This document provides an overview of herd health management for small ruminants. It discusses the four components of herd health management: good husbandry, proper nutrition, proper medicine, and biosecurity. It covers observing the herd, basic physiology, signs of health vs sickness, keeping the herd healthy through good husbandry like ventilation and bedding. It also discusses proper nutrition, vaccinations, common diseases, record keeping, and a meat goat herd health calendar.

1. Managing Herd Health A comprehensive overview for the small ruminant David Taylor – Certified Meat Goat Quality Producer

3. Observing Your Herd/Flock Daily observation of animal behavior Observation of feces Observation of feed and water intake

4. Basic Sheep Physiology Body Temperature: 100.9° F-103.8° F Pulse/ heart rate: 70 - 80 beats per minute Respiration rate: 12 - 20 breaths per minute Rumen movements: 1 – 2 per minute Puberty: 5-7 months Estrus ("heat") cycle: 18 days Estrus (standing heat): 28 hours Gestation (length of pregnancy): 145 days Breeding season: August through January

5. Basic Goat Physiology Body Temperature: 103 - 104° F Pulse/ heart rate: 70 – 90 beats per minute Respiration Rate:12 – 20 breaths per minute Rumen movements: 1 – 2 per minute Puberty: 4 – 10 months Estrous (“Heat”) cycle: 21 days Estrus (standing heat): 12 – 48 hours Gestation (length of pregnancy): 150 days Breeding season: August through January

6. Healthy Vs. Sick

7. Keeping Your Herd/Flock Healthy Good husbandry Proper Nutrition Proper medicine Biosecurity

8. Key Management Point: A properly managed, healthy herd is a key to profitability.

9. Good Husbandry Know the nature of the beast: What they like to eat How they prefer to eat What company they prefer

10. Know the differences Grazers Browsers

11. Avoid Overcrowding Issues: Pecking order Bullying Respiratory problems Rapid spread of contagious diseases Increased parasite populations

12. Proper Ventilation Improper ventilation: Ammonia build-up Irritates lungs Pre-disposes animals to respiratory infections Doesn’t allow proper air movement Wet, humid air Increased fly populations Mold buildup Constantly damp ground

13. Clean, Dry Bedding Dirty, wet bedding or wet, muddy ground: Medium for bacterial growth Foot rot Foot scald Mastitis Would you want to sleep in a wet bed?

14. Controlling Parasite loads Avoid overcrowding Avoid overgrazing – rotate pastures Keep herds/ flocks off of pastures until morning dew dries Keep feed and hay off of the ground Perform periodic fecal egg counts Deworm only when necessary

15. Coccidia Single-celled organism Leading cause of economic loss in sheep and goats. Causes diarrhea/ soft stool Decreased feed conversion and productivity

16. Coccidia treatment options:

18. Feed Goats: Goat feedFeed Sheep: Sheep feed Sheep are sensitive to copper. Copper toxicity can kill them. Sheep feeds are lower in copper than other feeds. Typical feed requirements are 1-2 pounds per head/ day

19. Quality Forage Key to profitability Difficult to make up for losses in productivity from poor quality forage/ hay. Buy the good stuff!

20. Key Management Point: A proper, balanced nutrition program is a key to profitability.

21. Proper Medicine Majority of medical care done by producer: Preventative medicine Vaccinations Parasite control Castrations Disbudding Tail docking Assist with parturition Administer prescribed medications KEEPING ON-FARM HERD HEALTH RECORDS

22. Record Keeping Software www.lionedge.com

23. Basic Vaccine Protocol Clostridium perfringins types C and D and tetanus 2 cc subcutaneously at 8 and 12 weeks of age for kids & lambs Yearly booster usually one month prior to parturition

24. Recognizing Early Signs of Disease Ears down/ out to the side Slightly drooped head Spacey look in the eyes Ruffled coat Standing hunched Decreased appetite Not interacting with other animals (off on their own)

25. Veterinary Medicine Role of the Veterinarian: Diagnose and treat disease Consultation on: Nutrition Biosecurity Husbandry practices Performs surgical procedures Develops customized vaccination protocols Parasite diagnosis and control recommendations

26. Key Management Point: Proper medical practices by the producer and a good working relationship with a qualified veterinarian are keys to profitability.

27. Biosecurity Proper Aseptic techniques Clean/ disinfect wounds and areas prior to treatment One needle per animal Disinfect tattooing and castrating equipment between animals Wearing gloves

28. Biosecurity Keep a closed herd Quarantine new and/or sick animals Limit visitors to your farm Use disposable boots for visitors Don’t wear your barn clothes and shoes to other farms

29. Key Management Point: A proper plan for biosecurity will protect you and your herd/flock. This enables you to keep your herd/flock, a key to profitability.

30. Meat Goat Herd Health Calendar January Evaluate pasture and forage conditions. Monitor body conditions of does; supplement if necessary. Prepare for kidding. February Sort pregnant from open does. Begin feeding pregnant does. Evaluate does and bucks; sell unsound or inferior animals. Monitor internal parasites (FAMACHA). Treat as needed. Inspect for and treat external parasites. March Begin kidding; check teats for milk flow; identify kids. April Finish kidding. Continue to supplement lactating does. May Consider weaning small, stunted kids. Discontinue supplement feeding to does. Monitor internal parasites through fecal samples. Castrate unwanted bucks. Taken from Goat Medicine, 2nd Edition by Mary C. Smith, DVM and David M. Sherman, DVM

32. Barren female: missed two seasons in a row.

33. Bad teats or udders: too big or too small (mastitis).

34. Bad mouths: over- or undershot jaw.

35. Structural defects: bad feet and legs or back.

36. Bad testicles: too small or infected (epididymitis).

37. Unthriftiness: due to old age or disease.Taken from Goat Medicine, 2nd Edition by Mary C. Smith, DVM and David M. Sherman, DVM

38. September Flush under-conditioned does. Treat for lice if necessary. October Turn out bucks with does; breeding ratio 1 buck/ 20 to 25 does, depending on pasture size and breeding conditions Continue to flush does for two to three weeks after buck turnout. November Evaluate pasture and forage conditions. Determine does’ body conditions and plan winter supplemental feeding program. Monitor internal parasites through fecal samples. If heavy, treat after first hard freeze. December Remove bucks and feed to regain body condition. Evaluate pasture and forage conditions. Watch body conditions of does; supplement if necessary. Check for lice and use a pour-on lice treatment if needed. Taken from Goat Medicine, 2nd Edition by Mary C. Smith, DVM and David M. Sherman, DVM

39. Meat Goat Management Wheel Available from University of Missouri Extension

40. Common Infections and Diseases in Sheep and Goats

41. Upper Respiratory Infections and Pneumonia Most common ailment Symptoms: Coughing, sneezing, mucopurulent (yellow-greenish) nasal discharge, sometimes fever Can be caused by moldy, dusty hay and/or environment, overcrowding, damp/wet living space, stress from moving and/or changes in nutrition. Treatment: Oxytetracycline Nuflor® Injectable Solution

42. Chlamydiosis Major cause of abortion Causes late-term abortions, still-births, and weak kids Bacteria spread through urine and feces Treatment: Remove all sick and abortive does from herd for three weeks to clear infection Treat herd with Tetracycline to prevent further infections Remove and burn all fetal and placental tissues WEAR LATEX GLOVES WHEN HANDLING TISSUES; can affect humans and cause miscarriages.

43. Toxoplasmosis Second major cause of abortion Cats are primary hosts passing oocysts or infective eggs in their stool Causes white, rice grain-like lesions on the cotyledons of the placenta Treatment: Remove all abortive does from herd for four weeks Remove and burn all aborted tissues Dispose of all feed possible possibly contaminated by cat feces Prevent cats from defecating on feed and hay

44. Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) Caused by a retrovirus Transmitted through colostrum and milk Can cause decreased productivity in a herd

45. Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) Four Forms: CNS Form (Central Nervous System) Affects kids 2-4 months of age Weakness, ataxia, cannot stand Arthritic Form Affects adults Most common form seen Swollen joints, then can’t walk Pneumonia Form Causes pneumonia in late pregnancy when doe is stressed Mastitic Form “Hard Bag” Udder is swollen and firm but contains little milk

46. Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) Prevention: No treatment is available Periodic blood test for CAE Bring in only CAE-negative animals into herd Bottle/bucket raise kids on heat-treated colostrum and pasteurized milk 165° F for 15 seconds kills the virus

47. Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL)

48. Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) Caused by Corynebacteriumpseudotuberculosis Can live for long periods of time in soil, extremely difficult to eradicate The most commonly seen sign is an enlargement of one or more of the lymph nodes. The enlarged lymph nodes are very thick-walled and filled with thick, greenish pus

49. Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) Occasionally, internal lymph nodes are affected and results in a wasting syndrome. Once a sheep or goat is infected, it remains infected for life. Transmitted orally and by direct contact with skin. Some animals are resistant, others are very susceptible Location of lymph nodes

50. Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) Treatment: This disease can affect humans - gloves should be worn. Antibiotics are not effective Affected animals should be isolated and abscesses opened and drained away from the herd and grazing areas. All pus and discharge should be caught and disposed of to prevent spread. Isolate affected animal(s) from the herd until the opened abscess is completely healed. Animals with multiple abscesses should be culled. Commercial vaccines are available; custom vaccines can be made from organisms in your herd. Two initial vaccines and then annual boosters.

51. Contagious Ecthyma, Sore Mouth, Orf Caused by a pox virus Causes sores around mouth and lips, sometimes on teats, vulva, face and legs Extremely painful Can cause decreased appetite due to pain.

52. Contagious Ecthyma, Sore Mouth, Orf Spread by direct contact with infected animal, and by indirect contact of scabs and saliva in the environment Scabs can be infective in environment for up to one year Animals can develop some immunity Not complete immunity Repeat outbreaks may occur

53. Contagious Ecthyma, Sore Mouth, Orf Treatment: Contagious to humans – wear gloves when treating animals Clean and disinfect affected areas with chlorhexidine solution Apply antibiotic ointment to lesions to prevent secondary bacterial infections Make sure animal continues to eat; use pain medications as needed. Vaccines are available for problem herds.

54. Ringworm Fungal Infection Contracted through direct contact with infected animals and from environment contaminated with fungal spores Itchy, circular patches of hair loss Will affect humans - WEAR GLOVES WHEN TREATING ANIMALS Treatment: Topical 2% iodine 1% Miconazole spray 2% Chlorhexidine ointment 3% Captans

55. Recommended Resources Available through Langston University Goat & Research Extension http://www.luresext.edu/goats/mgph.html