Goat Management Characteristics n Goat population worldwide is

Goat Management

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

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

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

Reproduction n 3 systems for breeding n Pasture Breeding n AI n Hand Mating

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

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

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

Take catheter and insert

Place catheter in cervix

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

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

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

Castration n Done before 12 weeks n 3 methods n Knife n Burdizzo n Elastrator

Knife

Burdizzo

Elastrator

Identification n 4 different methods n Tattooing n Neck chains n Branding n Ear notching

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

Hoof Trimming

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

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

Deworming n 3 types of dewormers n Avermectin n Benzimidazoles n Imidazothiazole

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

n Barber pole worm egg

n Haemonchus adults in the abomasum

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

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