Why do you have goats?" In the 20 years we've kept these engaging animals on our hobby farm, my husband and I have fielded this question a lot. People ask if we milk them (no) or if we eat them (no) or if we show them (no). Since a practical answer seems expected, I explain how our current herd of five wethers excel at brush control and tree trimming. But here's the real reason: We keep goats because we love them. They amuse us and make us happy, and we try to make them happy, too.
This happiness equation, however, hinges on our thus-far hardy herd's continuing good health. Aside from being more fun to live with, healthy goats perform their jobs better, be it blackberry control, milk production or winning ribbons. A sick, injured or (horror!) dead goat? Not so much.
Read on for six important ways you can help your goats thrive, too.
1. MONITOR FOR PARASITES, THEN CONTROL WHEN NECESSARY
Parasites are greedy organisms that live on or inside another host organism, stealing nourishment while providing no benefit in return.
In fact, they can be quite harmful to your goats.
"Parasite problems are far and away the biggest goat health problem we encounter in our practice," says Chris Duemler, D.V.M., who has treated small ruminants for 44 years and owns Brodhead Veterinary Medical Center in Brodhead, Wisconsin.
Goats can suffer from a number of external parasites, such as biting and sucking lice, keds, ticks and several mite species. Depending on the pest, infestations can irritate and infect the skin, transmit disease and lead to anemia and hair loss. In short, you could end up with some unthrifty and possibly very itchy goats.
A veterinarian can help you identify the culprit and advise on an appropriate treatment, often a topical insecticide.
Denne historien er fra Goat-101-24-utgaven av Hobby Farms.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra Goat-101-24-utgaven av Hobby Farms.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The RISE of Opportunist WEEDS
Be prepared to see increasing changes in weeds we fight, such as poison hemlock and poison ivy, and in the crops we grow.
LIVESTOCK Health
Prepare yourself for how to spot symptoms of illness in your farm animals so that you can get them help before it's too late.
CUT FLOWER Farming
If you're considering growing flowers for sale, brush up on these five key things to know before diving in.
WINTER Survival
Keep your land, animals and yourself in good shape this winter with this helpful advice.
COVERAGE CONCERNS
Avoid common insurance mistakes for rural and hobby farm businesses.
FARMER'S GUIDE Berries
Set the stage for tasty strawberries, blueberries and brambles with these soil-boosting garden tips.
Preconditioning CALVES
Follow our step-by-step guide to get more money for your calves.
Soil Conservation
Often, outside of having a specific problem that needs to be addressed, soil conservation isn't something every farmer readily thinks about. Yet conserving the soil should be at or near the top of every farmer owner or manager's list of concerns because absent the prevention of soil erosion, we have the opportunity for another dust bowl.
Year-Round Lettuce & Salad Mixes
It's easy to think of salad greens as just a spring- or fall-garden crop, but it's possible to enjoy freshly harvested lettuces, mustards and more from your own garden year-round.
Barn Improvements
Days are never long enough for a farmer. From dawn to well into the night, tasks arise that often require immediate action. Having to search for tools or equipment is an enormous time waster and incredibly frustrating when you can't find what you need, especially when you know you have it.
