Goat Health around Kidding Time

Chris Buschbeck

Markdale Veterinary Services

Goat Health around Kidding Time

• Preparation for kidding time• Abortions • Hypocalcemia/pregnancy toxemia• Prolapses• Dystocia• Hypothermia• Mastitis

Breeding

• Kidding starts at breeding• Preparation of the does• Selection of the buck• Buck to Doe ratio• Tight season = concentrated kidding

Gestation

• Implantation and placentation – 30 days that determine kidding success

• Development• Growth

Pre-kidding preparations

• Nutrition• Vaccination• Supplies• Barn set-up

Nutrition

• Water• Protein• Energy• Minerals

Vaccination

• Clostridial Vaccine (Tetanus, Pulpy Kidney, Enterotoxemia)

EVERYONE, ALWAYS, NO EXCEPTIONS

Vaccinate kids at 3 and 4 month of age and booster annually before kidding

• Caseous Lymphadenitis can be combined with clostridial vaccination

• Chlamydia abortion as needed, no cat

vaccines

Supplies

• Gloves • Lubricant• Thermometer• Feeding tube• Ketamalt/Glycol• Dextrose• Selenium

Abortion in Goat Herds

• Abortion rates in an unaffected herd–< 2%

• Abortion storm– 15 to 70% pregnancies affected–Often clustered in time

• Endemic infection– 5 to 7%–Mistaken as “normal”

Abortion

• Infectious or non-infectious (stress/I/Se)

• Chlamydia – 100d+, mummies, weak/stillborn, thick placenta, vaccine, zoonotic

• Q-Fever – abortion, stillbirth, weak, zoonotic

• Toxoplasmosis – protozoan, cats/rodents, resorption, mummies,weak/stillborn, zoonotic

Chlamydophila abortus

• How does it present?– Fresh abortions– Severe placentitis– Stillbirths– Weak kids– Increase # of open females– Bloody tails

C. abortus

• If infected late in pregnancy– Will abort next gestation

• If infected as kids– Will abort at first gestation

• No natural immunity until abort• Recovered animals do not abort

againbut may be carriers

Toxoplasmosis

• Cats get infected by eating infected rodents/birds/infected material

• Pass oocysts for up to 2 weeks• Last up to 18 months and contaminate feed and

pasture• Infection leads to immunity• If pregnant at the time, fetus and placenta get infected• Mummies, abortions• Stillbirth, weak kids

Toxoplasmosis Control

• Control cats• Protect feed• Control rodents• Addition of Deccox to ration• Immunity before pregnancy

difficult to achieve consistently

Vaccine in Europe

Q-Fever (Coxiellosis)

• Severe placentitis• Abortions – fresh

– Failure to dilate cervix – Ruptured uterus

• Stillbirth• Weak kids

– May present as higher than expectedstillbirth, neonatal mortality problem

Diagnosis

• Submit fetus and placenta for diagnosis – as fresh as possible and as many as possible

• ZOONOTIC – infects people • wear gloves and dispose materials wash thoroughly pregnant women at risk

Ketosis/Hypocalcemia

• Pre/post kidding• “Pregnancy Toxemia”• Calcium and energy• Ketamalt/Glycol• Calcium borogluconate• Energy density in ration• Vitamin/mineral balance

Kidding Problems

• Prolapse – Vagina or Uterus• Malpresentation• Fetal-Maternal Disproportion• Ringwomb• Twisted Uterus

Kidding solutions

• Lube and patience• 30-30-30 rule• Process kids after birth = strip,

dip, sip, selenium• Investigate herd problems early

Kid Survival

• Colostrum• More colostrum• Proper bonding or• Adjusting to feeder• Shelter

Hypothermia/Starvation

• Number 1 kid killer• Need to know age and temperature• Cut-off points 6 hours 37oC brown fat digestive function• Above 37oC – stomach tube and warm

Hypothermia treatment

• Under 6 hours – warm to at least 37oC, then feed milk• Over 6 hours 1- give intra-peritoneal

glucose 2- warm to at least 37oC 3- feed milk

Mastitis

• Infection of the mammary gland• Clinical-subclinical• Acute-chronic• Contagious-environmental• Secondary to other disease Caseous, CAE

Udder health management

• Eliminate existing infection• Prevent new infection• Monitor udder health

dry off

Therapycullingrecords

Record Keeping

• Individual permanent animal ID – eartag, tattoo

• Write it down – NOW• Paper vs computer records Health, Treatments Breeding Production

• Use the records to analyze your operation

Questions?