The Goat Source Newsletter
Volume 5 Number 4 April 2008

Hi, Here is the April edition of The Newsletter. This newsletter probably won’t be one of my more inspired works! I am totally lacking any inspiration, the weather is weird (snow this morning, wind tonight), I have a REALLY busy weekend coming up and tonight is the only time I have to write! On the up side the busy is because I am buying two new baby bucks and have to go pick them up! Pictures and pedigrees as soon as I get back and get them settled in. I am in dire need of new bloodlines and these new boys should give me the pick me up my herd needs!!

Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends.

What’s New This Month?

• Do My Goats Have Worms?
• Video on Correcting Abnormal Birth Positions
• This Month’s Quiz
• Classified Ads
• Here’s one for Handspinners
• Answer to the March Quiz/Congratulations to the prize winner.
• Helpful Hints

Do My Goats Have Worms?

Internal parasites can cause unthrifty animals and many other health problems. The first thing you have to do is find out the extent of the problem and then you can deal with it.

Check out this link for a short tutorial on conducting a fecal count to determine if your goat has worms.

Here is a short list of the different types of worms you may encounter:

• Haemonchus contortus (barberpole worm)
• Ostertagia (round worms including stomach worm, Cooper’s worm, wire worm, hookworm, threadworm, whipworm, and nodular worm)
• Trichostrongylus (lung worms)
• Tapeworms
• Coccidiosis
• Parelaphostrongylus tenuis (meningeal or brain worm)

The types of worms you (your goats, actually) have will dictate the treatment. You should consult your vet as to what to use. Most wormers are not cleared for goats and some are not recommended for extra label use with goats, due to toxicity problems. Caution should be used for pregnant animals, as some will abort if wormed with certain medications. Natural wormers can be used, but caution should also be used with these, as they may vary in strength and purity. I don’t have any experience with this type of wormer.

The region you are located in will have a great influence on the type and severity of parasite problems. The pests like warm and wet conditions in most cases and so spring time tends to be a prime time to notice problems. Make it a routine practice to check for signs of worm infestations. Here is a link for further information:

http://bedford.extension.psu.edu/agriculture/goat/Goat%20Parasites.htm

Video on  Correcting Abnormal Birth Positions

Here is a good video on correcting those the positions of those babies that insist on coming into the world messed up!

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/hobby-farms-videos/correction-of-abnormal-lamb-presentation-at-birth.aspx

April Quiz

What is heritabililty? How will if affect your breeding program?

Classified Ads

Get your goat person a great  shirt!  Get Yer Goat has them!!

I Love Goats! Pocket Knives Laser Engraved folding pocket knife (opens to 6 ¾ inches). Black composite handle with pocket clip. Every goat person needs a good knife!! I love mine and use it all the time!

 Order today - $5 each plus S&H. Discount when you order more than one. Email me at

The Goat Source 

for more information. Need a good fund raiser? Order these for resale OR get your own design laser engraved (custom orders must be for quantity of 100 or more). Quantity discount on all custom orders!! I can work with you on custom orders, just let me know what your needs are!

 Here’s one for handspinners:

http://www.cagba.org/Mohair_Hand_Spinners_Guide.pdf

Answer to the March Quiz/Winner of the Quiz

Tetanus is an acute, often fatal, disease caused by an exotoxin
produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. It is characterized
by generalized rigidity and convulsive spasms of skeletal
muscles. The muscle stiffness usually involves the jaw (lockjaw)
and neck and then becomes generalized. The most common type
(about 80%) of reported tetanusThe disease usually presents with
an ascending pattern. The first sign is trismus or lockjaw, followed by
stiffness of the neck, difficulty in swallowing,and rigidity of abdominal muscles.
Other symptoms include elevated temperature, sweating, evated blood pressure,
and episodic rapid heart rate. Spasms may occur frequently and last for
several minutes. Spasms continue for 3/4 weeks. Complete recovery may take months.
C. tetani is a slender, gram-positive, anaerobic rod that may
develop a terminal spore, giving it a drumstick appearance.
The organism is sensitive to heat and cannot survive in the
presence of oxygen. The spores, in contrast, are very resistant
to heat and the usual antiseptics. They can survive
autoclaving at 249.8°F (121°C) for 10–15 minutes. The
spores are also relatively resistant to phenol and other
chemical agents.
The spores are widely distributed in soil and in the intestines
and feces of most farm animals. Manure-treated soil may contain
large numbers of spores. In agricultural areas, a significant
number of human adults may harbor the organism. The
spores can also be found on skin surfaces. Most infections occur
via a puncture wound, making it important for you to be current on
your vaccinations (ask me - I had to go get a tetanus shot after I
stabbed myself (through my leather gloves) with a pair of (dirty) hoof clippers.
Ouch.

The winner of the quiz last month is  Sandy Larocque of San-To Acres.

Her answer was first and correct. I will contact you soon with your prize, Sandy.                     Thanks for playing!

Helpful Hints

Check out the farm stores for on sale coveralls now! I just bought a new pair of bib coveralls on sale at a huge price reduction. I don’t need them just yet, but I will next winter. Just get there before all the good sizes are sold out!

I got some little LED solar powered lights to put in the places where the lighting is pretty dim. One of them is perched right over the milk room door. After the main lights are turned out, it gives me a tiny bit of light so I can find my way to the path without falling over my feet!  The LED’s don’t use much power and the lights are still on in the dark early morning. Make sure they are south facing so they get plenty of sunlight to charge them during the day.

That’s all for this month,
See you next month!!
Leslie, The Goat Source
The Goat Source
13611 NCR 9
Wellington, Co 80549
(970) 568-9622
http://www.goatsource.com
The Goat Source