Hoof trimming is an essential part of sheep and goat management. Flocks should be checked on a regular basis for hoof growth. Overgrown hooves may make walking painful, predispose the animal to other foot and leg problems, and competing for feed difficult. This may cause sheep and goats to stop eating and exercising. Animals with overgrown hooves are also very susceptible to joint and tendon problems and arthritis. Also, breeding animals use their hind legs during mating; mating and reproductive …
Contagious Agalactia
Contagious Agalactia is a highly contagious disease that affects dairy sheep and goats. Mainly caused by the Mycoplasma agalactiae bacteria in sheep and goats, this disease has also been linked to M capricolum capricolum, M mycoides LC, and M putrefaciens in goats. Contagious Agalactia is transmitted through ingestion of food, milk, water, colostrum or other body fluids contaminated with M. agalactiae. Contagious Agalactia has been known for the past 200 years and can cause severe economic loss from mastitis and …
What can cause edema of the jaw, anemia, and weight loss in goats?
Edema can be caused by several factors, including hypoproteinemia or low blood protein in the animal, which is commonly related to the large stomach worm (barber pole worm, Haemonchus contortus); malnutrition and stress of pregnancy; lactation; and adverse weather conditions.
Anemia likewise can be caused by infestation with the barber pole worm or any other blood-sucking parasites (e.g., lice, mites, keds). Other conditions, including metabolic disorders and malnutrition, can also cause anemia.
Weight loss is caused by a variety …