Sustainable, natural, organic, herbal, etc, and goat husbandry

[freemotion]

How strong of a microscope would you need to do your own fecals? I think this would be very beneficial to my operation, with the animals that I have, and will have in the future.

I got all my info on www.fiascofarm.com and got my 'scope on craigslist. I was able to get an older professional lab model for about the cost of the cheap one she recommends on the Fias Co site. And I got a lesson in how to use it. It really is easy, after the first one, which took about a half hour to fiddle around and find anything. Then it was like someone turned the lights on in the room, and I knew exactly what to do from then on.

I think it was 10x to 40x, maybe? There are all kinds of digital ones available now, that you hook up to a monitor. Too technical for me. I like the little simple light bulb and the eyepiece. I imagine using the screen is much easier on your eyes and neck if you are looking at slides all day long. But my older one works just great.

 

[jlbpooh]

The vet I went to does do large animals too. There are 2 vets close by that specialize in goats. The one at this clinic wasn't there the day I went though. I like the idea of bringing the bag there and asking them to test it. It's not like goats don't poo very often, lol. He turned his nose up when I said I wanted to use the herbal stuff and looked at me like I was crazy though. We have 4 other animals going there though, plus the 2 that passed last year were going there as well. We have also referred 5 or so other people to them so they need to be nice to me. I did bring one of my dogs for shots last week though they were really nice and asked how the goats were doing.

I thought about learning to do my own fecals though since I have dogs, cats, chickens, guineas, ducks, geese, and the goats. It isn't like it wouldn't come in handy, lol. I need to deworm my chickens because most of them are 2-3 years old and have never been wormed, some of the poo has been looking really different and some of the chickens have been looking rather rough even before they started molting.

 

[FarmerChick]

DOING YOUR OWN FECALS IS EASY

Parasites are the biggest health management problem facing goat producers. Worms and coccidia kill more goats than all other illnesses combined. It is therefore surprising to learn that many goat raisers do not have an established program of regular, systematic microscopic examination of goat "pills" (feces) for worms and coccidia.

Doing fecals is easy. All you need are a few supplies and some goat poop! There are several companies that sell used reconditioned microscopes over the Internet. I purchased an American Optical microscope (4 x 10 x 40 power with three lenses) and an extra lightbulb from Associated Microscope for $150. A six-month mechanical warranty came with it and shipping from the East Coast to Texas via UPS was $9.00.

Additional supplies needed are : few test tubes (12 cc syringe covers will suffice), a handful of plain glass slides (gridded slides are not necessary), slide covers (optional), fecal floatation solution (sodium nitrate can be obtained from a vet), a stirrer (fecal loop or popsicle stick), a block of styrofoam (hollowed out to hold the test tubes upright), and a chart depicting worm eggs and coccidia oocysts.

Now for the "fun" part. Catch the goat whose "pills" you want to check and collect fresh feces, either by using a fecal loop to gather the substance from inside the goat, or stand around for a few minutes until the goat drops some "pills." Given their fast metabolism, goats defecate often. Do NOT use old, dried-out "pills" when doing fecal examinations. Old pill bottles or the vials in which 35 mm film is packaged are good for collection and labelling. For goats with diarrhea who require fecal testing, put on a pair of disposable gloves and obtain a fecal sample by inserting your gloved fingers into the goat.

Put three of four fresh goat "pills" into the test tube and pour just enough floatation solution into the tube to cover them completely. Mash them up with the stirrer. Then fill the tube with more floatation solution to the point that it is slightly overflowing. Place a glass slide over the top, letting a suction form with the solution against the slide, and place the slide in your styrofoam test-tube holder. Wait FIVE minutes to allow the eggs to float to the top and adhere to the slide.

Carefully remove the slide from the top of the test tube and place the slide into the microscope's viewing holder. (Dispose of the contents of the test tube.) Using the chart of worm eggs and coccidia oocysts, slowly adjust the lens to suit your eyes and move the slide from side to side and up and down until you find worm eggs and/or coccidia oocysts. The main worm problem in goats is Haemonchus contortus; however, some areas are subject to liver fluke infestation. The funny-looking darkened zeroes with a small white pinhole center are water bubbles. Realize that since the matter has not be strained, there will be debris in the mixture, so ignore it and look only for the parasite eggs as your chart depicts them.

Almost every goat has a few worms and even some coccidia oocysts to help stimulate its immune system. But if you find more than a couple of eggs or oocysts in your fecal sample, take appropriate corrective measures and treat the goat accordingly.

There are far more sophisticated methods for doing fecals, but the procedure outlined above will suffice quite well for the average goat producer. It will tell you what you need to know in order to keep your herd worm- and coccidia-free.

 

[big brown horse]

Great info FarmerChick!

 

[miss_thenorth]

Thanks you soooo much Farmerchick! Very informative!

 

[freemotion]

Let us know how it goes if you decide to do your own. You have a lot of goats and can really give us the goods!

 

[jlbpooh]

FarmerChick, where in NC are you? I work in NC, but live in SC. If you were close we could get together sometime and talk goats, lol.

 

[bibliophile birds]

He turned his nose up when I said I wanted to use the herbal stuff and looked at me like I was crazy though.

i have had this response from many a vet over the years. at first i let them convince me they knew best, but not any more. here's the quickest way to deal with that problem: explain, politely at first, that you see these animals every single day and the vet sees them once in a blue moon, so you probably know what's needed more than they do. also explain that the money you give him/her for a fecal spends exactly the same as the money you give him/her for dewormer, so you expect your wishes to be fulfilled.

if that doesn't work, or they try to make you feel bad for wanting to try holistic methods, then inform them, maybe not so politely, that there are lots of other vets you could spend your money with and that microscopes aren't all that expensive.

that was the advice my godfather gave me, and he is a wonderful vet. he said to think of your animals as you would your children: would you let a doctor convince you not to run tests that you thought were important?

 

[FarmerChick]

FarmerChick, where in NC are you? I work in NC, but live in SC. If you were close we could get together sometime and talk goats, lol.

Catawba SC

I live in Catawba County, NC....LOL

near Hickory

that is wild...were in NC do you work?

 

[Beekissed]

This thread still lives???? Wonderful!!!!

Hi, everyone of you goatie folks!