I have about six goats... they are fed grain and high grade alfalfa... I give them formula every other day in a bucket as they are about 3 mos. old. I noticed that one of them is losing hair around her neck it is not raw and not lost to the skin... it has the apperance os a shaving but in patches... can u help?

-- Mary Ann Reed (phranch@fidnet.com), March 11, 2001

Answers

If the hair is just shorter in patches and not missing from the skin, chances are it is being physically removed and is not a medical problem.Just observe them for awhile to see if anything they are doing could result in hair loss. First thought is, check to see if they are rubbing on their feeder as they eat. There are some feed deficiencies that can cause brittle hair but doesn't sound like it in your case. Also most skin conditions do result in a redness to some degree, if only from irritation. Start with the simple solution and work up!

-- Nancy Bakke-McGonigle Mn. Sunset (dmcgonig@smig.net), March 11, 2001.

It mat be a copper deficiency. You should make sure that your mineral supplement contains copper.

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), March 11, 2001.

At the risk of asking what may be a dumb question, could it be that she has a collar that is rubbing off the hair on her neck?

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), March 12, 2001.