Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
of large segments of the population of many developing
countries.
Interest in goats has mushroomed over the past 20 years
in the U.S. Increased interest in goats and the value of their
products requires better managing practices for optimum
performance. Kid management from birth to breeding is
an essential component of the goat enterprise. Kid manage-
ment along with the management of the does and bucks
has the greatest effect on the long-term productivity of the
goat herd.
An obvious key to a successful goat operation is having
a healthy, productive herd. Good animal husbandry, nutri-
tion, vaccination, parasite control, and effective biosecu-
rity programs for the operation could accomplish this.
Good feeding and breeding will not result in maximum
production if goats are not kept in good health. Effective
management practices, understanding and recognizing the
common diseases affecting the goats in the farm or region,
and an effective herd health program is essential to a suc-
cessful goat operation.
Herd health programs are usually modifi ed to fi t indi-
vidual herds. These programs usually depend on the herd
size, purpose of having the herd, and the production goals
of the operation. Since each herd has a different situation,
each manager should work with a veterinarian to create a
specialized herd health plan. Keeping good records for
each animal regarding medications, vaccinations, wormers,
diseases, breeding, culling, etc., is key to successful goat
husbandry. Use of this information will enable the pro-
ducer to plan the disease prevention program. The best
economic returns are realized when disease problems are
at a minimum.
This chapter will discuss some of the management prac-
tices that will enhance productivity of goats. The majority
of information used in this chapter is collective informa-
tion gathered from four main sources:
meat. Therefore, persons involved with raising, handling,
transporting, and marketing meat and milk products are
encouraged to establish systems to ensure that animal
drugs are used properly and to prevent illegal drug residues
(Dawson, 2005 ).
Administering vaccines or drugs via injection is a
common practice performed on goats. Injections must be
done properly to reduce the chance of injury to the animal,
reduce injection site defects, and prevent infections at that
site.
The site chosen for giving intramuscular or subcutane-
ous injections is very important, especially if these animals
are used for meat purposes. The three most common injec-
tion methods are subcutaneous (SC, under the skin), intra-
muscular (IM, in the muscle), and intravenous (IV, into a
blood vessel). When a drug or vaccine lists SC as an option
for injection, use the SC route. Only experienced personnel
should attempt to give an intravenous injection. Intravenous
injections provide the fastest absorption of a drug by the
animal, and subcutaneous is the slowest (Dawson, 2007;
Swize, 2007 ).
Injection site defects are lesions or scars found in dif-
ferent cuts of meat. They result from tissue irritation
caused by the administration of intramuscular or some-
times subcutaneous injections. Tenderness of the meat is
signifi cantly reduced in the injected area that extends out
(up to 2 inches/5 cm) in all directions from an injection
site. When injection-site defects occur, the packers must
trim and discard the damaged tissues. This greatly reduces
the marketability and economic value of the meat (Dawson,
2005 ).
Commonly seen injection-site defects on goat carcasses
are in the round (Figure 12.1). The round is an area on the
rear leg, midway behind the hook (tuber coxae), to about
6 inches (15 cm) above the hock. The muscles in this area
are the middle gluteal, gluteobiceps, semimembranosus,
and semitendinosus muscles. Rounds from goats are eco-
nomically important, because they are commonly pro-
cessed and marketed as whole muscle products, not as
ground meat. It is strongly discouraged to give intramus-
cular injections in the round on goats that are used for meat
purposes (Dawson, 2005 ).
Meat Goat Production Hand Book (2007) published by
Langston University
Proceedings from the Western Veterinary Conference at
Las Vegas (1998)
Sheep and Goat Medicine by Pugh (2002)
Goat Medicine by Smith and Sherman (1994)
Intramuscular Injection Sites
Intramuscular injections are commonly given in the trian-
gular area of the neck, bounded caudally by the shoulder,
dorsally by the cervical vertebra, and ventrally by the
nuchal ligament of the spinous process (Figure 12.2). The
volume given in the muscle should not be more than 3 mL
per site. Insert the appropriate size needle (Table 12.1)
ADMINISTRATION OF VACCINES
AND PHARMACEUTICALS
Live animals are considered unprocessed food, especially
if those goats are intended for slaughter and later used in
the food chain. Injection site lesions should be a major
product quality concern for producers raising goats for
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