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Health Strategies for MeatHealth Strategies for MeatGoatGoat ProductionProduction

Susan L. McClanahan, DVMSusan L. McClanahan, DVM

University of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaLarge Animal HospitalLarge Animal Hospital

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Homework Homework Visit meat goat farms Visit meat goat farmsGet to know several successful meat goatGet to know several successful meat goatproducersproducers

Attend seminars Attend seminarsResearch crops that grow well in your areaResearch crops that grow well in your areaResearch materials from reputable sourcesResearch materials from reputable sources

Determine your goals (how many animals, timeDetermine your goals (how many animals, timecommitment, fun or profit?)commitment, fun or profit?)Determine special environmental needsDetermine special environmental needs(extreme weather, water, heat, wind)(extreme weather, water, heat, wind)

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Visit Farms Visit Farms

Look at shelters and fencesLook at shelters and fencesLook at farm layout and design (males,Look at farm layout and design (males,

juveniles, females, isolation) juveniles, females, isolation)

Ask what type of feeds are used Ask what type of feeds are usedWhat vaccines and deworming protocols?What vaccines and deworming protocols?

Look at recordsLook at recordsHandle the animals, learn body condition scoringHandle the animals, learn body condition scoringMake a list of questions for each farmMake a list of questions for each farm

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Homework Homework

Devise your record keeping systemDevise your record keeping system(animals, breeding, weights, production,(animals, breeding, weights, production,performance, feeds, financials)performance, feeds, financials)Join your local affiliate goat groupJoin your local affiliate goat group

Visit Langston University website on meat Visit Langston University website on meatgoat productiongoat productionIdentify your veterinarian and nutritionistIdentify your veterinarian and nutritionist

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Farm LayoutFarm Layout

Barn: be able to drive up to barn (feed delivery,Barn: be able to drive up to barn (feed delivery,emergency work, unloading animals)emergency work, unloading animals)How much land?: depends on #s, type of How much land?: depends on #s, type of

pasture, weather, geographic locationpasture, weather, geographic locationPen setPen set --up: each pen has access to a shelterup: each pen has access to a shelterNever too many gates with small catch pens forNever too many gates with small catch pens for

easy animal flow (more likely to do things)easy animal flow (more likely to do things) Ask producers: What would you change if you Ask producers: What would you change if youcould to it over again?could to it over again?

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Service and SupportService and Support

Know the seller and the animals you areKnow the seller and the animals you aregoing to purchasegoing to purchaseWhat kind of service and support can theWhat kind of service and support can theseller offer?seller offer?Education: feeding, vaccines, deworming,Education: feeding, vaccines, deworming,care, veterinarian, varies depending oncare, veterinarian, varies depending onfarm and location and number of animalsfarm and location and number of animals

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Research Crops and ForagesResearch Crops and Forages

There is no one right way to feed a meatThere is no one right way to feed a meatgoatgoatCheck Langston University meat goatCheck Langston University meat goatration software programration software programDetermine how to take care of yourDetermine how to take care of your

pasturespasturesCounty extension agents or universityCounty extension agents or universityfaculty are a good starting pointfaculty are a good starting point

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Determine GoalsDetermine Goals

Determine long term goalsDetermine long term goalsNiche market or Financial EnterpriseNiche market or Financial Enterprise

Acreage vs. numbers of animals Acreage vs. numbers of animalsLifestyleLifestyle

Be realistic with time commitmentBe realistic with time commitmentBusiness or hobbyBusiness or hobby

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Purchasing Your AnimalsPurchasing Your Animals

Know the sellerKnow the seller Ask for records on animals (health, Ask for records on animals (health,production, identification, financials)production, identification, financials)Buyer beware!Buyer beware!Purchasing poor animals, infertile animals,Purchasing poor animals, infertile animals,

diseases, parasites, or culls is very costlydiseases, parasites, or culls is very costlyPlace animals in quarantine (3Place animals in quarantine (3 --4 weeks) if 4 weeks) if other animals present on farmother animals present on farm

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Individual Goat IdentificationIndividual Goat Identification

Vitally important for knowing how each goat is Vitally important for knowing how each goat isperforming (now and future)performing (now and future)Permanent identification required for accuratePermanent identification required for accurate

record keepingrecord keepingRecords required for management decisionsRecords required for management decisions(breeding, disease control, treatment,(breeding, disease control, treatment,

production, culling)production, culling)Records required for all treatments with meatRecords required for all treatments with meatwithdrawal times recordedwithdrawal times recorded

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Health ManagementHealth Management

Formulate plan for health managementFormulate plan for health managementwith your veterinarianwith your veterinarianProtocols for treatments of commonProtocols for treatments of commondiseases, routine procedures such asdiseases, routine procedures such asnewborn kid management, late gestationnewborn kid management, late gestation

does, vaccination, deworming, urinarydoes, vaccination, deworming, urinarystone prevention in wethers, pneumoniastone prevention in wethers, pneumonia

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NutritionNutrition

Be proactive, know body condition scoringBe proactive, know body condition scoringPerformance related to nutrition, poor nutritionPerformance related to nutrition, poor nutritionmeans loss financial opportunitiesmeans loss financial opportunities

Get to know Jeremy GeskeGet to know Jeremy GeskeManage feeds: storage, source, feed additives,Manage feeds: storage, source, feed additives,bunk managementbunk management

Provide good access to water to maximize waterProvide good access to water to maximize waterintakeintakePrevent urinary stones in wethersPrevent urinary stones in wethers

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ReproductionReproduction

Reproduction: pregnant does, fertileReproduction: pregnant does, fertilebucks, healthy goat kids required !bucks, healthy goat kids required !Records: breeding, planned breeding,Records: breeding, planned breeding,abortion prevention, nutrition, goat kidabortion prevention, nutrition, goat kidrearingrearing

Ultrasound pregnant does: feeding openUltrasound pregnant does: feeding openor infertile does=hidden financial lossesor infertile does=hidden financial losses

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Infectious Disease ProgramsInfectious Disease Programs

Related to management strategiesRelated to management strategiesPoor hygiene and management leads toPoor hygiene and management leads toincreased goat kid mortalityincreased goat kid mortalityCleanliness: related to risk of infectiousCleanliness: related to risk of infectiousdiseases (Johnes, Salmonella, parasites)diseases (Johnes, Salmonella, parasites)

Ventilation: related to risk of pneumonia Ventilation: related to risk of pneumoniaBiosecurity: quarantine, know the sellerBiosecurity: quarantine, know the seller

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Parasite ControlParasite Control

Control coccidiosis: major cause of diarrhea inControl coccidiosis: major cause of diarrhea ingrowing kids, cleanliness, coccidiostatsgrowing kids, cleanliness, coccidiostatsCleanliness: feedbunk management, pastures,Cleanliness: feedbunk management, pastures,

decrease fecal contamination in feedsdecrease fecal contamination in feedsEvaluate parasite levels before deworming: fecalEvaluate parasite levels before deworming: fecalfloats and fecal egg countsfloats and fecal egg countsRoutine deworming without knowledge of Routine deworming without knowledge of parasite load can lead to resistant parasites!parasite load can lead to resistant parasites!

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Meat Quality AssuranceMeat Quality Assurance

Need to avoid drug residues in meat!Need to avoid drug residues in meat!Many drugs not approved for goatsMany drugs not approved for goats

Accurate record keeping Accurate record keepingJudicious use of antibioticsJudicious use of antibiotics

Work with your veterinarianWork with your veterinarianFood Animal Residue Avoidance DatabaseFood Animal Residue Avoidance DatabaseIf accidental drug used, report itIf accidental drug used, report it

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Disease SurveillanceDisease Surveillance

Keep up to date recordsKeep up to date recordsUtilize the Minnesota State Diagnostic LabUtilize the Minnesota State Diagnostic Lab All dead animals: necropsy All dead animals: necropsyNecropsy: is the most important diagnostic tool,Necropsy: is the most important diagnostic tool,reflects herd health, money well spentreflects herd health, money well spent

Provides: mineral levels in liver, fecal analysis,Provides: mineral levels in liver, fecal analysis,evidence of chronic or ongoing diseaseevidence of chronic or ongoing diseaseSerologic testing: CAEV, JohnesSerologic testing: CAEV, Johnes

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ConclusionConclusion

Goat herds: very diverse, requires healthGoat herds: very diverse, requires healthmanagement approaches individualized formanagement approaches individualized foreach herdeach herdHealth should be based on good nutrition,Health should be based on good nutrition,prevention, and not disease outbreaksprevention, and not disease outbreaks

Time and commitment required: oneTime and commitment required: oneshot to fix all problems does not existshot to fix all problems does not exist

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Questions or Comments?Questions or Comments?

Take things slowlyTake things slowlyLearning curve is steep during the firstLearning curve is steep during the firstyear (s)year (s)Continue to educate ones self Continue to educate ones self Continue to strive for healthy, highContinue to strive for healthy, highperformance goatsperformance goats