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- Every Boer goat breeder should establish a comprehensive animal health programme tailored to their farm and environment.
- Pregnant ewes should be vaccinated six to four weeks before kidding to ensure that kids develop sufficient immunity.
- Ewes put with a ram for the first time should receive a live vaccine against enzootic abortion.
- Hooves should be trimmed every six weeks.
- It is essential to develop a comprehensive vaccination and dosing schedule that includes hoof care and dipping routines.
Every Boer goat breeder should establish a comprehensive animal health programme tailored to their farm and environment.
Ilse Lombard, owner of the well-known Ilse Lombard Boer Goat Stud near Vrede, explains that she vaccinates her flock during the autumn months, with a booster in spring. This helps protect her goats against Pasteurella and diseases such as pulpy kidney, kid dysentery, clostridial uterine infections, tetanus, blackleg, and redgut.
Click here to read Boer goat management (Part 2): Dosing for success.
Ewe and kid vaccinations
Pregnant ewes should be vaccinated six to four weeks before kidding to ensure that kids develop sufficient immunity. It is advised to vaccinate ewes a month before kidding if foot-and-mouth disease occurs in your area.
Ewes put with a ram for the first time should receive a live vaccine against enzootic abortion. Lombard does this at least six weeks before the breeding season starts. This one-time vaccination provides up to five years of protection – an investment well worth the cost, as it helps ensure optimal kidding outcomes.
When purchasing pregnant ewes, use the inactivated vaccine against enzootic abortion, followed by a booster dose four weeks later, since inactive vaccines are less potent. “Never vaccinate pregnant ewes with the live vaccine,” Lombard warns. “It can lead to abortions, and no producer can afford to lose kids.”
Lombard vaccinates her kids against Pasteurella at two weeks of age, particularly during the cold winter months when they are most vulnerable to pneumonia, which can be fatal. At two months, the kids receive a broad-spectrum vaccine to protect against pulpy kidney and other clostridial diseases, followed by a booster dose one month later.
She cautions that stud breeders who intend to retain rams for breeding should vaccinate them between two and four months of age against epididymitis, a condition that can lead to infertility. However, rams older than four months should not be vaccinated, as the vaccine can trigger the very disease it aims to prevent.
Dip treatment and hoof care
Each region faces unique challenges with external parasites such as ticks, lice, and mites. In Lombard’s area, lice are the primary concern, and she finds that dipping remains the most effective method of control, particularly during the summer months. Other effective approaches include spraying or washing animals with a dip solution. Pour-on treatments can also be used in winter but should not be applied to kids younger than two months.
Hooves should be trimmed every six weeks, especially in areas with little to no rocks or stones. Rams that receive concentrate feed require trimming every three weeks, as the feed promotes quicker hoof growth. Neglecting hoof care can hinder a ram’s mobility, reduce his breeding efficiency, and ultimately shorten his lifespan.
“If a goat’s hooves become overgrown, the pasterns may sag, limiting mobility. If this has already occurred, trim the hooves every three to four days until corrected. Regular walking also helps strengthen the muscles that support the pasterns and aids recovery.”
Vaccination and dosing schedule
It is essential to develop a comprehensive vaccination and dosing schedule that includes hoof care and dipping routines. Every farm is unique, so each programme will differ according to the season, depending on rainfall patterns and the prevalence of diseases such as Rift Valley fever or cryptosporidiosis, which call for additional vaccinations.
A practical recommendation is to structure the schedule using at least four columns: animal group specifies which animals require treatment, as not all will be in the same production phase; treatment schedule indicates when each treatment should take place, providing an overview of planned farm activities; medication used helps ensure that correct quantities are purchased and available on time; purpose of treatment helps to track potential disease issues on the farm.
Lombard stresses the importance of active disease monitoring: “Be a vigilant producer. Keep your ears open for reports of local disease outbreaks and your eyes on your animals every day. Build a strong relationship with your local veterinarian and never hesitate to seek advice or assistance. Prevention is always better than treatment.”
– Koos du Pisanie, Plaas Media
The next issue will focus on breeding and preparing for the kidding season. For more information, contact Ilse Lombard at 072 078 4336.
