| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 08:43:28 AM
I'm learning about keeping goats. One thing that is scaring me is the threat of worms. What do you all do to ensure health for your goats against the risk of worms. I'm not comfortable depending on dewormers because their overuse is leading to superbugs in our environment. So, is the answer rotational grazing...and how often? How much space is needed to adequately keep the worm population at bay?
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
"Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better."--Albert Einstein
"A meal of bread, cheese and beer constitutes the perfect food." --Queen Elizabeth I
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| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| MiaBella |
Posted - May 08 2012 : 07:06:26 AM
Tall grass & rotationl grazing. Also if you can keep a cow or steer with the goats that will help because the cattle will eat the worms that bother the goats. The worms are not strong enough to crawl very high. Goats also need plenty of browse, shrubs, trees, etc. The are not really grass eaters like sheep and cattle they prefer the rougher stuff, but will eat the tops of grass/weeds if available.
Keep an eye on their eyelids & gums, they should always be pink to dark red. Light pink to white means worms. Also, don't just worm them on a schedule with chemicals because they will become immune, only worm when needed, before breeding & after kiidding are essential because those are stressful times & a time when the worms will take advantage of their stress.
Michelle
Farmgirl Sister #4097
MiaBella Farm
New Caney, TX
www.miabellafarm.com |
| sherrye |
Posted - May 08 2012 : 06:45:50 AM
may i suggest you feed the DE to the animals. it then goes through them and in the poop you really do not need to sprinkle it on the poop. just be sure you feed it to them and it will be in their poop. it does not change in the gut. fly parasites help also. by keeping flies down you slow down worms also. apple cider vinegar is good in water troughs that are plastic changes the ph of the gut. worms do not like it. it also keeps algae at bay in stock tanks just ideas for you happy days to you sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| magnoliakathy |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 10:14:40 AM
Check out diamteous earth, VermX, and Goat Wisdom website. I use dimateous earth in the barn, I spread it over all of critter poop to help control flies and worms on the ground. I will start putting food grade DE on my goat feed next week, I have used VermX in the past, it was effective, easy, and a bit more expensive than I can now afford. I have a closed herd. My goats do not leave the property once they get here. I don't take them to the vet unless it is a life or death emergency and that has only happed once in 4 years (we were afraid a doe had retained a stillborn kid, xrays proved she was "empty" just the one kid that year). Good luck
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
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