Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Signs of constipation are difficulty passing feces, straining, and hard, dry pellets. It is usually
caused by overfeeding, ration that is too coarse or lack of water. Exercise and plenty of water
help, as does a laxative such as bran. In extreme cases, give an enema of warm, soapy water.
Kids overly infested with worms will become anemic, exhibiting pale mucous membranes
and poorly conditioned coats, lack of appetite, and diminished growth. Kids generally are
wormed for the first time at 6 to 8 weeks old. For younger kids, consult your veterinarian.
Weakness and a staggering gait, together with diarrhea, are signs of enterotoxemia, caused
when Clostridium bacteria in the digestive system multiply rapidly and release toxins. Entero-
toxemia occurs in particularly well-nourished kids.
Floppy kid syndrome (FKS)
affects kids between 3 and 10 days old. Symptoms are muscu-
lar weakness and depression, progressing to flaccid paralysis and often death. The abdomen is
distended and may “slosh” if the kid is gently shaken. The cause is still unknown, but it is
thought that overconsuming rich milk triggers the development of certain microorganisms in
the digestive tract, resulting in acidosis. If detected early, it can be treated by oral administra-
tion of sodium bicarbonate and/or the tube feeding of electrolytes. More severe cases can be
treated with isotonic intravenous 1.3 percent sodium bicarbonate solution.
CASE STUDY: DOWN ON THE GOAT FARM
Jason and Karlia Dahl
605-880-1354
Strandburg, South Dakota
Jason and Karlia Dahl's Boer goat farm on the South Dakota prairie is an ideal place to raise
goats — and kids. They and their children have a farm well off the beaten path on a maze of
gravel roads crisscrossing the gently rolling grassy plains. The Dahls decided to raise goats
to help control the weeds on their new homestead, which had been allowed to revert to
nature after the former owners moved out.
They did their research and decided to purchase four goats — three does and a buck started
their herd, which now numbers more than 70 brown and white Boer meat goats. They sug-
gest that anyone interested in small-scale meat goat farming do their homework first, paying
special attention to how to keep your goats healthy. The best advice they have is to talk to
others in the business before purchasing any goats.
