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WHY ARE STOMACH WORMS DEADLY TO GOATS?

The more I tell people that stomach worms (Haemonchus contortus aka barberpole worm) consume blood, cause anemia, and kill goats, the less people seem to pay attention to the seriousness of this statement. Now I am going to try a different approach.

Stomach worms feed on the goat's blood, killing red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to body tissues to keep them functioning. When tissues in the brain, heart, lung, liver, kidneys, pancreas, bladder, and other organs are oxygen-deprived, the goat has difficulty breathing, its digestive system slows down and it quits eating, its muscles get weak and it cannot stand, and its brain can no longer properly function, making the goat "foggy" when it comes to performing essential activities like eating, drinking, walking, peeing, etc. Worms can also cause internal bleeding, resulting in death from hemorrhage.

When I tell people who contact me that their goats are wormy, they often say, "but I just de-wormed." De-worming does not mean that it worked. I have been raising goats since January 1990, and one of the first things I learned is that most de-wormers don't work because people have over-used them, resulting in "super" worms that are resistant to multiple classes of de-wormers.

When people tell me that the FAMACHA score is good, I tell them to get fecals done, because FAMACHA doesn't tell the entire story. There are always worms in the goat that haven't reached the point in their life cycle where they mature and begin consuming blood. FAMACHA only reveals the damage already being done by the current crop of blood suckers.

THE ONLY WAY YOU KNOW THE WORM LOAD IN YOUR GOATS IS TO DO FECALS.

If a goat is anemic, just de-worming isn't enough. You have to give daily injections of Vitamin B 12 (red-colored injectable liquid only available from a vet) and Red Cell oral iron supplement (horse product available from Jeffers 1-800-533-3377) for 30 consecutive days. It takes a long time to rebuild red blood cells. See my article on Anemia on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com for details.

Worms are where 99% of all problems with goats start and end. The triad of NUTRITION, WORMS, and INFECTIOUS DISEASES becomes a deadly cycle. Proper nutrition and monitoring worm load by doing random fecals every month and de-worming as needed will head off almost all illness in goats.

Suzanne W. Gasparotto, Onion Creek Ranch, Texas 1-1-19  reprinted 6.1.24

Come Learn in Person!!
How to be proactive in your herd management!

Join us at the once a year GoatCamp™ at Onion Creek Ranch in Texas where you will learn from the experts in hands on as well as classroom instruction. (Where no question is too dumb!!)

Taking reservations for GoatCamp™ 2024

Oct 21-24, 2024

FAMACHA training. Doing microscopic fecal counts. Reading fecals.

Learn how to diagnose and treat illnesses and diseases

Nutrition: learn best nutritional practices

Tubing, injections, tattooing, eartagging, handling and restraints

Hoof trimming, hoof care

Necropsy demonstration

Diseases affecting goats

Drawing blood, disease testing

Selecting goats for breeding, market sales

Marketing your animals

Humane slaughter demonstration

Breeding, Kidding, Kid care

Importance of private property rights to goat owners.

...and much more, all on a working goat ranch.

The GOATCAMP™ Instructors

MARK SWENING, DVM - VETERINARIAN, Coleman, Texas Vet Clinic

JAMES MILLER, DVM, LSU - PARASITOLOGIST

KENT MILLS, HI PRO FEEDS - NUTRITIONIST

DAN BYFIELD, AMERICAN LAND FOUNDATION - PROPERTY RIGHTS & LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

BOB GLASS, PAN AMERICAN VET LABORATORY - SERUM DIAGNOSTICS

SUZANNE GASPAROTTO, ONION CREEK RANCH

PAT COTTEN, BENDING TREE RANCH

Classroom Instruction as well as Hands-on Work with Onion Creek Ranch goats on a working goat ranch

TUITION PER STUDENT - $550.00 IF RECEIVED BEFORE 10-1-24

$575.00 IF RECEIVED ON OR AFTER 10-1-24

Registration Form on the GoatCamp™ page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com

Additional Information or questions: Suzanne Gasparotto - 512-265-2090 (Texas) or email her at onioncrk@centex.net

GOATCAMP™ TESTIMONIALS:

My name is Christy Dalros. I attended Goat Camp™ in October. A few weeks ago, I noticed one of my does was not acting like her normal self. She had recently given birth to triplets and had been fine up until then. I check eyes at least weekly and she had good pink membranes prior. When I checked her eyes that day she was at a 4 on the FAMACHA scale. I immediately took a fecal sample and her count was extremely high. I began deworming her but she went down to a 5 on the FAMACHA scale soon after and developed bottle jaw. I have been so worried but I have run fecal samples on her weekly and continued deworming. I started her on daily iron and B-12. I also started giving her all the alfalfa she wanted for the added protein. I am happy to say that today she had no signs of bottle jaw and her eyes were at a 3 on the FAMACHA scale.

I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to attend Goat Camp™ last year. Without your class, I would not have known what to do. I lost more than 10 goats last year by this time and because of the training GoatCamp™ gave me, I am happy to say that ALL of my goats are thriving. I run my own fecal tests, something I would never have known how to do without Goat Camp™, and I refer to your articles and the notes from GoatCamp™ regularly. Thank you so much for the knowledge you shared. You have helped me more than you know.

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I want to send you a huge thanks you for doing what you do and offering me the opportunity to attend Goat Camp and learn from the best!! There was a ton of new information for me to absorb but equally valuable was to confirm whether or not I have been doing things correctly or not. It was amazing to see how you setup your operation and all the things you had to consider . Since I got home, I set up monthly random fecal testing to monitor wormload. I also have a Jeffers shopping list and a few books to add to my collection. After the necropsy, all the things that I have read and pictured finally made sense. I found that demonstration fascinating and really well explained. The 4 days for information was more than worth the time and travel and you have provided me with more confidence in looking after my little herd. I wish you all the best with your business and hope you continue to educate others, as your experience and knowledge is priceless. Shelley Helmer Canada

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We had the most amazing experience at Goat camp . The information I found there was very impressive. That is one of the best decisions I have made going into this venture. My second best decision is I will be back next year. My brain hurt trying to retain all the info. I will continue to review everything you supplied but I will be lucky if I have retained 50%. My 82 year old Mother was so excited when I explained all that went on she wants to come with us. Brian returned for a second GoatCamp™ and was amazed at how much he has missed the first time around! Thank you, best money we ever spent. Brian & Lori, Rockport, Texas

Click here for more photos from the very successful 2023 GoatCamp™