Is there a disease or trend causing kid mortality this winter? - Ask Extension
Our good friends have a 25+ head of mainly Boer goats on a small hobby farm located in Beavercreek (Oregon City). As of this last Friday evening since...
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Is there a disease or trend causing kid mortality this winter? #164606
Asked January 19, 2014, 11:27 PM EST
Our good friends have a 25+ head of mainly Boer goats on a small hobby farm located in Beavercreek (Oregon City). As of this last Friday evening since mid December, out of 7 does there were 10 dead kids! This has never happened here. 2 kids were born about 1 month early, a set of quads were born maybe 7-10 days early and were all dead (but we don't know if maybe we could have saved them had we been there). Since that time one doe had to be induced and ended up with a dead kid inside, covered in yellow. The doe is very ill. Another doe had quads -- 1-10 lbs, 1-7lbs, 1-5 lbs, and 1-1 lb. There have been other dead kids and does not coming out of the birth very well. These people are experienced w/ livestock and have had these goats for about 5 years and vaccinate for everything. Are there other examples of unexplained kid or lamb deaths in the area that we need to look into? What about blood samples?
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
It sounds as though your friends are in the midst of an abortion storm with their goats. It is well past time to get a veterinarian involved if they haven't done so already. A veterinarian will examine the pregnant does for signs of illness and collect samples to submit to a diagnostic laboratory. Alternatively, you could take the next stillborn kid and its placenta to the veterinarian ASAP for sample collection and shipment. Particular medications given to the does yet-to-kid may be able to stop this outbreak, but a diagnosis must be made first. The medications involved are not approved for use in goats, so your veterinarian must give you permission and instructions on use (dosage, how to give, withdrawal time for meat, etc.). There are many infectious diseases that can be causing this outbreak and some are contagious to humans. To learn about these diseases, read the article at http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/sfn/sp10LovesLabors. The owners should be wearing gloves while handling the goats and washing their hands and changing clothing after handling the animals. A severe selenium deficiency can cause weak and stillborn kids so discuss this with the veterinarian as well--selenium injections may be needed. Depending on the diagnosis, vaccinations may be able to ward off this disease in the future.The bottom line: consult a veterinarian and get a diagnostic work-up ASAP so you can identify the cause of this outbreak and try to save the remainder of this year's kids and prevent this problem in the future.Best wishes,
