It is tempting, given the limited research around goat nutrition to assume a goat’s nutritional requirements
fit somewhere between that of sheep and cattle. This assumption would be a mistake. When it comes to
mineral nutrition goats have very different requirements.
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Based on a goat’s production level when related to body weight and feed intake, these small ruminants are probably better compared to the ruminant equivalent of an F1 racing car. Just as you wouldn’t run a high performance car on low octane fuel, you shouldn't feed your goat the same way as you would cattle and sheep. Goats have different and very specific nutritional requirements. If these requirements are not met, the animal will not perform to its full potential, and worse still will be subject to a higher level of disease.
The interesting thing about goats is that their requirement is both higher and lower depending on the element in question. While their milk is in many ways more nutritious than that of a dairy cow, nature has at the same time designed the animal to survive under very different conditions, and on a very different diet from that of a cow. ...continue reading
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Keywords:
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Dairy Goat mineral requirements
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Dairy Goat nutrition
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Milking Goat minerals
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Facial eczema is a cause of major production losses in dairy herds.
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When moisture, high ground temperatures and humidity all occur together, the offending fungus present all year round becomes a problem. Under these conditions the fungus grows rapidly and spores are produced containing the toxin Sporidesmin which damages the liver and prevents removal of chlorophyll break down products from the body. This ultimately causes photosensitisation or ‘sunburn’ when the cow is exposed to sunlight. This is usually seen 10 days after exposure to the spores. The first thing you may notice is a drop in milk production and affected cows may seek shade, have swollen legs or brisket, fat ears, red skin or burnt teats. ...continue reading
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Keywords:
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facial eczema
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Sporidesmin
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spore counts
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TOUCHY COWS, SUMMER PRODUCTION DROPPING OFF?
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Typically during the summer months when temperatures and humidity levels are high, dairy cows face health challenges. Rye grass staggers occur from late November until the end of April, but tend to be worst from late January to early February, when we experience hot, dry spells followed by rain. Heat stress also becomes an issue where the cow’s ability to lose heat by sweating and breathing declines owing to the high relative humidity levels. Natural grass toxins which form when plants come under environmental stress, can also affect the animals grazing them.
Are your cows becoming hot and bothered this summer? Settle them down with Ascocool seaweed extract, a fully water soluble seaweed extract that helps to calm cows in the heat of summer.
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Keywords:
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Seaweed extract
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heat stress
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grass staggers
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Salmonella link to coarse grade and palleted Magnesium Oxide in Feeds
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Over the past few weeks, a number of vets have been reporting Salmonella outbreaks on dairy farms. Our investigations on some of these farms indicate that these outbreaks seem to correlate to use of pelleted Magnesium Oxide being fed in palm kernel based feeds. Although one of the farmers we interviewed, reported some salmonella before feeding the PKE containing the coarsely ground magnesium oxide, he reported that after introducing the feed the disease took off. On discussions with some in the feed industry it would seem that coarsely ground magnesium supplements may have been widely used throughout the feed mill industry over the past 2 seasons. This magnesium is a little different to that used in the past and the pelleted magnesium associated with the outbreaks of salmonella reported in Taranaki. Prior to the last two seasons this coarsely ground form of magnesium oxide was formerly only sold into the fertiliser market and has large particle sizing, ranging from 2mm – 5mm. We believe the same risk factors are involved as those reported in the Taranaki outbreak of 2011 at that time associated to a prilled magnesium oxide product used in those feeds. ...continue reading
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Keywords:
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Salmonella
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Magnesium Oxide
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Coarse grade
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