very anemic goat.

[VKat]

Monitoring the kids is best. Finding someone local that can do your fecals or you learning yourself is best. Cocci is a real kid issue. That can be checked with fecals also. The kids will need a CDT too.

Have the goats been tested for CAE?

If the does are positive they will pass it to their kids. If you aren't sure than you could pull the kids heat treat the colostrum and bottle feed treated colostrum and pasteurized milk.

You do not want CAE!

I am going to learn to do my own here. My microscope came today! So I am getting ready to give it my first try. However I think that while I learn, it's good to send sample to some pros.

I have heard of CAE, but no one has any swollen or stiff joints.
I can get the test done anyway for peace of mind though. I got a blood test kit from biotracking for pregnancy confirmation, and they also do an ELISA for CAE
If you guys think that I should just test all three?

My current worry is about any droppings in their area re-infecting them or infecting kids.
Is that a potential problem?
What measures can I take to make sure?
Thanks!

 

[VKat]

I do not like sweet feed because it can mold. If you go through a bag fairly fast it should be fine. Glad to hear you are getting a fecal done. Does tend to loose their natural immunity against worms when they get close to kidding.

I do copper boluses and they do help the worms, albeit only temporarily. I use the copasure for cattle and break it into smaller doses.

I read Copasure has really positive reviews. I found a goat size on Jeffers. I have also read conflicting info on how to administer them. How do you give yours?

 

[Pearce Pastures]

We use the goat copasure. Use the provided weight chart. Have a drenching syringe of water ready, toss it to the back of their throat, and squirt water at it---they will swallow.

Not sure on the molasses but my experience is why I am a bit against the sweet feed and use of molasses regularly.

We sold a sweet little doe to a couple who were loving it to death, gave it sweet feed right off instead of regular feed because they thought she would like it. Well she did. Then they called me sobbing when she was falling over, couldn't stand right, and was not eating.

I had them rush her to out vet where he checked her out thoroughly and diagnosed her with polioencephalomalacia, brought on by too much sulfur in her feed. He dosed her with thiamine, gave fluids, and told them no more sweet feeds.

Might not happen to all of them but it is not needed and there are bunches of studies that have confirmed the connections so we just don't do it and don't suggest it to others.

 

[VKat]

Thanks!
I got Selma to eat her Copasure pill inside some marshmallow. She was easy. My other two... not so much. Guess I'm going to have to pill them
I'm mixing the sweet feed with the regular pellets, and having read your experience, I think I may get another bag of regular pellets to continue doing that so they aren't getting too much of the sweet stuff.
We are having a problem out here lately with stores running out of things. My poor turkeys are eating meat bird crumbles right now because there wasn't any of the flock pellets I usually give them. *sigh*

Selma is continuing to seem well- active and good appetite, but she is still very thin and has pale lids.
I'm going to try and get a photo to see what you guys think.