Taking newborn kids away

[TinyHouses]

Anyone else feel badly taking newborn kids away from mom? Our does came from high coccidia farms & our breeder said she has always pulled kids & bottle fed. So we did & Mom is so so upset, the babies could care less, but she is yelling up a storm. I feel like a turd. I know it is to keep them healthy, but it just seems/feels cruel at the moment.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

I could be wrong, but I do not think pulling the babies will prevent Coccidia. It will prevent CAE, as long as you heat treat the milk. Other more experienced goat people will be along. I am interested to hear what they have to say.

 

[marliah]

I've never heard of it either. But I'm not a pro, still a newbie at this point.

 

[elevan]

I could be wrong, but I do not think pulling the babies will prevent Coccidia. It will prevent CAE, as long as you heat treat the milk. Other more experienced goat people will be along. I am interested to hear what they have to say.

You're not wrong Ed.

If the goal is to prevent coccidia, then it won't work at all.

If the goal is to prevent CAE, then yes you pull them before they ever nurse.

 

[TinyHouses]

The theory is that if the mom lays in poo then the oocyts can then get consumed by the nursing kids. I know my breeder lost several kids her 1st year and wound up with some very small goats from the same year. Her vet recommended pulling kids bc the coccidiosis was killing them. All her goats are tested for CAE annually & always come back negative.

 

[elevan]

One more thing...if your does came from a farm with a big coccidia problem then one of few things (or multiple) are going on...
1) The coccidia are drug resistant
2) The goats are poor doers and aren't developing an immunity as they should.
3) They have VERY wet conditions most of the year and aren't using a prevention plan



Knowing this - YOU need to develop a plan for dealing with coccidia. I would suggest prevention treating starting at 3 weeks of age.
More information on what to use and average doses (check with your vet or area breeders to find out what works in your area): http://www.backyardherds.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2607-coccidia-goat


I would also give the kid back to mom if this was all about coccidia.

 

[TinyHouses]

Elevan how would coccidia infect them then? These are my first kids & I just want to do right by them. Thank you all

 

[TinyHouses]

Thank you a million times over!

 

[elevan]

Elevan how would coccidia infect them then? These are my first kids & I just want to do right by them. Thank you all

Coccidia are present in the ground. Generally they are a problem in wet conditions or just after a rain in dry conditions. They take 3 weeks to "mature" and become a problem (which is why you start preventative treatment at 3 weeks of age). So whenever the goat / kid mouths / eats something on the ground they risk ingesting coccidia protozoa.

 

[marliah]

I think Molly's herbals has something about using the herbal dewormer 2 as a prevention for coccidia