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Keeping your animals healthy is a priority, And part of keeping them healthy in minerals. In Alaska some areas are deprived
of Copper, Zinc, Selenium and other important minerals.
A Map of Selenium in United States: From USGS.gov
Efficiency
Making a profit on your goat production usually leans towards reproduction, from freshening milkers, to meat kids. And
the bucks and does need to be at their best. They should have their trace minerals to keep efficient.
Shouldn't Forage meet the requirements for minerals?
Not necessarily The plants are made up of what's in the soil, and if the soil has poor minerals, so will the forage.
So some individual goats will get it, while others won't.
Can I Feed Sheep Minerals to my goats?
You can, but they will not be getting the proper amount of copper, sheep can't have copper, while goats need it. So feed
a mineral or feed formulated for goats. Especially to pregnant does, they need minerals to prevent kids from having mineral
related deficiencies.
How do I know what my goats need?
here is a list:
Originally published in Agribusiness Dairyman
Reprinted in REDGA Goat Notes & United Caprine News ('96)
Paralytic Problems
| Milk Fever |
Ca/Phos. Ratio; Vit.
D; inorganic sulfate |
| Downer milk fever |
The above + magnesium |
| Grass tetany |
Magnesium |
| Knuckling fetlocks, weak hindlegs |
Vitamin E, Selenium, Copper |
| Nerve loss |
Copper |
| Ataxia |
Copper, copper-molybdenum |
Breeding Problems:
Problems:
Possible nutritional answers:
| Retained placentas, metritis |
Copper, zinc, selenium,
vitamin E |
| Lack of estrus |
Copper, zinc, selenium,
vitamin E |
| Tailess sperm in semen |
Selenium |
| Lack of libido |
Copper-molybdenum |
Hoof Problems:
Problems:
Possible nutritional answers:
| Hoof Rot |
Copper, iodine |
| Abnormal hoof growth |
Copper |
| Soft hoof growth |
Copper |
| Swollen fetlocks |
Copper |
| Laminitis |
High rumen acid upsets copper
absorption |
| Hairy wart resistance |
Copper (nutrition),
formaldehyde (foot bath) |
Intestinal Problems:
Problems:
Possible nutritional answers:
| Acidosis (pH balance) |
Sodium bicarbonate |
| Low butterfat test |
Sodium bicarbonate |
| Undigested feed in manure |
Copper, cobalt |
| Scouring |
Copper, molybdenum |
| Worm resistance |
Copper, molybdenum |
| Low production |
Copper, zinc, manganeses, inorganic sulfate |
| Abnormal appetite |
Copper, cobalt |
Metabolic Problems:
Problems:
Possible nutritional answers:
| High somatic cell count |
Copper, zinc, selenium, Vitamin E |
| Ketosis |
Copper, inorganic sulfate |
| White muscle disease |
Selenium |
| Pneumonia |
Copper, zinc, selenium, Vitamin E |
| Heart abnormalities |
Copper, selenium, magnesium |
| Anemia |
Iron, copper, cobalt |
| Tongue lolling |
Copper |
| Retarded growth |
Copper, molybdenum |
| Sudden death |
Copper, selenium, grease & nitrate |
| Off-flavor milk |
High iron (feed or water; Vitamin E |
| High culling rate |
Poor mineral nutrition program |
| Fat cow syndrome |
Copper, inorganic sulfate |
| Hair off color, no bloom |
Copper, selenium |
This is From the Saanendoah website http://www.saanendoah.com/nutritionalprob.html
My goats have had problems with selenium, because in Alaska we are in a Selenium deficient area, some of the kids may
have:
White Muscle Disease: The result of a serious trace or selenium deficiency. Sympotoms: Kids may be weak,
not a able to stand to nurse. and joint problems. Does and bucks can exhibit infertility, hard kiddings, retained placentas
and weakness. To prevent this; Feed that has adequate Selenium, Copper. And Injections of Bo-Se availiable from your vet.
or livestock supply catalog.
Goat Polio: A severe Thiamin deficiency. Symptoms: stargazing, rolling eyes, spasams, death within 1-4
days.
Here is Coni Ross's ( CR Ranch) explanation of goat polio from the "Barn Bible":
Well the bacteria of the ruminant manufacture
thiamin (put very simply).For some reason, occasionally bad bacteria, or plants kill the normal bacteria, causing overgrowth
of bad bacteria that produce Thiaminase.
Thiamin is destroyed.
Thiamin and glucose are the mode by which the electrical
transmission goes from brain to body part. Without it, the signal does not get there. The animal may present with various
symptoms, but usually there is paralysis, or stiffness, stargazing which may be accompanied by blindness. Sometimes the symptoms
are virtually the same as Tetanus. To determine if the animal has Tetanus or polio: Tickle the eyelashes. If it is Tetanus,
the nictating membrane (third eyelid) will flip over the eye. If not, and there is no fever, this is Polio.
To treat, I give: 10cc oral long acting
Penicillin to kill the bacteria in the gut, 10cc Long acting Penicillin SQ (for a grown goat factor for kids), and at least
500mg IM of Thiamin, and 500mg SQ to start. Thiamin is vitamin B1, and is water
soluble, so it doesn't last long. The IM Thiamin goes to work right away, and
the SQ Thiamin will provide a more sustained blood level. I usually give the goat several ounces of Revive, or 50% Dextrose
mixed 50:50 with water, to get some sugar to its brain.
So Hopefully you've learned something, and remember to Keep your goats' healthy! -feed minerals
formulated for Goats
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