Hello, I would like to share the case history of what I perceive to be Chlamydia in my herd, and solicit advice and ideas on how to manage it. Our goal is to tend a closed herd, excepting the bi-annual buck purchase, selecting for qualities that do well in our situation, which is far north, long winters, and forest browse in the summer (converting to more regenerative ground plants over time). Last year was supposed to be the final purchase to acquire the size that we thought sustainable when....
The best-looking, healthiest doe from the most reputable source aborted at about 12 weeks. Following, several others aborted, (4-5 in all) and after some research we brought home some LA-200, which stemmed the tide and saved the kids of the remaining 2 does. Several symptoms were present indicating Ch. Abortus, such as eye discharge and bloody tails across the herd, and low milk production even, and several symptoms of other "abortion storm" illnesses were absent. No tests were performed.
This year, we have seven does that we hope are bred, with first kids possible on April 12th. I have been administering LA-200 at a doseage of 1cc/20-25 lb. subcutaneously on the ribs, for the past 6 weeks. All goats seem healthy, good eyelids, good backstraps, good appetites , good coats, with the exception of the oldest who is losing just a bit of hair. We also have an unbred yearling doe, and two yearling bucks, who have not received any medication.
I would like to attempt to get Chlamydia out of the herd, and/or select for goats that seem to recover well (those who miscarry the first year and then gain resistance) or are not affected. Towards this possibility,what would be the best approach? For right now, as far as management goes, should the newborn kids be administered anything/could this help to eliminate the disease? Are they exposed at birth, and destined to harbor the disease until their own pregnancies, even if the does have been getting their weekly shot? Can a shot eliminate the disease in their system or just temporarily kick it down? Or, should I simply plan to administer a shot to all first year expecting does, for the next 2-3 years? Then, if an older doe miscarries for a second time, perhaps cull her? If I administered shots to the first year doe, and then in her second year she was exposed to the disease via an older doe who miscarried, would she be more or less susceptible to the disease, for having recieved the antibiotic the during the previous pregnancy? Perhaps I should administer shots to all the does who have been exposed now, and the ones to be born, each season until they have all died and been replaced? Or could it be sooner? Will repeated use of the antibiotic in the whole herd eventually get rid of the disease? Will the heavy use of the antibiotic strengthen the disease for all of us?
Many questions towards long-term sustainability and resiliency, and the best management practice!
Thank you for your time and interest!
The best-looking, healthiest doe from the most reputable source aborted at about 12 weeks. Following, several others aborted, (4-5 in all) and after some research we brought home some LA-200, which stemmed the tide and saved the kids of the remaining 2 does. Several symptoms were present indicating Ch. Abortus, such as eye discharge and bloody tails across the herd, and low milk production even, and several symptoms of other "abortion storm" illnesses were absent. No tests were performed.
This year, we have seven does that we hope are bred, with first kids possible on April 12th. I have been administering LA-200 at a doseage of 1cc/20-25 lb. subcutaneously on the ribs, for the past 6 weeks. All goats seem healthy, good eyelids, good backstraps, good appetites , good coats, with the exception of the oldest who is losing just a bit of hair. We also have an unbred yearling doe, and two yearling bucks, who have not received any medication.
I would like to attempt to get Chlamydia out of the herd, and/or select for goats that seem to recover well (those who miscarry the first year and then gain resistance) or are not affected. Towards this possibility,what would be the best approach? For right now, as far as management goes, should the newborn kids be administered anything/could this help to eliminate the disease? Are they exposed at birth, and destined to harbor the disease until their own pregnancies, even if the does have been getting their weekly shot? Can a shot eliminate the disease in their system or just temporarily kick it down? Or, should I simply plan to administer a shot to all first year expecting does, for the next 2-3 years? Then, if an older doe miscarries for a second time, perhaps cull her? If I administered shots to the first year doe, and then in her second year she was exposed to the disease via an older doe who miscarried, would she be more or less susceptible to the disease, for having recieved the antibiotic the during the previous pregnancy? Perhaps I should administer shots to all the does who have been exposed now, and the ones to be born, each season until they have all died and been replaced? Or could it be sooner? Will repeated use of the antibiotic in the whole herd eventually get rid of the disease? Will the heavy use of the antibiotic strengthen the disease for all of us?
Many questions towards long-term sustainability and resiliency, and the best management practice!
Thank you for your time and interest!