Below is a collection of links/resources that others may find helpful. Please note that we are not giving advice regarding goat management or health, and we take no responsibility for nor guarantee the correctness of any information found by following any of the links below (see also: site disclaimer, i.e. the "fine print," at the bottom of this page). The only piece of advice we are providing is: Find and develop a relationship with a good small ruminant veterinarian first and foremost. The internet is not a substitute for proper veterinary care.
This page was last updated on January 9, 2020.
Goat Care Links
Basic Goat Care Langston University’s American Institute for Goat Research maintains a library of articles, including several basic goat care fact sheets. Langston also has a free online training site, including a web-based training and certification course for dairy (or meat) goat producers.
The Maryland Small Ruminant page, managed by Susan Schoenian, the Sheep & Goat Specialist for University of Maryland Extension, has many articles on goat care, illness and disease, parasites, etc., under the "Resources" tab.
Parasites (internal) Internal parasites are one of the greatest--if not the greatest--threats to the health of our goats. The most common and dangerous internal parasite in the United States, especially in the southeast/areas that have warm, humid weather, is the strongyle species haemonchus contortus, more commonly known as the “barber pole worm.” The American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC) is a source of current, science-based information and strategies for dealing with parasites. If you are new to goats, the ACSRPC's six-part series on controlling worms in goats is a good place to start.
A common strategy for dealing with internal parasites is routine visual health checks of your herd, including a technique known as FAMACHA. The FAMACHA method is used to check individuals for anemia, a symptom of strongyle infestation. This video, produced by the University of Rhode Island, demonstrates the correct way to check the mucous membranes of the inner eyelid for signs of anemia.
If you need a lab to have fecal testing done for internal parasites, try Meadow Mist Lab Services or Mid-America Agricultural Research. Both of these labs accept samples by mail and provide detailed (egg per gram count) results.
Registries We personally use ADGA as our registry of choice because of their performance programs and availability of sanctioned shows; however, AGS has recognized Nigerians for much longer, and many choose to use them instead of or in addition to ADGA (we are members of both). Both are reputable registries. The American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) The American Goat Society (AGS)