Natural Dewormers For Goats/Sheep

Check this article out in Wild & Woolly and others like it: Going "Natural" with Research by Dr. Dahlia O'Brien Small Ruminant Specialist Delaware State University Delaware State University (DSU) is currently gearing up for the start of research this summer. Last year was the completion of the study evaluating the level of dewormer resistance in the Mid-Atlantic region (Winter 2009 issue) and the graduate student that worked on this project, Elizabeth Crook, will head to Virginia Tech to study veterinary medicine in the fall. This year, research is still continuing on the use of potential natural dewormers (pumpkin seeds, papaya and ginger) to control internal parasites in sheep and goats. There will be three studies conducted looking at these natural plant products during the course of the summer and determine if they can help in reducing our reliance on chemical dewormers. As you might recall, our last study indicated that pumpkin seeds were ineffective when ground and fed mixed into the feed. A subsequent study looking at a pumpkin seed drench (6oz/75lbs body weight) and ginger drench (3g/kg body weight) administered every other day for 6 weeks found that fecal egg counts were lower for both these groups compared to a control group. Therefore, additional studies using ginger and pumpkin seeds will be conducted this summer to see if we get similar results and to determine the best route of administration to see reduction in fecal egg counts. Last year, we also found that papaya seeds (6 g/kg body weight) ground and mixed with water and given to goats orally was ineffective in controlling fecal egg counts. We will attempt to see if varying this dose can have any positive impact on fecal egg counts. These studies are being conducted in collaboration with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Hoof Trimming

Today and on Sunday I worked with the goats. We've had so much hot/humid/rainy weather this spring that I needed to check everyone for worms and do some hoof trimming. Those hooves have really grown in this damp weather. Sunday was cloudy so I decided to tackle the Boers even though it was warm outside. They all got checked for worms, had their hooves trimmed and their tails trimmed. The adults were in good shape with their FAMACHA scores (FAMACHA 1, FAMACHA 2) but a few of the youngest kids needed deworming. After the meat goats were done, I did the Nubian buck, Stormy, and a doe that is in with him for breeding, Jackie. They were the easiest to do because they are so tame. You can work with them without tying or using a goat worker. In the late afternoon, I finished up with the Nigerian doe kids and the Nubian milkers. Today I started about 11 AM and did a paddock of Nigerian Dwarfs that had one buck and 15 does. Their hooves are easier to do because they are so small. Most of these cooperate well but they don't like drenching. Their previous owners used a feed additive for deworming. I've got one more paddock to do, hopefully tomorrow. This is the smallest one with one buck and 8 does. It will be good to have them all done. And, then of course, I have my personal favorite, the buck pen. I've just got a couple of breeder Nigerian Dwarf bucks down there with a few Boer buck kids waiting to be sold for meat. I always put them off until last. My soap making is coming along well. Last week I made a cornmeal scrub soap with some local cornmeal that is milled in King, NC and some Happy Camper soap which contains citronella and eucalyptus essential oils. I also poured my Nubian head, Nigerian goat and buffalo molds with goat's milk soap that is unscented. This was the first time that I used my buffalo mold. It makes a nice heavy bar that would be great for the bath. Tonight I'm going to pasteurize some goat milk to be frozen for making soap at a later date. I've just about used all that I have in the freezer and need to use some of the milk that is in the refrigerator.