So 2 of my three female ND goats are losing hair on the bridge of their noses. They have been using the same hay rack for 2 years so I don't think it is rubbing on the rack. They also have just had a dose of copper bolus (every 6 months). I use UltraBoss in the hot months to deter bugs and mites so I don't know what is happening?? Any help would be great! Dustin
My does get this every year. It's probably a zinc deficiency. Human zinc pills or TrueCare 4 top dress would be two ways to treat it. I use human pills, but TrueCare 4 is a highly recommended product and might work a little better. I just don't use it because it was more expensive than humans pills. You can use any human zinc pills. The ones I have are 50 mg pills I believe. I gave my does one pill for three weeks and then reassessed. Others have had success with giving them daily for a period I can't recall if the deficiency severe enough. It is possible to overdose on zinc so that is something to keep in mind. Good Luck!
Thank you!! I am starting to believe it may be a zinc issue as well. They have copper bolus and loose minerals (they don't eat them much- Mana Pro). I will look into this more!
When did they last receive a copper bolus? Photos of tails and bodies and faces? It's either copper or zinc, sometimes both.
Mana pro minerals are not the best. Are you able to get Sweetlix Meat Maker goat minerals? They would be a lot better. Purina Wind and Rain Cattle minerals, or Cargill Onyx would be other options.
I ordered some zinc and have just given them the copper bolus about 2 weeks again. I will try to get pictures! thank you!
thank you! Ok, so I think this is IT! I saw perfect little holes in the hay inside the feeders. We pack it in tight because it helps with waste but last night I noticed that two of the girls REAAAAAALLY live to shove there noses super deep into the feeders. The type is a Premier One Metal rack/wall feeder with pretty small holes. And what do you know??!?! Their noses hit the bars EXACTLY where the hair is missing. LOL Is there anything you do for this?!
I ordered the Wind and Rain but was concerned about the additional copper since I bolus every six months also. Is this ok??
Yep, sounds right. Are you feeding them more hay now than you were a month ago? If they are eating more hay from that feeder than before or usual then that could be why they are rubbing more. We have a V shaped feeder that was in our does old shelter and winter time they'd always rub the hair off since they were browsing much less and eating more hay. I'm not seeing it yet since we are using different hay feeders until their new barn is done. They are wasting hay like crazy right now - ugh.