Did you know that worms KILL more goats than anything else.
Symptoms: Pale Pink / White eyelids, diarrhea
Goats have such a problem with worms because man has turned them into grazers and not browsers. Goats like their cousins the deer prefer to eat leaves from bushes and trees, vines and weeds. By putting goats onto lush pastures goats are eatting on the same ground where there are droppings (poop) and worms. If the goat never had to graze there wouldn't be a worm problem.
How can you help your goat be semi worm free?
1) Make sure that your goats eat from clean feed containers. If possible keep the feed containers off the ground where they can step into them.
2) Feed hay off the ground.
3) Alway offer free choice minerals that contains COPPER. A goat that is up on its COPPER is less likely to have a worm problem. **WORMS HATE COPPER**
4) If you can rotate pastures, let your pasture rest for 3 months between grazings. Possibly graze cattle or horses on the pasture before putting goats back on. They are not host for some of the goat worms and will back the worm cycle.
5) Check your goats eyelid color once a week. The eyelid color should be dark pink... if you see pale pink to white eyelid color WORM IMMEDIATELY DON'T WAIT.
6)If your goat has diarrhea WORM IMMEDIATELY
WHAT SHOULD YOU WORM WITH?
There really aren't wormers labeled for goats so as goat farmers we've had to use wormers labeled for other animals. Since a goat has a metabolism that is 4 times faster than any other animal we have to worm with larger dosages.
ALWAY give wormers ORALLY (BY THE MOUTH)
Types of wormers:
Most of the wormers listed below can be brought at Tractor Supply, Jeffers online or your local feed store.
1) 1% Ivermectin injectable for cattle or swine
Dosage 1cc for every 20 lbs...ex. an 80 lb goat will get 4cc ORALLY
2) 1.87 Ivermectin Paste for horses.
Dosage 3 times the horse amount...ex. 100 lb goat get a 300 lb click orally.
3) Safeguard Wormer for Goats (liquid). Always worm with this wormer when you worm with 1% Ivermectin or Cydectin because it kills certain worms. Orally.
Dosage 2cc for young / small goats. 3cc for adult goats under 100 lb. 5 cc for adult goats over 100 lbs
This wormer is safe for goats so you don't have to worry about overdosing.
4) Safeguard paste for horses. Should be given 3 days in a row. Orally
Dosage 4 times the amount for horses...ex. 50 lb goat should get the doses for a 200 lb horse
5) Cydectin Pour-On DO NOT POUR THIS ON YOUR GOAT YOU WILL KILL IT!!!!!!
Dosage 1cc for every 50 lb ORALLY
This wormer is purple in color and smells like wart remover......Make Sure you use gloves when using this wormer as it will absorb into your skin
I have never used this wormer but have been told that it works well if your worms are resistant to 1% Ivermectin.
6) Positive Goat Pellets
This wormer is a pellet and is offer like food. You feed 1 lb per 100 lb of goat body weight. Make sure your goat hasn't eatten before offering pellets so that your goat will eat all of the wormer. This is a good wormer if you don't have alot of goats as it can get expensive.
7) Medicated Goat Wormer. This wormer can be bought at Tractor Supply it is in a 1lb red bag with a Boer goat on it.
Dosage 1 oz per 100lb of goat body weight
All wormers and dosages listed above have been used on our farm. There are many other wormers available. For more information on wormers check out www.fiascofarm.com. Click on goat care, scroll down to worms and wormers.
This is a Bowtie Acres worming routine.We are not responsible for any problems that may arise from you worming your goats.
If you should have a bad worm problem or serious illness you should contact a large animal vet for assistance.
We are not vets just goat farmers......
I would like to thank Diamond K for the information posted on worming......