Nutritional Supplements for Goats

An Exclusive Line of Products
for Goats from a Leader in the Field of
Animal Health and Nutrition.

Knapp, WI—March 10, 2005: Vets Plus, Inc. is pleased to introduce an exclusive line of products just for goats with Goats Prefer™. According to the Census of Agriculture, published every five years by the U.S. Agriculture Department, goats are among the fastest growing segments of the livestock industry. To meet this growing demand, Vets Plus, Inc. has developed drenches, electrolytes and direct-fed microbials into a line of nutritional supplements for goats. An all natural oatmeal shampoo has also been developed for show goats.

Products included in the Goats Prefer™ line are Calcium Drench, an oral mineral supplement; Keto-Nia Drench and Power Punch, oral energy supplements; Revitilyte Plus, an oral electrolyte supplement; and Probiotic Power and Probiotic Plus Paste, direct-fed microbial supplements with vitamins. These products can help maintain normal nutrient and appetite levels at kidding, shipping, weaning, following antibiotic therapy and other stressful situations.

Introduction To Goats:
Goats are one of the smallest domesticated ruminants. It is managed for the production of milk, meat and wool. In the United States, there are between 2 and 4 million head; with Texas leading in Angora, meat and bush goats; and California leading in dairy goats. Breeds of goats vary from as little as 20 lbs. mature female body weight and 18 inches female withers for dwarf goats for meat production up to 250 lbs. and 42 inches withers height.

GOAT FACTS According to the US Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture goats are among the fastest growing sectors of the livestock industry. From 1997 to 2002: · The total number of goats in the US grew by over 12% to 2,530,000 head · The number of goats raised for meat increased from 1.2 million to 1.9 million which is a growth of 58% · The number of farms that raised goats for meat increased to 74,980 from 63,422 · The number of farms that raised goats for milk increased to 22,389 from 15,451 Everyday Facts: · Most commonly consumed meat across the world · Goat meat is very popular with the fast growing Hispanic population · For religious reasons, goat meat is also very popular among Muslims, Jews and Hindus · Texas has the largest numbers of goats in the US followed by Tennessee, California and Oklahoma Common Reasons Why Goat Producers Purchase Nutritional Products: • Milk Fever • Ketosis • Overeating Disease • Dehydration • To help with the stress of: * Weaning * Kidding * Transporting * Antibiotic Therapy * Vaccination * Worming * Weather * Ration Change

Females are called doe, young are kids, males are bucks; one speaks of buck and doe kids, and doelings, and of wethers or castrates.

Act of parturition in goats is called “kidding.” Birth weights of female singles are between 3 and 9 lbs.; twins being often a pound lighter and males 1/2 lb. heavier. Twinning is normal in goats with a high percentage of triplets thus giving several breeds an average annual litter size above 2 per doe and more than 200 reproduction rate.

Nutrition:
In their natural habitat, goats range freely over many acres, consuming a wide variety of high-quality forage and browse. Being a ruminant, goats must eat continually, concentrating on the best selection of weeds and leaves available to them.

Roughage is essential to the goat’s diet. Dry matter roughage (long fiber, i.e. grass hay and dry forage/browse) is essential for proper rumen function. Goats digest their food with live bacteria. A generous combination of live bacteria and grass hay is essential for a healthy rumen. Improper levels of protein, vitamins, minerals and nitrogen can also contribute to breeding and kidding problems.

Vaccination and Deworming:
Routine vaccination and a deworming program is essential to maintain health and productivity. Closely work with your veterinarian to create a program that is ideal for your location and type of operation.

Some common problems seen in goats:
I. PARTURIENT HYPOCALCEMIA: Also known as “milk fever.” It is a metabolic disease in does following kidding characterized by poor milk production, poor appetite, lethargy and low blood calcium levels.
Cause - Following kidding, most does may have a lowered calcium level in the blood.
Clinical Signs - Usually high producing older does are affected shortly after kidding. Lethargy, poor appetite and poor milk production. Occasionally, hypocalcemia tetany may be observed. Trembling or twitching of muscles of the body may also occur. Convulsions may develop.
Treatment - Intravenous calcium injections.
Prevention - The problem often involves many does in the milking herd. Usually, there is excessive calcium in the gestation diet from a mineral source and/or high quality legume hay. A low calcium level during late pregnancy will help to control the problem. Oral calcium supplements like Goats Prefer™ Calcium Drench given at kidding can help maintain normal calcium levels during the critical post kidding time.

II. PREGNANCY TOXEMIA: — Also known as “ketosis.” Pregnancy toxemia is a metabolic disease of goats in late pregnancy. Factors important in the development of the disease are: (1) Presence of two or more fetuses; (2) Undernourishment during late pregnancy when the fetuses have the most rapid growth; (3) Addition of stress such as severe weather, sudden changes in feed or other diseases. The disease usually appears in the last 30 days of pregnancy and is more common after the first pregnancy. The mortality rate is high in affected animals.
Cause - As pregnancy progresses, an increasing demand is on the available blood glucose supply of the doe because of fetal development. As hypoglycemia becomes more severe, the ketone level in the blood increases (ketonemia) and ketosis occurs.
Clinical Signs - Initially, the animal tends to separate from others. There is mild depression. Evidence of blindness develops, the animal runs into objects, shows little or no reaction when approached and wanders aimlessly. Dullness and depression become progressively severe. There is reluctance to move. The does become comatose and eventually die.
Treatment - Oral administration of glycerol or propylene glycol or intravenous administration of glucose may be effective in the early stages of the disease.
Prevention - An adequate nutritional level throughout the pregnancy will prevent pregnancy toxemia. Excessive fat should be avoided. Oral energy supplements like Goats Prefer™ Keto-Nia Drench and Goats Prefer™ Power Punch can help maintain normal calcium levels during the critical post kidding time.

III. DIARRHEA: Diarrhea itself is not a disease but it is a symptom. Diarrhea can be due to any number of causes such as infections including bacterial, viral, protozoan or it can be due to nutritional causes, etc. Irrespective of the cause, death from diarrhea happens due to dehydration. In addition to treating the primary cause, to save the animal, fluids and electrolytes have to be replaced. It is advisable to treat the animal at the onset of diarrhea. If the animal is able to eat, giving oral electrolytes is ideal. In advanced cases, intravenous fluids may be needed. When given as directed Goats Prefer™ Revitilyte Plus provides fluids, electrolytes and energy for animals suffering from dehydration.