Nimbkar Boer Goat, India

Goat Health and Diseases

Vaccination of goats is vital to prevent common diseases including Rift Valley Fever (RVF), a viral disease;  Foot and Mouth, which is an infectious viral disease that is fatal; Goat Pox (Variola caprina), which is a contagious viral disease caused by a pox virus that affects goats and black quarter (Gangraena emphysematosa), which is an infectious bacterial disease of caused by the Clostridium chauvoei bacteria.

Goats also need to be dewormed (known as 'Drenching') regularly and humidity and location influence the prevalence. Anti-parasitic drugs should always be administered to  goats orally and the appropriate drug families should be rotated on an annual basis, to slow the rate of drug resistance. Anti-parasitic drugs, called "anthelmintics" should be used wisely and sparingly to control internal parasites.

Tics, mites and fleas (ectoparasites) also need to be treated. A study found that lice preferred the head, back, ears and belly, while ticks were found in the hooves and inter-digital spaces as well as at the sites listed for lice¹.

¹ Prevalence of ectoparasites in goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) brought for slaughter in the Gwagwalada area, Abuja, Nigeria H. S. IDRIS, H. UMAR Article first published online: 21 MAR 2007  DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-5967.2007.00048.x
 

External links:

American Dairy Goat Association
American Goat Society
British Goat Society
Dairy Goat Society of Australia
DEFRA UK
National Pygmy Goat Association
Pygmy Goat Club
Welfare of Goats During Transport

Nimbkar Boer Goat, India, Goat Health and Diseases, Vaccination, goats, common diseases, Rift Valley Fever (RVF), viral disease, Foot and Mouth, infectious viral disease, Goat Pox, Variola caprina, contagious, viral, pox virus, black quarter, Gangraena emphysematosa, bacterial disease, Clostridium chauvoei bacteria, dewormed, Drenching, humidity, location, Anti-parasitic drugs, orally, drug resistance, anthelmintics, control internal parasites, Tics, mites and fleas, ectoparasites, hooves and inter-digital spaces

Updated 6 March 2022 ©