Bold Springs Veterinary Service
Jason Wall, DVM
(540)921-1991
Sheep/Goat Herd Health
Ewe/Doe Management
A) Three weeks prior to breeding
- Evaluate body condition of ewes/does and adjust nutrition accordingly.
- Vaccinate does for leptospirosis, campylobacteriosis and chlamydiosis. These are all diseases which can cause abortions.
- Increase the ewes’/does’ plane of nutrition in order to “flush” them. “Flushing” will increase the chances of multiple ovulations which should cause more does to twin.
- If CAEV, OPP, Brucellosis or Tuberculosis are a concern in your herd, have them tested at this time. This is usually a concern in dairy herds and we can provide you with more information.
B) Twelve weeks after ram/buck first turned in with ewes/does
- Pregnancy check does.
- Cull or sort open does into separate group.
C) Thirty days prior to kidding
- Vaccinate ewes/does for clostridial diseases using a clostridium type C/D and T vaccine.
- Vaccinate ewes/does for rabies if desired.
- Deworm.
- Trim feet if necessary.
- Evaluate body condition of ewes/does and sort any does with a body condition score of 3.0 or less into a separate group and put them on a higher plane of nutrition.
- Check ewes/does often for problems. A common one is pregnancy toxemia. This is a disease where the eww/doe cannot eat enough to keep up with her energy demands and toxins build up in her blood. Signs of this disease are twitching of the ears, muscle spasms, loss of appetite, unable to walk and rapid breathing. If any of these signs are noticed, these ewes/does should be treated immediately. If ewes/does are down due to this disease, they rarely recover. Often times, performing a c-section is the only option, but this has several risks associated with it in a debilitated ewe/doe.
- At this point, start increasing the amount of grain being fed. Increasing the grain during late pregnancy will help prevent pregnancy toxemia.
D) At kidding/lambing
- Observe herd carefully and often.
- If kidding problems are suspected with a ewe/doe, either clean her up very well and offer assistance or call us for help.
E) Evaluate entire herd (FAMCHA) routinely every 2-4wks for appropriate deworming. Parasites can be a huge problem in many herds/flocks. Call to schedule a consult specific to yours.
Kid management
A) At kidding
- **The single most important thing to do is to make sure each kid receives an adequate amount of colostrum (doe’s first milk) within the first several hours of life.**
An average sized kid needs at least 125-175 ml (4-6 ounces) of colostrum given 3 times
during the first twelve hours of life. If you have dairy goats and have had problems with
Caprine Arthritis and Encephalitis Virus in the past, then you will need to heat treat the
colostrum prior to feeding to the kids. This will eliminate the transmission of this virus.
Please contact us for more specifics on this subject.
- Give .25ml of BoSe under the skin to each lamb/kid.
- Identify the lamb/kid with an ear tag, paint brand or some other kind of identification system.
B) One week after kidding/lambing
- Vaccinate with a Clostridial type C,D and T vaccine. (Should do later if does/ewes vaccinated before birth)
- Dehorn if needed.
- Castrate rams/bucklings.
- Remove extra teats from doelings if you are planning to milk them.
C) At ~2 months of age
- Deworm.
- Booster vaccinate for clostridium types C,D and T.
D) Evaluate kids/lambs (FAMACHA) for parasite problems and deworm as needed.
Ram/Buck Management
A) Six to eight weeks prior to breeding season
- Trim feet.
- Evaluate body condition of bucks and adjust nutrition accordingly.
B) Three weeks prior to breeding season
- Vaccinate ram/bucks for leptospirosis, campylobacteriosis and chlamydiosis.
- Vaccinate ram/bucks for clostridium types C,D and T.
- Trim feet.
- Deworm if needed.
C) Deworm bucks about every 6-8 weeks and 30 days prior to breeding season.
** Have fecal exams performed regularly before and after deworming to evaluate the efficacy of your dewormers**