SHEEP & GOATS  

Vaccinations

• Give BO-SE (Vitamine E Selenium – prevents white muscle disease) & CD & T Vaccinations at birth. May require repeat in 2-3 weeks.

  Clostridium Perfringens Types C&D (Vaccine for Overeating Disease) protects against the overgrowth of Clostridia bacteria when animals eat too much grain. Overgrowth of Clostridia bacteria causes bloody diarrhea and death in 12-24 hours. This vaccine does not protect animals from the effects of excessive overeating (such as breaking into the feed bin and eating 25 pounds of feed) which causes overwhelming rumen overload.
  Tetanus grows in dead tissue. “Banded” scrotums, dehorning areas, and wounds are all high risk places for tetanus.

• Vaccinate new animals if you are not sure of their history.
• Vaccinate under the skin.

Castrations

• Best done at 1 to 2 weeks of age.
• Band up to 1 month.
• Older animals should be surgically castrated; if they are banded, there is greater risk for tetanus.

Dehorning

• Best done at 1 to 2 weeks of age.
• By the time the horn is 1 inch long or longer, it is probably too late to disbud.
• When using an electric dehorner (burning), remember that there is only 1/4 inch of bone between your dehorning iron and the goat kid's brain.
• Local and/or general anesthesia, as well as tetanus vaccination, is strongly recommended.
• Older goats can be dehorned, but it requires removal of the top of the skull requiring a prolonged (6-8 week) recovery.

Disease Testing & Herd Health

• Recommendations can be made depending on your intended use of the individual and/or flock/herd. Call for Consultation.