To ensure the health of your goat herd, Dr Vinoliah Makuwa, consultant veterinarian at C4Africa, highlights three key elements farmers need to apply: a strong vaccination programme, good record-keeping, and good farm management practices.
Know what you’re buying
It is the responsibility of the farmer to ensure their herd health starts at the point of sale when they buy the goat. Before buying goats, you should know the history of that goat, their age, genetics, and overall quality.
This helps you to understand any threat in your herd and how to deal with it.
“You need to make sure that you buy your goats from a well-established [operation] with good health records. This is crucial to ensure that you do not introduce diseased animals into your farm,” Makuwa says.
As a farmer, knowing how to identify disease symptoms in your goat is vital. The aim is not to play the role of a vet, however, having knowledge about your animals will help you pick up on changes in their health, whether positive or negative.
In this episode, Makuwa also discusses:
- How to recognise a sick goat;
- Day-to-day farming practices to ensure goat herd health and more.
Catching up with a #SoilSista
This week also features #SoilSista Dr Gabby Malope. Breaking ground in more ways than one, Malope is a beacon of hope in the education sphere.
Want to know more? Listen to the full episode of Farmer’s Inside Track.
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Option 3: Click here to listen on Google Podcast.
ALSO READ: Go-getter goat farmer takes it to the next level
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