Angora Goat Health Guide: Keeping Biological Integrity Intact

Every farm differs slightly in its management plan, with variations relating to land use (pastures and veld), mating/ kidding and husbandry procedures. Even extensive producers will experience periods during the year when they need to farm their Angora goats under intensive management conditions.

- Dr Mackie Hobson

When starting out with Angoras, it is advisable to speak to experienced farmers, your livestock advisor and local veterinarian to determine the best management plan for your farm.

Biosecurity as starting point

With any management plan, the biosecurity of your farm is an important starting point. It is usually relatively easy to implement by simply providing a disease-free environment for your Angoras. Biosecurity is not only about the so-called ‘major diseases’. By minimising stress related to nutrition, disease, parasites, environmental conditions and management procedures, you can improve the production and health of your Angoras.

The website of the South African Mohair Growers’ Association (SAMGA) features a basic management plan that can be adapted to your farm and situation. It serves as a guideline and source of information on disease, nutrition, reproduction, medicine, vaccination, parasite control and best practice.

In short, a good management system based on nutrition, vaccination and parasite control suited to your farm is an indispensable and rewarding tool for the successful production of mohair.

The importance of nutrition

Nutrition is the key to most health and production issues on any farm. Supplementary feeding is crucial during poor veld conditions, especially over the twelve-week period from late gestation to early lactation. However, the economic advantage of supplements is lost during good seasons.