By Ndumiso Tshuma
Farmers are being urged to implement strict quarantine and care measures when introducing new goats to their herds, as agricultural specialists warn that proper disease prevention is crucial to protecting livestock health.
Nqobani Manyabi, an animal specialist at El Gando Consultancy, said the arrival of new goats is an exciting but critical period that requires careful management.
โTransportation and a new environment are stressful, which can weaken an animalโs natural defences and make them susceptible to disease,โ he said. โThe first 30 days are crucial and require a structured approach to responsible goat management.โ
Manyabi advised that new goats should be kept in isolation in a clean, warm, and well-ventilated space, separate from the rest of the herd. He also recommended providing a constant supply of clean drinking water and high-fibre hay, avoiding feeds high in grain, urea, or concentrated protein.
โTo counteract stress, supplement with multivitamins such as Vitamin AD3E and Vitamin B Complex,โ he said.
Manyabi urged farmers to take preventive steps against common infections. He recommended administering Hitet 200 LA or an equivalent oxytetracycline antibiotic to prevent shipping fever, a respiratory disease triggered by stress.
โGoats should also be dipped using Tikgard or an equivalent product effective against ticks and mites,โ he said. โHowever, avoid using Ivermectin at this stage.โ
He stressed the need for vaccinations, particularly for enterotoxemia, also known as pulpy kidney disease.
โVaccines such as Prondivax and Multivax P Plus can protect against clostridial diseases, botulism, tetanus, blackleg, pasteurella, and anthrax in high-risk regions,โ Manyabi said.
Farmers were also advised to administer primary and booster doses, typically given four to six weeks apart.
Fifteen days after the final vaccine booster, Manyabi said goats should be dewormed using treatments effective against liver flukes, lungworms, nasal worms, tapeworms, and gastrointestinal roundworms.
He also urged farmers to monitor animals closely for signs of disease, including foot-and-mouth disease, pneumonia, diarrhoea, and tick-borne infections.
โIf after 30 days the goats show no signs of illness, they can be safely integrated into the existing herd,โ he said.
Manyabi emphasised that a strict quarantine process is essential to protecting both new and existing livestock.
โThis approach ensures the well-being of new additions and prevents potential disease outbreaks,โ he said.
