Sunday, June 1, 2008

Mastitis.....Aghhh, when it happens

I am a little frustrated actually because I cant seem to nip this problem in the bud. You see I have about 20 or so anglo nubian crosses which I brought in from Australia. Beautiful does, they are and recently when they kidded, we were getting 3's and 4's from them. Beautiful kids averaging 2.5kg. The problem that i encounter though is that after a couple of weeks, the does develope abrasions near and around their teats. I reckon you'd expect this when you have 3 to 4 kids going at the teats. One thing I observed about the Anglo Nubian crosses are how big their udder can get. What I dread most is that when you realise the abrasions, it's already too late, the udder has turned hard, fibrotic, and worse, unlike my other breed (I have Boers on the farm as well) they go down very fast, they appear hypocalcaemic, weak on their hinds, they start having diarrhoea after infusing the intramammaries and die. They will respond to calcium borogluconate infusions, but can succumb again the next day. Only with the Anglo Nubians. They don't appear hardy here. Boers can get mastitis too, but if I am virgil, I check their teats every morning, they would be able to take their kids through to weaning at 3 months. My veterinary colleagues in South Africa say's, when you palpate the udder and you start to feel a lump, don't wait, give the intramammaries. Hey, palpate the udder of Anglo Nubian's as they develope during pregnancy. They get harder and bigger, and if you palpate them at this point in time you'de think they are already fibrotic. So where do I draw the line, between a pathological udder and a physiologically normal hard udder? California Mastitis Test? Everyday? Wouldn't this be a too intensive human recourse? And I actually have to worry, that the kid weaned early from mom, because we are treating her udder, is not going to thrive as well as the others, simply because in any other circumstances it may not be getting enough. Time is lost, from training the kid to accept a bottle and creep feed. The result is a kid that fails to achieve breed standards. What can I do?

3 comments:

Al-Manar said...

I have no real interest in goats. Many many years ago when I was a young teenager Ihad a kambing that I took care of. How I came to possess it is beyond mycomprehension - perhaps ,as you said, to do something that our great prophet did.

I came accross your blog;s name in TDM's blog. It is unusual to see a full name. Then I notice that you claim to be a professional goat farther. There is something original about that.So here I am to say halo to you.

Shah and Naim said...

Doc,

please update with some picture...lagi menarik..so when ppl open your blog..they will understand more...

Go Doc..u can do it..

SHAH

Falah Dizar Adviator said...

Salaam doc. Dont give up lah doc!

and btol, more pix and illustration!
Cheers!