy use, the buck's penis should be washed several times a month. The penis can be washed with soapy water, or a 1:5,000 dilution of Nolvasan™. Good hygiene can eliminate several problems that may eventually cause sterility.
Stones can become blocked in the urethra, causing sterility and sometimes death. When a buck or wether has a dietary imbalance of calcium and phosphorus, stones form in the bladder and move through the urethra. The urethra and ductus deferens join near the urinary bladder, so if the urethra is blocked neither sperm or urine will be able to exit the body. This is fairly common in wethers or bucks that are fed too much grain. Partial blockage is also possible. Treatment for this is difficult at best.
Other factors affecting sterility are anatomical defects, and other injuries and diseases. Scrotal hernias are seen in sheep and are presumed hereditary in that species. If a hernia (distention of one side of the scrotum with a movable loop of intestine) is identified and surgical correction is desired, the buck should be castrated.
Injuries or wounds involving the scrotum may result in purulent orchitis or periorchitis. Other causes of scrotal dermatitis include mange, bacterial infections, zinc deficiency and frost bite. Many different types of injuries may take place if two bucks are allowed to be in the same area while one is breeding; common ones are a broken penis and a broken leg.
Sperm granulomas are strongly correlated with the homozygous polled condition and can be avoided by culling all young bucks that are, by phenotype, homozygous for the polled gene. This condition is virtually unknown in the Pygmy, as it is a disqualifying fault in their Breed Standard. Another rarity is the protozoan parasite, Trichomonas. This protozoa has been observed in the semen of Alpine and Saanen bucks in France and Sardinia and in Angoras in South Africa. It infests the sheath and urethra of the buck, causing the quantity and quality of ejaculates, as well as libido, to decrease.
Testicular tumors in goats are rare but do occur.
It is possible to overwork a buck, especially when it is undernourished. Special attention should be given to the breeding buck's nutrition. Many bucks ignore their food during breeding season while increasing physical activity and the attentive owner should vary the diet to tempt him to eat.
A frequently used buck will also be less fertile per doe than a buck that has rest periods between services. After around 3 ejaculations the sperm count is reduced, and after 7 ejaculations the buck produces immature sperm that are incapable of fertilization. Overuse can be hard to determine since bucks can settle a hundred or more does in one season, depending on his condition, nutritional level and general health. It is better to err on the conservative side.
Genetics, nutrition, sanitation and other good management practices play important roles in the buck's life.
From birth a buck's body prepares itself for its main function - breeding. It's up to you to make sure that the things you can control, like proper nutrition and a positive environment, are in his favor. After all, he is the single most important ingredients in your breeding program.***
BUCK HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT
Suzanne W. Gasparotto
HC 70 Box 70
Lohn, TX 76852
Phone 325/344-5775
Male goats have one purpose in life -- breeding. The instinct to reproduce is stronger than anything else -- even eating; bucks will often go off-feed when in rut. Producers should give much thought and preparation into buck housing, pasturing, and overall management. A primary consideration is good fencing. Good fences make good neighbors -- and prevent unplanned pregnancies -- by keeping does and bucks apart.
Do not pen or pasture bucks across a common fence from breeding-age does. Typical goat (or *field*) fencing will not prevent through-the-fence breeding. Don't depend upon gate chains or latches to keep does and bucks apart; wire gates shut and check them regularly. Rutting bucks and flagging does have been known to literally lift gates off hinges and "make a party." Does who get bred under such circumstances are known at Onion Creek Ranch as "party girls." Despite all our efforts, one or two does a year manages this feat.
The solution at Onion Creek Ranch has been to create a center alley 25 feet wide, with large paddocks to the left and right of it. Bucks are pastured on one side of the alley; does, on the other side. This of course means that bucks are up against other bucks during rutting season, so pasture fencing has been paneled over with 20 ft long by 4 ft high six-gauge "cattle panels" of 4" x 4" squares -- and they still beat up the fencing, but it contains them.
Polled (born without horns) bucks are pastured separately from horned bucks. When rutting season arrives in Texas' hot climate, bucks in a given pasture will select a buck to chase, harrass, mount, and generally treat as if he is a desired mate as they practice breeding techniques. If polled bucks are penned with horned bucks, that sought-after male is usually the less aggressive polled buck. Horns serve as radiators for removing heat from the goat's body. Polled bucks by definition have no radiators. This writer has lost two terrific polled bucks to death from heat stroke thanks to sexual harassment by multiple horned males.
At Onion Creek Ranch, there are three buck pastures. The old bucks (over eight years of age) are pastured together. Bucks 18-24 months old to eight years of age occupy another paddock. Males less than 18 months of age live in a third pasture. Since separate space for polled bucks usually isn't available, they are pastured with the youngest group of bucks over whom they can exert dominance.
When moving bucks into buck paddocks, the producer should be prepared for male-on-male activity to establish the new members' places in the pecking order. Goats are serious herd animals and have a fairly rigid pecking order within each herd. Minimize the problems that these actions will cause by (1) never introducing a single buck into a new herd; (2) taking climate/weather into consideration and moving them during the most favorable time of the day (coolest in hot climates and warmest in very cold climates, never during rain or snowstorms, etc.); and (3) penning bucks with other males of similar size and age. Example: Remove bucks from breeding pens and house two or more together for at least a week so that they can form their own mini-herd before moving them to the larger buck pasture. Think like a goat; both you and your goats will be less stressed.***
Breeding Management
Linda I. Spahr
York County Extension Agent
In the competitive world of market goats, good management cannot be stressed enough. A few does here or there not getting bred may not seem like an issue, but keep in mind that an open doe represents money spent without any return. There are several factors that will affect the breeding status of your does. There will always be those few does that you never see in heat or that never seem to get bred. They need to be culled; no excuses.
In this section we have discussed buck goat soundness, a very important part of the breeding equation. Lame or sick bucks don't breed does. It's time to look at factors that affect breeding from the female side of the equation.
Breeding Management
Doe goats of breeding age should be considered production units. Costs incurred by maintaining or supplementing this unit must be balanced by a return in the form of live, salable product. In other words if you have to feed more feed, call the vet more often or give more medicine, you have to be able to produce more live kids to balance the check book.
Flushing your does is one supplemental cost that should balance by producing more live kids.
Female goats are for the most part, easy to spot when they are in heat. An observant manager should be able to identify most does in heat by observing the females a few times a day. There are does that are nearly silent in their heat periods. Even the most observant managers may not be able to identify does in "silent" heat.
Goats are for the most part seasonal breeders. This means that they do not exhibit heat or periods of estrus year round. Most goats are fall breeders and will come into heat during the months of September thru February. Does experience estrus or come into heat about every 18-22 days during that period.
Does in heat will usually display several signs to let you and the buck know that they are ready to breed. The doe will bleat as if hungry or in pain, driving your close neighbors crazy. She will usually wag her tail from side to side constantly. In most does the vulva will swell slightly and appear reddened. Some does will have a discharge from the vulva that can make the tail look wet or dirty. Does will often refuse feed or will decrease their consumption of feed. You may notice your nannies urinating more frequently as they try to let the buck know they are interested.
If you have a group of nannies that don't seem to show many signs of heat, it may be necessary to bring an old, smelly buck into fence line contact to force them to display. When a buck has been introduced into the pasture next door the does will tend to pace back and forth along the fence or stand backed up to the fence, allowing the buck to smell them. Many times one doe in heat will cause other does to exhibit heat as well. Most folks who don't observe signs of heat in their nannies usually only have one or two does. These small producers will need to be very observant of any display of heat their nannies may exhibit. I like to mark the calendar when I observe a doe displaying unusual behavior. Eighteen to twenty-two days later, I can usually count on a repeat of the behavior, a good indication she is in heat.
The period of estrus or heat in your goats will usually last between 12 and 48 hours. This period is referred to as "standing heat". Ovulation in the female occurs 12 to 36 hours after the onset of standing heat. If there is a discharge from the doe's vulva during the heat period, it will begin as a clear, sticky substance and become white toward the end of the heat period.
It is not a good idea to leave the buck in with the does for the entire breeding season. When the newness of a buck in the pasture has worn off the does become so familiar with the buck that they will not allow him to mount. As the newness wears off the buck tends to get lazy and the manager assumes all of the does are bred.
Turning your buck in with your does for about 45 days will cover two complete heat cycles and should be long enough to settle your does. Bucks in good condition should be able to service 20 to 30 does.
Prepare for breeding season by trimming feet, deworming, and vaccinating. You will need to make sure that your does are ready for the breeding season by worming them, trimming hooves and vaccinating the females. Vaccinations should be done before the start of breeding season and then again 4 to 6 weeks before the first expected kidding date. If you are planning to give your does one booster vaccination, it's best to wait until 4 to 6 weeks before kidding. The vaccination before kidding will allow some immunity to be passed to the newborn kid. Most producers use Clostridium Perfringens Types C & D + Tetanus toxoid vaccine. This vaccine is marketed by a variety of companies and each company calls the vaccine something different. One common brand name is Bar Vac CD/T. This particular vaccine sells for about $8.00 for a 50 ml bottle. This 50 ml bottle will give you 25/2 cc doses of vaccine. This vaccine is a fairly inexpensive way to provide protection for your herd.
Feet should be trimmed on the nannies as well as the buck before breeding season. Check for any sores or infections in the feet and legs. Nannies with sore feet may not stand for a buck or may get pushed away from feed at a critical time. Goats should also be wormed before they are bred. Nannies with a high worm load will not gain the weight necessary to make the flushing process effective. Goats should be wormed before the flushing begins.
One last thing you need to keep in mind as you plan your breeding season is general goat behavior. Goats establish a pecking order. If this order is disrupted by moving or regrouping, you will need to allow enough time for a new pecking order to be established before beginning breeding season. Pecking orders usually take 2 to 3 weeks to establish and may vary with the number and temperament of individual does.
Production managers need to be sure they do not breed does at too young an age. There are two schools of thought on this subject. There are those who will breed a female goat as soon as she is 7 to 10 months old, regardless of size and weight. A better practice is to use the mature estimated body weight as a guide when deciding to breed. A doe kid should be at 70 to 75% of her mature weight before breeding. In other words if you expect a doe to mature at 100 pounds you could breed her if she weighed between 70 and 75 pounds. Small doe kids tend to be less productive and they will never reach their potential weight if bred too early.***
Meat Goat Breeds, Breeding Management, and
4-H Market Goat Management
Bagley, MN January 28, 2006
Doug Thompson
Improvement Potential - Goats have some great advantages over cattle in terms of potential for improvement through a breeding program. First, does can be bred and bucks can be working in their first year, generally at 6-8 months so you can get a sense of improvement through breeding within the first year or year and a half. Second, with multiple births you have more animals to select from in choosing which stock you are going to keep to use in the future. These factors alone are said to account for an improvement potential at a rate four times faster than one could expect with cattle.
Reproductive Characteristics – Goats are
generally seasonal breeders though this varies
from breed to breed, between individuals, and differs from one climate to another.
Shortening day length in the fall, which sets up a yearlong cycle of reproduction, triggers their breeding season. Generally, does will come into estrus or heat for a two to three day period every 18-21 days in the fall until settled. The day-length trigger can be manipulated by putting goats artificial darkness or artificial light to promote off season breeding, which can be an advantage in timing the markets at some point down the line.
If this were used, the bucks would also have to be subjected to the same light manipulation since they have a specific rutting season from early fall through early winter. Hormone treatment is also widely used in other parts of the world, at least for
dairy goats, to get off-season breeding and ensure a more uniform milk supply through the year. There are some breeders that would try to work in two breeding in three years, which is possible.
Breeding Management - Important to any breeding program is proper nutrition and health management.
Does can be “flushed” with “improved” nutrition two weeks prior to the breeding season and lasting five weeks in order to increase egg release in increase kidding percentage. On the other hand, too high a plane of nutrition for too long, especially with high quality alfalfa hay can delay the onset of estrus in an entire herd of does.
Goat bucks are one of the most accursed animals on earth when it comes to breeding season. They become extremely aggressive and will expend an enormous amount of energy whether or not they are with does, so their nutrition has to lead that effort.
To understand that imperative, one has to picture a native herd of does in the wild with a dominant herd sire having to defend a harem of 30-40 does from younger bucks surrounding the harem and continually testing the dominant male. Aggressive behavior is the name of the game and it carries through today.
In dairy goats, small breeders tend to keep far too many bucks. So much so, that it has been light-heartedly suggested that dairy goats in the US are monogamous breeds. Of course, they are in fact polygamous and a mature buck can handle 30-40 does. Younger bucks would be at a ratio at least half of that.
Following breeding, to narrow the kidding season, you may want to remove the buck from the does. This certainly won’t make the buck happy. Bucks with does, unchallenged by other bucks, can become quite docile and live a “normal” existence, even in the breeding season.
Generally, you can cut back on the doe’s ration to a maintenance level. In fact, it has been suggested that a higher amount of fiber and roughage at this point in the reproductive cycle is important in conditioning the rumen of the doe, so she is ready to efficiently consume more of the higher protein rations as she goes into milk production.
The last two months of the 5-month gestation are the most important in
resuming a higher plane of nutrition, since that is when the most growth of the fetus occurs and when the doe is gearing up for milk production.***
Fertility and Sterility in the Buck
Carol Raczykowski
Reviewed by Dr. William Holleman
(Reprinted from Pygmy Goat WORLD magazine with permission)
Sterility in the buck is usually the exception rather than the norm and is usually temporary. Male fertility is affected by such things as age, maturity, nutritional status, general health, endocrine balance and normality of sex organs. Sperm quality, nutrition, body weight, maturity, stress, disease, mating frequency, seasonal climatic changes, and management also play roles in male fertility. With so many things affecting fertility, it's a wonder that sterility is rarely a problem.
A buck kid starts mounting behavior as early as one day old. Puberty, the age at which spermatozoa is present in the ejaculate, can vary depending on breed, age and nutrition. Pygmy bucks are capable of breeding as early as 8-12 weeks of age, and they are one of the most outwardly sexually aggressive animals I've treated.
From the time of birth the male body begins to changing to prepare them for this experience. A buck is born with his urethral process and glans penis adhered to the inside of his sheath (prepuce) by the frenulum membrane. This adhesion makes it impossible for the buck to copulate until testosterone (a steroid) and practice mounting frees penis from the prepuce. He will then be able to fully extend his penis and copulate.
As this takes place, the buck kid will start urinating on front legs and beard and develop a strong odor. Part of his odor is due to the urine, but mostly it is a result of the influence of testosterone on the scent glands located near his horns. This behavior and odor make the buck more attractive to females and stimulates their estrus and receptivity.
The blubbering noise and behavior is one of the buck's comical displays. In the early 1990s, someone won $10,000 on the television program, America's Funniest Home Videos showing this behavior.
To a buck, this is serious business. He may paw the ground, wet on his chest and forelegs and exhibit mounting and thrusting behavior. He may nudge the doe and lick her genitalia and smell her urine. This precedes another comical action called flehmen in which the buck raises his head and curls his upper lip in odor detection mode; it looks like he is smiling. All of this usually occurs very quickly with a cooperative doe, and a successful breeding occurs when the buck mounts and ejaculates. Ejaculation is best confirmed by the buck's head jerking back immediately before he dismounts. The doe may react by moving her hindquarters forward, and a drippy discharge can usually be seen coming from her vulva.
To increase the volume of semen and concentration and number of the sperm, you can put the buck on a lead and allow him to make a few false mounts on the doe before he ejaculates. This may not work with all bucks, but it is sometimes done with great success in semen collection.
How the Reproductive System Works
Each intricate part of the buck's reproductive system has one or more function, and every one must operate properly for the whole system to work. The following is a brief description of the major parts and the roles they play.
The major function of the testes is to produce high quality sperm. Muscle contractions help sperm move from the testes into the ductus (or vas) deferens. From there the sperm travel through the abdominal cavity in the ductus deferens to the urethra where it exits the body through the penis. Sperm is stored several paces with various functions. The epidiydymis functions as a maturing station, and sperm are held there for up to 14 days before entering the ductus deferens. During this maturation process, the fertilizing ability and motility of the sperm is increased. When the sperm reaches the ductus deferens, it is mature.
On the sperm's journey various glands add their secretions. The prostate gland's secretion thickens the semen and helps regulate the acid base balance. The vesicular glands add fructose and citric acid to nourish the sperm. The bulbourethral gland secretes liquid that neutralizes the acidic urethra before the sperm travel along it in an ejaculate. After all the ingredients are added the sperm officially becomes semen capable of fertilization.
The penis' S-shaped sigmoid flexure is controlled by contracting muscles and, in turn, so is the erection. Erection is the result of sexual excitement that stimulates blood flow to specific tissues in the penis which increase pressure in the organ and straighten the sigmoid flexture. At the same time, retractor muscles relax and the penis is extended from the sheath. Ejaculation is a nervous system reflex, the result of muscular contractions that begin in the epididymis.
If the buck fails to ejaculate, one of the first things to check for is a condition known as a persistent frenulum. This membrane usually detaches as a buck matures but rarely it does not. To examine a buck for this, he is set on his rump and the sigmoid flexure is pressed from behind to manually extrude his penis. If you are not sure how to do this or what to look for, your veterinarian can help. Simple corrective surgery can fix the problem.
If the buck fails to impregnate does, it's time to investigate with a breeding soundness examination. This is also a good time to check for the presence of extra teats and other hereditary defects, such as hernias and jaw malformations. A buck with any faulty traits or who is hormonally unbalanced should not be used.
The first thing to look for in the physical examination is general health. Does the buck look healthy, including a shiny hair coat, clear eyes and nose? Feet, joints and teeth in good condition? Are his temperature, respiration and pulse normal? Is he too fat or too thin?
The reproductive organs should be examined next. This includes palpation of the testicles for size, symmetry and other normal values, and inspection of the prepuce and penis. The larger the testicles, for a given age, the better the sperm production. Bucks with above average scrotal circumference for their age and birth weight can be expected to produce offspring with earlier sexual maturity and greater fertility. Scrotal circumference can be measured with a measuring tape and then transcribed to a ruler. The measurement should be taken at the widest part of the scrotum with both testes held at the same level. The scrotum should be firmly attached.
The texture of the scrotum is important. Normal testicular tissue should feel resilient and approximately as firm as muscle. Some problems may be associated with texture and size/swelling. For example, testicular atrophy (marked by abnormal spermatozoa) results in elongation or smaller than normal testes. Abnormally small testes may indicate severe malnutrition or an intersex (genetic) condition.
Bucks occasionally get orchitis, an inflammation in one or both testicles. This soft swelling (no heat) is usually physiologically caused and not infectious. This may have something to do with semen storage in the testicles but if it becomes a chronic problem, the testicles may harden and shrink, causing sterility.
Inspect the prepuce and penis for infection or injury. For example, in posthitis (pizzle rot) the prepuce will be inflamed with ulcerations or scabs and accumulation of urine and dirt. These lesions make breeding too painful or physically impossible. It can take a few days to a few weeks to treat this condition before the buck will be willing to breed.
Collection and evaluation of semen is part of a comprehensive breeding soundness exam. The best semen sample comes from using an artificial vagina, versus electroejaculation. Morphology, numbers, motility (movement) and longevity of the sperm are all important. The normal sperm count in a buck is about 2,000 per millileter. Too many malformed sperm indicate poor quality semen. Very young and very old bucks may have more sperm irregularities, as well as those who are deficient in selenium. A densometer can be used to count sperm, but semen color can give you some indication. Thick, milky semen is good. Thin, milky semen is mediocre and clear/amber semen may indicate poor quality. Sperm motility is difficult to check in collection samples. Physiology and biochemistry of the semen is also important. Semen evaluation is best left to a veterinarian or an experienced qualified semen collector/processor.
If he passes the breeding soundness examination with flying colors but he still not settling does, you need to consider other management possibilities. Is he overweight? Obesity definitely plays a big role in fertility. What are you feeding him? Feeds like timothy grass and clover with high estrogen content may suppress the antigens of a buck and in time the testicles may atrophy (shrink) and feel cold. An emaciated buck can become sterile. In either sex, the reproductive system is one of the first functions to shut down during starvation. Excess fat or thinness can be reversed with better management.
Reluctance or inability to mount may be due to painful hind legs, hips, stifles, hocks or feet, and the cause should be defined. Arthritis seems to be fairly common in older stud bucks. Is it due to excessive calcium in the diet or housing on cold, damp, bedding? All possible causes need to be considered. You can use a buck after injury, when he is healed, and if he is able to work, however, if you suspect a structural fault or disease, further use is not be recommended since he may pass these features. It is best to be very discriminate in propagating any negative traits; the buck is the major part of your herd.
A high fever in a buck can render him temporarily or permanently sterile. Sperm is produced at an optimum temperature, and this process is very sensitive to heat. If the temperature is increased dramatically, it affects the testicles and the quality and life span of sperm. A buck regulates the temperature of the scrotum and testes by controlling the distance they are from the body. When it is cold, the dartos muscle contracts to pull the testes closer to the body. When it is hot, the muscle relaxes and allows the testes to hang further from the body. When a buck has a fever it is almost impossible for his body to maintain the proper temperature for sperm production. Very hot weather can also render a buck temporarily sterile. Remember, the sperm in the ejaculate originated 4-6 weeks ago; what he produces today is a result of what happened way back then. This is an important fact to remember when you are looking for answers to a sterility problem or planning ahead for breeding.. Think in terms of more than just the last several weeks.
Infection may be another cause for sterility. If the penile sheath is injured it is vulnerable to infection. If the sheath is allowed to accumulate sebum (fatty secretion of the sebaceous glands) he may transmit coital vesicular exanthema which creates small ulcers on and around the vulva of the doe. For this and other reasons, cleanliness of the buck is very important, especially in a buck that is used heavily on a large variety of does from a number of herds. In heavy use, the buck's penis should be washed several times a month. The penis can be washed with soapy water, or a 1:5,000 dilution of Nolvasan™. Good hygiene can eliminate several problems that may eventually cause sterility.
Stones can become blocked in the urethra, causing sterility and sometimes death. When a buck or wether has a dietary imbalance of calcium and phosphorus, stones form in the bladder and move through the urethra. The urethra and ductus deferens join near the urinary bladder, so if the urethra is blocked neither sperm or urine will be able to exit the body. This is fairly common in wethers or bucks that are fed too much grain. Partial blockage is also possible. Treatment for this is difficult at best.
Other factors affecting sterility are anatomical defects, and other injuries and diseases. Scrotal hernias are seen in sheep and are presumed hereditary in that species. If a hernia (distention of one side of the scrotum with a movable loop of intestine) is identified and surgical correction is desired, the buck should be castrated.
Injuries or wounds involving the scrotum may result in purulent orchitis or periorchitis. Other causes of scrotal dermatitis include mange, bacterial infections, zinc deficiency and frost bite. Many different types of injuries may take place if two bucks are allowed to be in the same area while one is breeding; common ones are a broken penis and a broken leg.
Sperm granulomas are strongly correlated with the homozygous polled condition and can be avoided by culling all young bucks that are, by phenotype, homozygous for the polled gene. This condition is virtually unknown in the Pygmy, as it is a disqualifying fault in their Breed Standard. Another rarity is the protozoan parasite, Trichomonas. This protozoa has been observed in the semen of Alpine and Saanen bucks in France and Sardinia and in Angoras in South Africa. It infests the sheath and urethra of the buck, causing the quantity and quality of ejaculates, as well as libido, to decrease.
Testicular tumors in goats are rare but do occur.
It is possible to overwork a buck, especially when it is undernourished. Special attention should be given to the breeding buck's nutrition. Many bucks ignore their food during breeding season while increasing physical activity and the attentive owner should vary the diet to tempt him to eat.
A frequently used buck will also be less fertile per doe than a buck that has rest periods between services. After around 3 ejaculations the sperm count is reduced, and after 7 ejaculations the buck produces immature sperm that are incapable of fertilization. Overuse can be hard to determine since bucks can settle a hundred or more does in one season, depending on his condition, nutritional level and general health. It is better to err on the conservative side.
Genetics, nutrition, sanitation and other good management practices play important roles in the buck's life.
From birth a buck's body prepares itself for its main function - breeding. It's up to you to make sure that the things you can control, like proper nutrition and a positive environment, are in his favor. After all, he is the single most important ingredients in your breeding program.***
NEW BUCK BUYER
byMarvin Shurley
For The American Meat Goat Association
Select a herd sire with the utmost care and attention.
With all the new producers getting into the meat goat industry there are many questions being asked as to what breed of goats they should consider buying. There are many breeds and it really falls back on the producer to select what fits their individual taste in size, temperament, type, color, horned, polled, etc. A person would also be wise to investigate the local markets to see what sells for a premium in their area as this varies greatly across the U.S. due mainly to local ethnic influences.
Once a person has decided which type and breed of goat fits their individual needs as determined by independent research, then comes the time to purchase or trade for animals. At this time, if the potential producer is inexperienced in livestock, they would do well to enlist the aid of a knowledgeable "goat person" to aid them in selection. Be sure to let them know exactly what you want. Should you be able to find these exact animals, be prepared to pay a fair to premium price to fill your pens with your special goats.
Now that we've addressed some preliminary considerations to getting into goats, I'll get into the main purpose of this article. This is to admonish the newcomer to select their herd sire with the utmost care and attention. The reason for this is the fact that no other goat that you purchase will have as great an influence on your future in the industry as will the buck you purchase to service your does.
The producer knows what breed they want by now and so we go into selection. A very good suggestion at this time would be for the buyer to attend some breeding goat shows (if possible) which are being held for the specific breed that they are interested in. This is important because some of the finest representatives of any breed will always be present at theses events. Also this can give a person an idea as to what direction and phenotype (visual appearance) to breed towards should they be interested in the show segment of the meat goat, dairy goat, or fiber goat industry. Also at these shows they should have the opportunity to meet persons who are currently engaged in breeding the specific animals they are interested in. Industry publications are also an excellent source for names, addresses, and phone numbers of individual producers. After awhile the newcomer will begin to recognize names of some of the premier producers for the breed that they are interested in.
Now we contact the breeder whose animals best represent what we are looking for. Most of them will be happy to tell you what they have for sale, and the approximate prices for their animals. Having now gotten this far it is now time to make an appointment with the owner to view them. Please do this as far in advance as possible as most breeders are extremely busy people and will need some time to make sure their goats are available for viewing. You can't just drive up unannounced at many places and expect them to drop what they have going at that time; some may, but many won't.
Through your research you had already narrowed down your selections, but please remember not to be pressured into buying an animal not up to your standards. If you don't see what you want, thank them for their time and extend your search. No conscientious breeder will take offense if you are polite and explain your position. I wish to again remind you of your position; you are searching for the most important component of your future breeding program.
When you discover an animal you're interested in, attempt to find out all you can about him. Such as his birth rank; was he a single, twin, or triplet, or possibly a quadruplet. What was his birth weight? What was the animals average daily gain, weaning weight, and if an older animal, mature weight? If his sire and dam are on the premises ask to see them. If he is an older buck check to see if there are any of his offspring where you can see them.
While this article doesn't cover every aspect , I hope that it sheds some light on the buck selection process for our novice goat producer.
Mr. Shurley can be contacted at marvin@sonoratx.net
This article first appeared in Meat Goat News, a RRL Publication, in the March 1999 issue.Reprinted with permission of the author.
Conformation Traits For Breeding Bucks
A bucks main function in a profitable breeding operation is to get a high proportion of does bred early, during a mating period of six weeks or less. To achieve this bucks must be sound for breeding, they must be willing and able to serve a high percentage of does in heat and they must be free of any abnormalities of the penis, testicles, feet and legs.
Almost all bucks that are unsound for breeding can be detected during an examination for breeding soundness. This consists of a physical examination of testicles, legs and feet and a serving capacity test to measure a bucks serving capacity and to detect penis abnormalities and signs of arthritis.
The circumference of the scrotum is the best indicator of testicle size. The head and tail of the epididymis, which are the storage areas on the top and bottom of each testicle, are also examined for abnormalities.
The legs of a buck have a number of functions. Of these walking and load bearing are the most obvious, but all limbs need to be efficient shock absorbers as well. Hip arthritis, hock, knee, fetlock and stifle arthritis will effect a bucks breeding soundness. The hind leg has a weight bearing and propulsion role in mounting a doe. Bones of the hind leg are set at an angle so that the muscles, tendons and ligaments can assist the bones and joints in absorbing the concussion that results when the buck places its weight on the hindquarters, whether standing, walking or serving a doe.
Walking pattern viewed from behind a buck should pull his hind legs through, parallel to the direction of movement as he walks. He should not throw his legs inward or outward and the hind hoof should land in the print left by the front hoof. Post-legged and lame animals usually step short, whereas sickle-hocked animals commonly overstep, sometimes leading to stone damage of the pastern or dewclaw.
Preparing Bucks for the Breeding Season
By Jackie Nix
Let's face it. No one likes to handle bucks, myself included. They're big, smelly and strong. For this reason they are often overlooked in herd management. However, the male is vitally important. If a buck is not reproductively sound, the kidding rate will be reduced drastically and profits will be similarly affected. Therefore, in preparation for the breeding season, bucks should receive a little extra attention prior to being turned out with the does including: good nutrition, disease and parasite control, a breeding soundness exam, foot care and a general physical eamination.
Nutrition
It is very important that bucks be in good physical condition prior to the breeding season, but not too fat. An active buck with a high libido (sex drive) can literally forget to eat during the breeding season. An adult buck can be left thin but a yearling buck can actually be stunted permanently. A young buck needs nutrients not only for semen production and mating but also for his own body growth. It takes about 60 days for spermatozoa to form and mature inside the buck's reproductive tract. Therefore, it is vital that bucks receive adequate nutrition prior to as well as during the breeding season for optimum performance. If your pasture conditions are not adequate right now, you may want to consider a protein supplement to make sure that bucks are in peak condition going into the breeding season. This is especially true for young, immature bucks that are still growing. There are many commercial protein supplement products available including the Sweetlix 20% All Natural protein block formulated especially for goats. Choose the supplement option that works best for you.
Every goat producer should have a working knowledge of the nutritional needs of their animals. While the purpose of this article is not to teach ration balancing, on average a buck will require roughly 5% of his body weight in dry matter intake (the weight of the feed with all water removed) per day. For example, a 200-pound buck will eat 10 pounds of dry matter feed per day. If he is receiving hay that has a dry matter content of 80% (20% moisture), he will then consume 12.5 pounds of hay per day on an as fed basis (10 lbs./0.80 = 12.5 lbs.). An average meat or fiber producing buck will require 60% TDN (total digestible nutrients), 11% protein, 0.4% calcium and 0.2% phosphorus in his total diet. It is important to make sure that the calcium to phosphorus ratio is at least 2:1 to prevent urinary calculi formation. It is also important to point out that these nutritional requirements will vary according to age, breed of goat, activity level, desired weight gain, and other factors. Please consult a nutritionist, Cooperative Extension agent or veterinarian to formulate a ration according to the specific needs of your herd.
Disease and Parasite ControlDisease and heavy parasitic infections will also reduce a buck's sexual performance. Here are some steps that you can follow to control disease and parasites.
Follow a preventative program for internal and external parasites dictated by your local conditions.
Promptly treat any animals showing signs of infection.
Isolate new animals and animals returning from shows for a period of 30 days before adding or returning to the herd.
Vaccinate bucks for enterotoxemia and tetanus whenever does are vaccinated.
Be sure to have a postmortem examination (necropsy) performed for all suspicious deaths. In most states, the Dept. of Agriculture provides a service of free necropsies on livestock in state-run laboratories. Contact the Dept. of Agriculture in your state to receive more information about this service.
Breeding Soundness ExamBefore going on a long trip you probably give your car a tune-up and make sure that all the important parts are functioning correctly. The same concept applies for your bucks. You should physically examine all bucks prior to the breeding season each year to make sure that all "important parts" are functioning correctly. Just because a buck was sound a year ago doesn't mean that he's sound today!
You can begin by carefully examining the penis and prepuce (sheath). To do this, sit the buck on its rump with its back to you (as if you were going to shear him). Then gently push the prepuce down to reveal the penis. If the penis does not appear, gentle forward pressure in the area behind the scrotum will place pressure on the sigmoid flexure and thus protrude the penis. When inspecting, make sure that the penis and prepuce are not adhered together. Next check the penis for sores or cuts. Also feel the pizzle (thin process on the end of the penis) to make sure that no urinary stones are lodged there. Next visually feel the testes. Make sure that they are cool to the touch (heat may indicate a possible infection), roughly the same size, firm to the touch (not too hard or soft), and have no unusual lumps. If abnormalities are detected in the testes, the semen should be evaluated by a veterinarian or reproductive physiologist before allowing the buck to breed does.
Foot CareBucks should receive hoof trimming and an examination of their conformation prior to the breeding season. Foot care is very important since problems will hinder the buck from actively seeking out does and mounting them. Bucks who find it painful to walk or mount will be reluctant to ejaculate even if they do attempt to mount. Possible causes of feet and leg problems include foot rot, overgrown hooves, improper foot trimmings, injury, or CAE.
While you are handling the buck, check his eyes as well. Bucks rely on sight to find does in heat in a large pasture setting, so make sure that the buck's vision is not impaired by cataracts, pink eye, excessive hair or other causes.
In summary, it is of vital importance that bucks be reproductively sound prior to the breeding season. One can prepare bucks for the breeding season with good nutrition; regular health care and frequent foot care. Other precautions include breeding soundness examinations and general physical examinations prior to turning bucks out with does. If forage conditions in late summer are poor, you may want to consider supplementation to ensure optimum spermatozoa production in your bucks, especially for young, growing bucks.
Jackie Nix is a nutritionist with Sweetlix Livestock Supplement Systems and an authority on goat production. You can contact her at jnix@sweetlix or 1-800-325-1486 to ask questions or to receive more information about the Sweetlix line of supplement products for goats. ***
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