Damascus Goat Breed

Damascus Goat Breed: The Damascus is a breed raised in the region of Syria and Lebanon, primarily for milk production. They are of the Nubian type and are usually red or brown but can also be seen in pied or grey. The animals can be either horned or polled and are long haired.

The main features of the Damascus goats are:

• Improved dual purpose (meat and milk) goat breed developed in Syria and Cyprus.  
• Physical features: - Tall hairy brownish coloured goat with pendulous ears
• Adult weight

- Male 70 to 90 kg
- Female 50 to 60 kg

• Kid weights at the Institute ’ s farm

- 3 months : 15-18 kg
- 6 months : 20-25 kg

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Boer Goat breed

The Boer  Goat was developed in South Africa in the early 1900's for meat production.  Their name is derived from the Dutch word "Boer" meaning farmer.  They were selected for meat rather than milk production.  The Boer Goat has a fast growth rate and excellent carcass qualities, making it one of the most popular breeds.  Boer Goats have a high resistance to desease and adapt well to hot, semi-dry island climates.
The most striking difference between a Boer meat goat and any other type of goat you may have seen, is the size.
The Boer animal was developed for meat production and hardiness. The Boer Goat will consistently produce more muscling in less time than any other breed of goa and will pass this capability onto their kids.
Boer Meat Goats are minimal care animals that are browsers by nature, preferring brush, shrubs, trees and broadleaf weeds and grasses.  Boer goats raised for meat production are typically raised on pastures or rough country. 
Boer Goats can be raise effectively in combination with cattle due to their preference browse and the resulting limited impact on the grass cover.

The main features Boer goats

Adaptable to all types of climates from hot tropical to cold climates

Fast growth and excellent feed conversion ratio

High twinning percentage

Early maturity

Adult weight

Male 75 to 80 kg

Female 45 to 50 kg Kidded Boer doe

Weights of pure and crossbred kids

- 3 months: approx. 12 to18 kg

- 6 months: approx. 18 to 28 kg

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New born sheep care..

Care of newborn sheep

Nearly 20 percent of lambs die before weaning. Eighty percent of those losses occur during the first 10 days. Good baby lamb care can significantly increase the number of lambs raised by ewes in the flock. A realistic goal would be to limit lamb mortality to 4 to 5 percent.

Lambing jugs  

After the ewe has completed delivery, she and her lamb(s) should be moved to a lambing jug (individual pen). Lambing jugs help with bonding and prevent mismothering. Soon after delivery, the ewe's udder should be checked for milk supply and potential problems, such as mastitis.

Each teat should be stripped to remove the wax plug. Lambs should be monitored closely to make sure they nurse. Lambs that have nursed will have a full stomach upon palpation. Lambs that have not nursed should be assisted. Small, weak, and mismothered lambs may require assistance.

Lambing jugs should be at least 5 x 5 ft. wide. Larger jugs may be required for bigger sheep and mulitple births. Smaller jugs increase the probability that a ewe will lay on her lamb(s). Lambing jugs should be clean, dry, and well-bedded. If feasible, jugs should be cleaned between ewes. Having one lambing jug per 7 to 10 ewes in the flock is usually adequate. More may be needed is lambing is closely spaced.

Feed troughs and water buckets should be suspended out of reach of lambs. Heat lamps should be used with extreme caution. They should be used sparingly, hung in the corner of the pen at least 3 feet above the bedding.

Lambing cubicles (4 x 6 ft.) placed around the walls of the lambing area have been used successfully as a place for ewes to lamb. They were originally tried to prevent mismothering. New research is looking at cubicles as a way to reduce labor needs during lambing.

Disinfecting navels
The navel of a newborn lamb is a possible route for infectious agents. Navel cords more than 2 inches long should be clipped closer to the body. To avoid infections, navel stumps should be disinfected soon after birth. Spray or dip the navel area with an antiseptic solution such as Gentle Iodine (1% iodine), Betadine®, or Chlorhexidine (Nolvasan®).

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Colostrum

Colostrum is the "first milk" that a ewe produces after lambing. Colostrum contains a high level of several nutrients that are important for lamb health and performance. Colostrum also contains a high level of antibodies against a variety of infectious agents. At birth, the lamb does not carry any antibodies because antibodies in the ewe's bloodstream do not cross the placenta.

It is critical that lambs receive colostrum during the first 24 hours of life in order to ensure adequate absorption of colostral antibodies. Antibodies are large protein molecules that can cross the intestinal wall and enter the blood stream of the lamb only during the first 24 to 36 hours of life. Absorption of these antibodies is most efficient during the first few hours after birth.

It is recommended that lambs receive 10 percent of the body weight in colostrum by 24 hours after birth. This means that a 10 lb. lamb should consume 1 lb. (16 ounces) of colostrum by 24 hours of age. Ideally, the should consume half of this within 4 to 8 hours of birth. A 60 cc syringe holds 2 ounces of colostrum.

All lambs need colostrum. While it is possible for lambs to survive without colostrum in a relatively disease-free environment, the liklihood of disease and death is higher in lambs that do not receive colostrum. The ideal colostrum source for supplemental feeding of lambs is from healthy ewes in one's own flock.

Ewes vary in the quantity and quality of colostrum they produce. Young ewes generally produce less colostrum because they also produce less milk. At lambing, ewes should be checked (stripping the teats) for the quality and quantity of colostrum.

Older ewes have had greater exposure to infectious agents and usually have a higher concentration of antibodies in their colostrum. Colostrum from dairy cows or goats may be used if ewe's colostrum is not available. The colostrum from the colored breeds (e.g. Jersey) is more desirable. Only milk from Johne's-free herds should be used.

Producers who are attempting to develop an Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP)-free flock need to be concerned about the source of colostrum, since OPP can be transmitted from infected ewes to lambs via the colostrum. Cross transmission between goats (CAE) and sheep (OPP) is also possible.

Finding the Goat/sheep kidding time!

How to find goat/sheep kidding time?!! 

One of the best ways to identify an impending kidding is to feel the two tail ligaments located on each side of the tail. Feel a doe that isn't pregnant and you will notice that those ligaments are very firm. The same will be true of a doe that is pregnant but not ready to kid.

ligaments check

When these ligaments begin to get soft, and then completely vanish, you know that the goat is due to kid within 24 hours. You may make a mistake the first few times you try to read the ligaments, but over time you find the technique to be almost foolproof.

Besides softened ligaments, a doe will show other signs of kidding. Each doe might exhibit different signs, so keep an eye out for a change in behavior. Some other signs to look for include

• Isolation: The doe stands off from the crowd, sometimes seeming "spaced out."
• Mucus discharge: You may observe some whitish or yellowish discharge on her vulva.
• Firm, shiny udder: Her udder may become tight and filled up, called bagging up.
• Loss of appetite: She may become uninterested in food.
• Personality change: She may start fighting with other goats or become overly friendly to you when she was previously standoffish.
• Restlessness: She may lie down, then get up, paw at the ground, and just seem uncomfortable.

Caring for a Doe and Her New Kids

Your goats are likely to be fine giving birth without assistance, but after they kid, there are some things you can do to help the doe and her kid get off to a good start. The first thing to do when a doe is done kidding is to get her a bucket of warm water with a little molasses (about two gallons of water with 1/4-cup molasses) for energy. Then get her some grain and some fresh alfalfa to munch on while her kids learn to walk and nurse, and while you wait for the placenta.

After a doe has kidded, she goes into the third stage of labor: delivery of the placenta. This stage can take up to 12 hours, but usually the doe passes her placenta within an hour or two of kidding. If she has not done so within that time, contact your veterinarian. Dispose of the placenta by burying it deep, composting it, or burning it.

The dam will try to eat her placenta — most mammals do. You can allow her to take a few bites, but watch that she doesn’t choke on it.

Clean the kidding area of soaked straw and feed bags and add fresh straw. If you will be bottle-feeding, milk the doe out (milk all the colostrum out of her udder), heat-treat the colostrum if needed, and feed it to kids or freeze it for emergency.

Newborn kids may complain about being handled, but they need to be warmed and stimulated so they can get up. After the birth of a single kid, or between the births of multiple kids, take these steps with each newborn:

1. Use a towel to help the dam clean the kid.
   Make sure you uncover the face first and determine whether the kid is breathing. If he isn’t breathing, rub the body to stimulate him; if that doesn’t  work, swing him.
   If you are on a CAEV prevention program or plan to raise the kids separately on a bottle, don’t let the dam clean the kid. Instead, wash the kid and put him in a separate box from other newborn kids until each has been washed and dried.
2. Tie the cord with dental floss and cut it about an inch from the kid’s body.
3. Dip the cord.
   Pour some iodine into a film can or prescription bottle and hold it over the umbilical cord stump up to the belly. Turn the kid to coat the whole cord. Treating the cord with iodine helps prevent navel ill.
4. Check the kid for gender, number of teats, and any abnormalities.
5. Feed the kid.

Advantage of stall fed Goat/Sheep

Following are the reasons why Stall fed goats/sheep are more profitable than open grazed goats/sheeps

1.    Conservation of Energy, which otherwise the animal would  waste its energy in hunting after the fodder. For example, a goat/sheep that has to travel farther for feed will have a higher maintenance requirement than goat/sheep in a feed lot.
2.    Better conversion of energy, available from fed and fodder into flesh and milk.
3.    Prevention of indiscriminate grazing, thereby offering optimum scope for re-growth of  fodder.
4.    Prevention of uncontrolled mating.
5.    Better collection and utilization of manure.
6.    Control and reduction of parasitic re-infestation.
7.    Close supervision and easy management.
8.    Easy access for record keeping.
9.    No danger from wild animals and predators.

Sheep/Goat Housing

Sheep/Goat Housing
The basic requirement of good animal housing is that it should alter or modify the environment for
the benefit of animals and also protect them from predation and theft. Animal housing should buffer
the animal from climate extremes to reduce stress allowing optimal animal performance in terms of
growth, health and reproduction. The main climatic factors from which protection is needed are high
and low ambient temperatures, environmental humidity, solar radiation, wind and rain.
Additionally, houses are important in protecting feed and equipment from damage, in saving labor,
and in aiding effective management, including breeding. Sheep and goat housing should meet animal
requirements and serve a producer’s needs at the lowest possible cost.
Small ruminant housing need to:
• Be strong enough to last a long time;
• Be large enough for the number of animals to be accommodated comfortably.
• Allow freedom of movement for all animals;
• Be well-drained or have well-maintained dry bedding and easy to clean. Sheep and goats do
not tolerate mud well; therefore, yards and shelters should be built only on well-drained
ground;
• Receive morning sunshine evenly;
• Be well lighted and ventilated. Air circulation, dust levels, temperature, relative air humidity
and gas concentrations should be at levels that will not harm animals;
• Have suitable isolation pens for sick or injured animals as far away from the main house as
possible.

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Silage making process

Steps involved in making Pit Silage

1. Dig a shallow pit on slightly sloping ground. The depth of the pit should decrease from the higher side of the sloping ground to the lower side giving a wedge-like shape. Dimensions of the pit depend on the amount of forage to be stored. In order to store 20 bags of fresh forage, you need to dig a pit approximately 2 cubic meters, buy 10 meters of polythene and about 30 litres of molasses.
2. Chop using a chaff cutter the forage to be preserved to sizes of about 1 inch pieces.
3. Place polythene sheeting over the sides and floor of the pit so that the forage does not come into contact with soil.
4. Empty chopped forage into the plastic lined pit and spread into a thin layer. Repeat this till the pit is filled to a third (6 bags).
5. Dilute 1 litre of molasses with 3 litres of water. Sprinkle this mixture over the layer of chopped forage. Use a garden sprayer to distribute the solution evenly. This helps to feed the micro-organisms to make the silage ferment quickly which will prevent rotting.
6. Press the forage down with your feet to force out as much air as possible. This will prevent fungi attacking and destroying the forage.
7. Add more bags, of the chopped feed, sprinkle diluted molasses and compact the forage again. Repeat this process of adding forage, diluted molasses and compacting until the pit filled in a doom shape.
8. Cover the pit after a final pressing with polythene sheeting to prevent water seeping into the silage and dig a small trench around the sides of the pit.
9. Then, cover the pit with soil: a layer of 24 inches for wet, fresh fodder and up to 36 inches for more dry forage) of soil to keep the air out and to prevent damage of the polythene by rain, birds and rodents.
10. The conservation through fermentation takes weeks. Leave it until there is shortage of feed to start using it. When prepared well with good sheeting and enough soil cover, silage can last to about 2 years.
11. To remove feed, open the pit from the lower side of the slope. Remove enough material for one day's feeding and then cover the open end again.

Sheep Feed/Fodder Management

Sheep Feed

Sheep are pretty easy-care critters for a farm animal. They are basically a grazing animal, and pasture or hay should make up the bulk of their diet. That doesn't mean they can survive on burned-out brown lawn grass! We've found that sheep don't care very much for bluegrass or fescue, which are typical lawn grasses. They seem to prefer coarser, pasture-type grasses such as canarygrass or timothy. And they do eat some weeds.

Sheep will eat grain, but it's not essential if they have access to real good quality pasture and/or hay. A young, lactating, or elderly animal will especially benefit from a grain supplement. You can use a basic mixed corn/soy/oats, or you can buy specially formulated sheep/goat chow at your local feed mill. If at all possible, try to avoid a steady diet of horse formula as it usually contains more copper than is healthy for sheep. Sheep are ruminants, and feeds formulated for goats or cattle are more appropriate than those formulated for horses. DON'T OVERDO THE GRAIN! You CAN kill a lamb by overfeeding grain.

Goat Feed/Fodder Management

Goat-
Feeding
The majority of the goats kept in villages are seldom given any grain or good fodder; as a result their average milk production is very low. Milch goats respond readily to good care and proper feeding, and to ensure best results they should be tended like other milch animals.
Feeding Habits
Goats are sensitive animals with peculiar feeding habits. They are 'fastidious about cleanliness and like frequent change in the feed. Feeds given must be clean and fresh, since goats eat nothing that is dirty or foul-smelling. They dislike wet, stale or trampled fodder. For this reason it is advisable to feed them in hay-racks or hang the feed in bundles from a peg in a wall or from a branch of a tree. Double-sided portable hay-racks are the most suitable and convenient for stall feeding. It is preferable to serve them small quantities at a time; when served in large; quantities at a time, they waste a lot of it by trampling.
Goats are ruminants. They are very fond of leguminous fodders. They do not relish fodders like sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers) and maize (lea mays L.), silage or straw. Goats do not relish hay prepared from forest grasses, even if cut in early stages, but very much relish hay prepared from leguminous crops: Some of the common green roughages liked by the goats are: lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum Juslen.), Napier grass (Penniselum purpureum Schum.), green arhar (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), cowpea (Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi ex Hassk.), soybean (GIyCiflemax-(L.) Merr.) , cabbage and cauliflowerleaves;shajtal. senji. methi; shrubs and weeds of different kinds; and leaves of trees such as babul (Acacia arabica WilJd), neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.), tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) andpipa/ (Ficus re/igiosa L.). The common dry fodders liked by goats are straws of arhar. urid (Phaseolus mungo Roxb.), mung (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.), gram (Cicer arietinum L.), dry leaves of trees, and lucerne or berseem hays.

Mineral mixture:
Minerals should be given as an essential part of the ration as they contribute to the building of the skeleton, physiological functions and production of milk. The more important of these salts are calcium and phosphorus. The requirements of calcium and phosphorus for maintenance are 6·5 and 3·5 g, respectively, per 50 kg body weight. Goats require slightly larger quantities of calcium than sheep. The mineral mixture may be included in the concentrate ration at the rate of 0·2 per cent.
Common salt:
Lumps of rock salt are just the' thing for them. These lumps of salt, of fairly good size, should be hung up in some suitable place where goats can easily get at them, or else they may be kept in the manger. The provision of salt licks is very important for goats as they secrete a good amount of sodium and chloride ions in milk. The salt often helps to tone up the system and may even have some effect in removing worms from the body. Salt to the extent of 2 percent may also be mixed with the daily grain ration of goats.

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Goat Lactation

Indian Goat Lactation
Breeds	Lactation yield (kg)		Lactation Length (days)	Av.Daily Yield kg.	Peak Yield kg.		Dry Period
Jamunapari	160		190	0.900	3.20		115
Beetal	175		180	1.25	-		125
Barbari	95		152	0.75	2.100		155
Sirohi	73		158	0.700	-		-
Malabari	66		172	0.500	0.696		145
Jhakrana	121		114	0.988	-		-

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Sheep Disease Management

SHEEP-POX

Epidemiology 
Sheep-pox is a highly contagious disease.It causes a mortality of 20 to 50 per cent in animals below the age of 6 months, and causes damage to the wool and skin in adults.Of the pock diseases, sheep-pox ranks only second to human small-pox in virulence.The disease is transmissible to in contact goats but not to other species of animals. It, however, spreads slowly.

Symptoms
The disease in characterized by high fever, and symptoms of pneumonia and acute enteritis.Skin lesions appear particularly in parts free from wool, notably around the eyes, inner side of the  thigh, udder and under surface of the tail. The internal organs such as trachea, lungs, kidneys and intestines are also affected.The disease results in emaciation and, as already mentioned, frequent  deaths of affected animals.

Treatment, Prevention and Control 
The diseased animal should be treated with palliatives.In the young ones nursing is more important than medication.The infected litter should be burnt and the bedding changed every day.Affected animals should be kept on soft diet.The ulcers on the skin should be washed with potassium permanganate lotion and dusted with boric acid; strict hygienic measures should be adopted.The method of control by the use of vesicular fluid was in vogue for dealing with sheep-pox.A couple of sheep were first inoculated with the  vesicular fluid on the under surface of the tail or the inner side of the ear by scarification.In about 4 to 6 days vesicles appear at the spot, and the fluid collected from these vesicles, mixed with equal parts of glycerol, served as a vaccine.Vaccination was done by scarification inside the ear or under the tail.In about 15 to 20 days, the animals becomes resistant to the disease.
(Source: Dr.Acharya, Handbook of Animal Husbandry)

BRUCELLOSIS OF SHEEP 
Transmission
A large number of organisms are eliminated ruing abortion.The mode of entry is by ingestion or via conjunctiva.The aborted foetus,vaginal discharge and milk from infected goats contain a large number or organisms.

Symptoms
In infected goats and sheep state of abortion may occur followed by a quiescent period during which a few abortions occur.The aborted animals do not breed.After 2 years or more another abortion storm is likely to occur.

Diagnosis, Treatment and Control
It is not possible to diagnose brucellosis on the basis of symptoms alone.The suspicion is aroused when humans in contact suffer from undulant fever and there is poor breeding record in goat herd and evidence of mastitis.The diagnosis can be done by the isolation of organisms and by serological tests.

There is no adequate treatment
This is based on hygiene, vaccination,testing and disposal.Good management practice is essential. Separate quarters should be provided for kidding.Immunization can be done with attenuated as well as killed vaccines.The test and disposal procedure is highly desirable.

TETANUS
This is an infectious, non-febrile disease of animals and man, and is characterized by spasmodic tetany and hyperaesthesia. This disease is prevalent all over the world.

Transmission
Infection takes place by contamination of wounds.Deep punctured wounds provide favourable conditions for the spores to germinate, multiply and produce toxin which is subsequently absorbed in the animal body.The micro-organism is present in soil and in animal faeces, and is carried into the wound by a penetrating object.The organism is present in the intestine of normal animals, and under some undetermined conditions multiplies rapidly and produces toxin in sufficient quantities to be absorbed and cause the disease.

Symptoms
The incubation period is generally 1-2 weeks but it may be as short as 3 days. Tetanus affects many species of domesticated animals but occurs particularly in horses and lambs; less frequently in adult sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, dog and cats; and rarely in poultry.The initial symptoms are mild stiffness and an unwillingness to move all the animals. More severe symptoms develop after 12-24 hours which are stiffness of limbs, neck, head, tail and twitching of muscles.The spasms develop in response to noise.In terminal stages ears are erect, nostrils dilated,nictitating membrane protruded. Mastication becomes very difficult because mouth can not be opened, hence the name lockjaw.

Treatment
In cattle changes the recovery with treatment are better than horses or sheep. The treatment is carried out by first injecting antitoxin then treating the wound.Penicillin parenterally is beneficial. Muscular relaxation is achieved by injection of relaxants.The animal should be kept in a dark room and fed with the help of stomach tube.

Control
Proper hygiene and cleanliness at castration and other surgical procedures should be observed. Sheep should be given 2 injections based 3 weeks apart to develop a solid immunity.

LISTERIOSIS
Transmission
The organisms are excreted in the faeces, urine, aborted foetuses, uterine discharge and milk of infected animals.The organisms are sufficiently resistant to remain viable in animal and human faeces,sewage,soil,silage and dust foe several weeks and months.The blood sucking arthropods may spread infection since organisms have been  isolated from cattle ticks and tabanid flies.Under natural conditions certain predisposing factors are related to clinical infection.

Symptoms
In farm animals the disease occurs towards the end of winter or early spring. The first signs of meningo- encephalitis are stiffness of neck, inco-ordinated movement of limbs and tendency to move in circles or to lean against a fence or wall. There may be paralysis of muscles of jaw and pharynx. Inco-ordination becomes progressively more severe until the animal can no longer stand. The cattle which are not severely affected may survive. Abortions in cattle usually  occur after 4-8 months of pregnancy and at a comparatively later stage in sheep. In pigs and horses, clinical signs are not common but may develop as encephalitis and septicaemia. In poultry, the disease usually causes sudden death, occasionally there are signs of torticollis, weakness and inco-ordination of the legs.

Treatment
Tetracyclines are very effective in meningo-encephalities of cattle less so in sheep. The recovery rate depends on the speed with which the treatment is commenced.

Control
When outbreaks occur all affected animals should be slaughtered and buried along with litter and bedding. The vaccines, living or killed, have little effect on the pathogenesis of infection under natural conditions, Tetracycline’s are very effective for treatment of listeriosis.

CAMPYLOBACTOR ABORTION ( vibriosis )
Transmission
Transmission occurs by coitus.The affected bulls carry the organisms in proputial cavity indefinitely.Mature cows and heifers also carry the infection for long periods. Infected semen from an infected bull is the important means of the disease. The organism survives low temperature used in semen storage.

Symptoms
Infertility may cause become apparent only when the percentage of pregnancies in a dairy herd is low.The infertility rate in heifers is more than in cows. Abortions usually occur between fifth and sixth month of pregnancy. Infected bulls show no symptoms and their  semen is normal. Healthy bulls become infected during coitus with diseased cow. Among sheep the disease is characterized by abortion occurring towards the end of gestation. Usually abortion is preceded by vaginal discharge for several days.The aborted foetus is edematous with petechial hemorrhages on serous surfaces and necrotic foci in the liver.

Control
Abortion rate can be reduced by antibiotic therapy, and particularly by using chlortetracycline and concurrently with the development of specific immunity. The use of killed vaccines may reduce the incidence of disease in a herd but does not eradicate the infection. The bulls can be treated by injecting antibiotic cream in the prepuce. There is no direct treatment of females.

JOHNE`S DISEASE
Johne`s disease is a specific chronic contagious enteritis of cattle, sheep, goat, buffaloes and occasionally of pigs. The disease is characterized by progressive emaciation and in cattle and buffaloes by chronic diarrhea and thickening of the intestine.

Transmission
Under natural conditions the disease spread by ingestion of feed and water contaminated by the faeces of infected animals.The infection occurs mostly in the early month of life. The incubation period extends from 12 months to several years. The animal aged 3 to 6 years mostly suffer from the disease. Affected animals may not show clinical symptoms continue to discharge organisms in faeces. The organisms persist in pastures for about 1 year.The organisms are susceptible to sunlight, drying and high PH of soil; continuous contact of urine with faeces reduces the life of bacteria. In cattle clinical signs appear mainly during 2-6 years of age. The infected animals which are apparently healthy, often show clinical signs after parturition.

Treatment
The organisms is more resistant to chemotherapeutic agents invitro than Mycotuberculosis. Because of this the practical utility of treatment in clinical cases is poor.

Control
The affected animal should be segregated and their faeces Properly disposed off. Alive vaccine have been developed. It reduces the incidence of clinical disease. It consists of a non-pathogenic strain of Jhone`s  bacillus with an adjuvant. The calves soon after birth are inoculated with vaccine subcontaneously. The vaccinated animals become reactors of Jhonin. Vaccination is generally done in heavily infected herds.

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Goat Disease Management & Vaccination Schedule

Goat-pox is not of uncommon occurrence, but it is less severe than the sheep-pox.  The nature of the disease is similar to that of pox in sheep.  The incubation period varies from 5 to 10 days.  The disease tends to attack male kids and ewes in milk.  Initially there may be slight pyrexia.  The lesions are not so side spread as in sheep-pox, being confined to the hairless regions of the body such as axilla, things, nose and mouth.  In the female the udder may also be involved.  The lesions are typically of pox but usually are much smaller than those of the sheep-pox. The goat-pox virus is antigenically distinct from the sheep pox virus, although it is transmissible experimentally to both goats and sheep.  The goat-pox in sheep is more severe than the sheep-pox.  The goat-pox virus is anitgenically distinct from the sheep pox virus, although it is transmissible experimentally the sheep-pox.  The lesions occur on  the lips and oral mucosa, the teats and udder.  The goat-pox virus affords solid protection in sheep against both goat-and sheep-pox, but the sheep-pox virus does not protect goats against the goat pox.

(Source: Dr.Acharya, Handbook of Animal Husbandry)

Disease Management

• Be on the alert for signs of illness such as reduced feed intake, fever, abnormal discharge or unusual behavior.
• Consult the nearest veterinary aid centre for help if illness is suspected.
• Protect the animals against common diseases.
• In case of outbreak of contagious diseases, immediately segregate the sick animals from healthy one and take necessary disease control measures.
• De-worm the animals regularly.
• Examine the faeces of adult animals to detect eggs of internal parasites and treat the animals with suitable drugs.
• Provide clean and uncontaminated feed and water for minimizing the health disorders.
• Strictly follow the recommended vaccine schedule.

Other Preventive Measures

• Annual vaccine with Bar-Vac CD/T. For immunizing against tetanus and overeating disease. We give 2 cc per animal. The first time an animal is given the vaccine it must have a booster shot 30 days later. We vaccine newborn kids at 20+ days old and booster shot 30 days later.
• Annual vaccine with Triangle® 9 + Type II BVD -  For immunizing against 9 different types of respiratory problems. We give 2 cc per animal under the skin. There must be a booster shot for the first time given. Kids must be at least 2 months old.
• Drench newborn kids with Bar-Guard-99. Used for the prevention of colibacillosis caused by K99 strains of Escherichia coli. Our vet told us this can also help prevent Floppy Kid Syndrome. We drench newborn kids immediately after they have their first mother's milk. We give them 2 ccs.
• Preventive De-worming for internal parasites. We de-worm as little as possible to try and have our animals build up resistance to internal parasites. We treat our does about 2 weeks before kidding.
• Regular barn cleaning. We clean our barns about every 2 weeks to give our animals as clean of environment as possible.
• Treat animals with Pro-Bios when they are given antibiotics to ensure the rumen continues to work properly.
• Lab testing of any Abscess. Any abscess we find on an animal is reviewed by our vet and the abscess content is tested to see if it is CL. Any animal that tests for CL will be eliminated from our farm but not sold to our customers. We do not manage CL, we eliminate it.

Preventive Measures we do not take

• Vaccinate for Sore Mouth. We do not vaccinate for Sore Mouth. If you have not had Sore Mouth on your farm, vaccinating for it brings live bacteria on your site and will require annual vaccinations to protect animals. If you have had Sore Mouth on your farm, any animal getting it will become immune to it when they do get it. It only lasts for around 3 weeks. We will monitor for any serious infections.
• Hoof Trimming. We only trim hooves on exception. We want to have animals that do not require regular trimming. If an animal does have hooves that get bad and may cause problems, we will trim them as required. We prefer that the hooves break off or chip during normal movement.

Problems in pregnancy

We breed our does individually and therefore know approximately when they are scheduled to kid. This is important for us because it allows us to watch for specific problems during their pregnancy. There are two main type of problems related to pregnancy. They are Pregnancy Toxemia and Abortions. Pregnancy Toxemia is a problem that we have seen many times. We have never had a problem  that we know of where the does aborted however we have talked to friend that have had abortion problems.

Pregnancy Toxemia

This is a problem in the late pregnancy, normally the last month and especially last two weeks. It is normally related to a doe with multiple kids. During the last two months, the kids are adding 70% of their birthing weight. During the final weeks, there is additional nutritional requirements for the kids as continue to increase in size and  there is less and less room for the rumen to hold the same amount of food. The goats body will give the kids nutritional needs the priority  at the expense to the mother. She may not be able to consume enough nutrition and the body will start converting the mothers carbohydrates stored in her tissues. This leads to the release of keton bodies into her blood - a sign that her metabolism is faulty.

The symptoms will be a loss of appetite, not wanting to get up or move around, sweet-smelling breath, limping and swelling of feet or walking very tenderly. Ketosis strips can be used to identify if the doe is ketotic Give doe propylene glycol twice a day. We give 60cc drench in am and pm. We also create a mixture of sodium bicarbonate with water and give 30cc drench am and pm. Help get the doe up and moving around during the day and offering her high energy food.

Abortions

Nutritional Problems

Proper nutrition is essential for having healthy kids. Simultaneous deficiencies of energy and protein can cause abortion of embryos early in the pregnancy. Deficiencies of some trace minerals such as copper and iodine can be the cause of abortions. Also, excessive selenium for an extended period can cause abortions.

Infectious Problems

An abortion by one or more of the goats in your herd may indicate an infectious disease that needs an overall management response. It is likely that your vet will be required to identify the type of infection causing the problem.

• Chlamydiosis - caused by an intracellular organism. Abortion typically occurs in the last 2 months of pregnancy and especially the last 2 weeks. The rest of the pregnant herd must be considered. Non bred does can catch the infection but it will result in their becoming immune. You should consider injecting pregnant does with tetracyclines by the intramuscular rout to try and prevent them from aborting.
• Toxoplasmosis - this is associated with a coccidium of cats. Cats become infected by consuming uncooked meat scraps, placentas, and small rodents. Goats become infected by eating grass, hay or garin contaminated by cat feces.It can result in abortion, stillbirths and weak kids. However, reducing exposure to cat may help but in may lead to an increase in rats that carry other diseases.
• Q Fever - a bacterial disease capable of being transmitted from animals to people caused by Coxiella burnetii, a rickettsial organism. C. burnetii may be found in sheep, cattle, goats, cats, dogs, some wild animals (including many wild rodents), birds, and ticks. Animals shed the organism in their urine, feces, milk, and especially in their birth products. Abortion or stillbirths occur in late pregnancy, but only when the placenta has been severely damaged. Treatment is with tetracycline. Placentas and aborted fetuses shoud be destroyed by burning.
• Brucellosis - brucella organisms infect a goats placenta and udder, causing abortion and mastitis When goats in an endemic herd are in a stressful environment and management is not adequate to control nutritional and parasitic diseases, then abortion will occur in the last 2 months of pregnancy.
• Listeriosis - caused by listeria monocytogenes a ubiquitous organism that may be found in soil, water, plant litter and digestive tract of ruminants. Abortions occur in the last 2 months. Treatment is usage of tetracyclines.
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Goat Breeds In India

Goat Breeds : Our traditional goat farmers have extensively practiced the art of selection and inbreeding for evolving definite breeds with specific or multiple functions. The country as a whole represents an important genetic reservoir of goat breeds for meat, milk, fibre and skin production. Some of these are well-known but more than half of the population is on non-descript type. The true productive potential of individual breeds has not been adequately documented. This has, in turn, affected a detailed description of the breeds, also their genetic potential and their more extensive use in development programmes. There are about 21 breeds of goats with specific characteristics. However, the majority of breeds are diverse and it is often difficult to classify them into breed groups for lack of descriptive data. Black and brown colours are common and dominant over white. There is very little differentiation between meat and milk breeds. As a general rule, breeding is uncontrolled. This is reflected in a large population of crossbred goats, a range of colours, ear and horn shapes etc. This is evident throughout the country, especially in extensive grazing situations. It is very essential that the great genetic reservoir that we possess is properly identified for individual breeds consistent with controlled breeding and definite production objectives. Increased contribution from goat is possible only with breeding better quality animals and improved management practices. Based on the region, Indian breeds of goats are classified into the following :- a)      Himalayan (hilly tract) region This region comprises the states of J&K, HP and parts of UP. (1)    Himalayan breed (Chamba, Gaddi, Kashmiri) Kangra & Kulu valleys; Chamba, Sirmur & Shimla in HP; parts of hilly regions of Jammu Sturdily built. Tough skin. Horns are pointed at the apex. Long and coarse white hair 8-10 inches long. Roman nose. Tapering muzzle. Long, drooping, pointed ears. Mature body weight : 30/20 kg (M/F). Castrated bucks are used for transport. Hair. Meat. (2)    Pashmina Found at elevations above 3400 m in the Himalayas, Ladakh and Lahaul & Spiti valleys of J&K. Large-sized 60/50 kg. Ears are short and erect. Overcoat is gray and occasionally whitish-brown. The undercoat is 4-5 inches long, white, silky hair beneath the fur coat is “pashmina” fibre. “Pashmina” yield is 25-50 gm/combing, max. 200 gm/year; used for manufacture of shawls & rugs. Meat. Draft. Small quantity of milk. (3)    Chegu Mountainous ranges of Spiti, Yaksar & Kashmir region of J&K Medium-sized 40/26 kg. Colour is a mixture of white and grayish-red. Horns are bent backward and upward. “Pashmina” yield of 110 gm/year. Good meat. Small quantity of milk. (4)    Changthangi Ladakh, Lahaul valley of J&K Small, dainty. White, occasionally brown & gray. Long, pendulous ears. Coarse hair on face. “Pashmina” yield of 25-50 gm/year. b)      Northern region This region comprises Punjab, Haryana and parts of UP. It has some of the important milch breeds. (1)    Jamunapari Usually found in the Etawah district of UP, and in the tracts lying between Jamuna & Chambal rivers. It is the biggest and most majestic breed of goat in India. Large-sized, tall & leggy; 65-86 / 45-61 kg. Prominent Roman nose. Large, folded, pendulous ears. Long and thick hairs  on their hind quarters and a glossy coat. Horns are short and flat. Dual purpose - milk and meat. Peak daily milk yield is 2.5-3.0 kg. Milk yield in a lactation period of 250 days varies from 250-300 kg with 3.5% fat content. The breed ahs been extensively used to upgrade indigenous breeds for milk and meat (dual purpose) and has been exported to neighbouring countries for the same purpose.Have been used for evolving the famous Anglo-Nubian breed of goats in England. (2)    Beetal Sialkot, Jhelum, Gurdaspur & Amritsar districts of Punjab. This good dairy breed has evolved from the Jamunapari breed, and resembles it but is smaller in size 70/50 kg. However, it is superior to Jamunapari with regards to prolificacy, adaptability to various agro-climatic conditions and stall feeding. Roman nose. Long ears. Horns are spirally twisted and bent horizontally backward. Colour is red or black tan with white spots. Dual purpose – milk and meat. Milk 1.5-2.0 kg/day. Lactation period 200-220 days. (3)    Barbari Urban areas of Delhi; Aligarh, Etah, Etawah, Agra & Mathura in UP; Gurgaon, Karnal, Panipat & Rohtak in Haryana. This breed has its origin from Berboa in Somali Republic in East Africa. Colour varies with white, red and tan spots being common. 36-45 / 27-36 kg. Small animals with compact body. Wide variation in coat colour, but white with small brown patches is most common. Ears are short, tubular and erect. Both sexes have twisted horns. Bucks have a large, thick beard. Dual purpose – milk & meat. Yield 0.9-1.25 kg milk (5% fat content) per day in a lactation period of 108 days. They are prolific breeders and usually kid twice in 12-15 months. The outstanding quality of this dwarf breed is its habit of stall feeding, which makes it suitable for cities and towns where grazing facilities are lacking. c)       Central region This region comprises Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat and northern parts of Maharashtra. (1)    Marwari Marwar area of Rajasthan. Derived from Jamunapari breed. Jet black colour with white speckled ears. Hairs are lustrous, 10-12 cm long. Small ears. Long horns. 25-35 kg. Triple purpose – milk, meat, hair. Milk yield 0.9 kg/day. (2)    Mehsana Mehsana district of Gujarat. Derived from Jamunapari breed. Greyish-black; white ears with black spots. Medium-sized. Roman nose. 10 cm long hair on body. Triple purpose – milk, meat, hair. Good milker 1.5-2.0 kg/day. (3)    Zalawadi Zalwad region of Kathiawar district of Gujarat. Derived from Jamunapari breed. Colour ranging from pinkish-blue to black. Large-sized. Screw-shaped horns. Lustrous hair of 15 cm length. Triple purpose – milk, meat, hair. Good milker 1.0 kg/day. (4)    Berari Nagpur & Wardha districts of Maharashtra; Nimar district of MP. Tall and dark coloured. Poor milk yielder 0.6 kg/day. (5)    Kathiawari (Kutchi) Kutch, northern Gujarat & Rajasthan. Black coat and reddish mark on the neck. Long hairs. Cork screw horns pointed upwards. Triple purpose – milk, meat, hair. Milk yield 1.25 kg/day. (6)    Sirohi Gujarat, Rajasthan White and brown colour. Medium-sized compact body, Long, lope ears. Meat. Milk yield 0.9 kg/day. Well sited to stall feeding. (7)    Surti Surat & Baroda districts of Gujarat The breed is known to be a good dairy breed and is good for maintenance under complete confinement and stall feeding conditions. Medium-sized. White in colour. Highly developed udder. Both sexes have small horns directed backwards. Average milk yield 2 kg/day. Crosses with Saanen have resulted in higher milk potential. d)      Southern region This region comprises parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. (1)    Osmanabadi (Deccani) Osmanabad region of Maharashtra and adjoining regions. Originated from a mixture of goats of the plains. Colour is black; mixtures of white and black or red are also found. Tall stature. Ears are medium-sized. All males and 50% of females are horned. Poor milkers. Mostly raised for meat. (2)    Malabari (Tellicherry) Northern Kerala incl. Calicut, Cannanore & Mallapuram districts. Medium-sized. Colour- white to complete black. Males are bearded. Small, twisted horns. Medium-sized ears. Poor milkers. Breed is reared mainly for meat purpose and their skin is popular with the tanning industry. (3)    Sangamneri Pune and Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra Medium-sized. Colour varies from white to black/brown with spots of other colours. Ears are drooping. Both sexes are horned. Mature weight 38/29 kg. e)      Eastern region This region comprises W. Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Orissa & part of Bihar. Variations in climate and heavy rainfall are not suitable for rearing high milk-yielding types of goats. The goats in this region manage to thrive on meager food. (1)    Bengal (Black Bengal) W.Bengal Found in 3 colours : black, brown & white. Legs are short and body is deep. Wide chest. Upright ears. Short and soft hair. Both sexes are horned and bearded. Mature weight : 14-16 / 9-14 kg. Breed is known for excellent mutton and skin quality. Does kid twice in a year; twins are common. Dressing percentage averages around 45.7%. Meat is very tender and has a good taste. Skin is of superior quality and is in great demand for the footwear industry. Milk yield is low. (2)    Ganjam Puri (Orisssa), coastal AP, south MP. Colour – black/white/grey. Males bearded. Horns curved downward & backward. Small-sized, compact body. Mature weight : 35/28 kg. Prolific breeder (litter size 1.8 kids); raised for meat. Poor milkers. (3)    Assam hilly breed Khasi, Nagar Lushai hills of Assam. Similar to the hilly breeds seen in Kangra & Kulu valleys of UP. White-grey colour. Short legged with long body. Mature weight 25-30 kg. Useful for meat only. Poor milker. For complete Sheep and Goat Farming Information : Click Here. For all Agriculture Farming Related Information        : Click Here.