Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Bucks are prone to developing urinary calculi (bladder stones), the usually unavoidable result
of an accumulation of salts. This can be quite painful, and if the stones are big enough to
cause urinary obstruction, the condition is life threatening. Adding a little ammonium chloride
to the buck's feed will help prevent this condition by acidifying the urine and preventing the
stones from forming so easily. Take care though not to overdose; 1 teaspoon daily per 150
pounds of weight is plenty.
The very young and the very old
It makes sense to ensure that kids are getting enough food when the herd rushes to eat, jost-
ling each other to get at the hay. Often, feeders are designed so the little ones can eat at a
lower level while the taller goats lean over them to get hay higher up. Or the kids may enjoy
picking up the hay that has fallen to the ground as the older goats eat. Some goats will be
more assertive than others at feeding time; the more docile animals are shoved aside and may
remain hungry. Observe your smaller kids carefully, and note whether they are putting on
weight and growing at the rate they should.
An elderly goat also may have trouble getting adequate feed. Aged goats are weaker than the
younger ones and are pushed aside or bullied away from feeders. Sometimes, stiff older joints
make moving fast enough to the feeding station a difficult task. To ensure your older goats are
getting enough nutrition, you might want to feed them in a place protected from the others,
where there is not such stiff competition at mealtimes. The teeth of an older goat are well
worn, which makes chewing more difficult. Special feed supplements may be necessary to en-
sure malnutrition does not become a problem. Your veterinarian can help you monitor your
elderly goats for nutrition deficiencies.
Goat Health
Goats have a reputation for hardiness and endurance, but they are susceptible to illness if they
are not fed or cared for properly or if they are subjected to undue stress either because of the
weather or harassment by other goats, predators, or humans. Stress particularly weakens the
immune system of a goat, and a traumatic experience can result in pneumonia.
You can do a lot toward keeping your goats healthy by:
• Providing the right amounts and proportions of food and a steady supply of drinking wa-
ter
