Internal Parasite Control Protocol

for SIPAC Meat Goats for 2004

This protocol will be based upon best current knowledge of internal parasite control in small ruminants.  It will include a program of limiting pasture contamination by Haemonchus Contortus eggs and larvae and will also incorporate the FAMACHA system within the protocol.

This protocol will be only good for the first year (2004) of the project and will need to be reviewed and revised annually.

Some comments are:

 The anthelmintic used for all of 2004 should be different than the one used at the original farm.  Rates of dosing should be 2x the cattle or sheep dose for Ivomec and Valbazen, and 1 ½ the dose for Tramisol.

Body weights and general condition should be taken on all goats when deworming.

10% or 3 head of the goats should have a fecal sample taken for analysis.  When starting the FAMACHA system, 10% or 3 head of untreated goats should be sampled.  The number of goats needing sampling for those needing deworming should also be 3 head or 10%, whichever number is larger.

Ideally, treatment will be coordinated with a rotation through the grazing system.

1.)    Upon arrival at SIPAC, ideally the does should be kept overnight with access to medium quality hay and water and all treated with an anthelmintic the next morning.  They should continue to stay confined on hay and water until that evening, at which time they can be turned out to pasture.   If it is easier to keep them confined all night on hay and water and turn them out the next morning, that would be fine also.

2.)     The FAMACHA system can then be deployed.  This calls for 14 day inspection of the goats with deworming the 3, 4, and 5 scoring goats (Refer to FAMACHA page for more information)

3.)     Every 14 days the goats should be inspected using the FAMACHA eye score anemia test.  Those needing treatment should recorded, treated, and either 10% or all of them fecal sampled.  The animals not needing treatment should have 10% or 3head sampled. 

Those scoring a 3, 4, or 5 will need to be treated and held overnight on hay and water, treated, held until evening and returned to pasture. 

4.)     The program will need to be adjusted annually and by production stage as needed.

                                                One of the goats being wormed with a paste wormer

                   Checking the goat's eyelid for anemia using the FAMACHA reference chart

                   Checking the goat's eyelid for anemia using the FAMACHA reference chart

The project is a cooperative effort between Purdue University and the University of Kentucky.