I would like to know what kind of vaccines dairy goats need in the state of Mississippi? I live on the coast Gulfport to be exact and vets here are not all that giving with info on goats unless you bring them and then it costs. I like doing things myself. I have had goats for 7 yrs but have never given them vaccines. thanks for all info. Erika

-- Erika (aewood11@juno.com), September 14, 2001

Answers

Gulf coast of Texas here. Basic vaccines for all goats is CD&T. Jefferslivestock.com sells anything you want to use, I use the BAR Vac brand, give 2cc IM or Subq now and again in 21 days, yearling boosters from then on, hopefully coinciding with about 3 weeks of kidding is all they will need from then on. Rabies vaccines are becoming more and more popular, though we won't be using them until needed, or a vaccine becomes approved, something that is being worked on right now. Malignant Edema or Black Leg may be something to think about if you have this in your area in the cattle herds. Always remembering that lots of vaccines, 7 ways and 8 way vaccines, for cattle, don't have strains of the disease goats get. Your best bet is to find a diary goat owner in your area, with a major Nubian herd between you and me in Lousianna, you may want to email him and see what he basically does. If you would like I could send you his email addy.

And though you have been going without for 7 years, I simply couldn't afford to play russian roulet with Tetanus, if you aren't disbudding, tattooing, castrating, and are very careful trimming feet, you could get by with just giving an anit-toxin shot for penetrating wounds. The trouble with enterotoxemia is that lots of folks have lost animals to it, continue to loose their very best, healthiest growing kids of the year, yet blame it on worms, cocci or bloat. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), September 14, 2001.

I agree with Vicki. CD&T at least yearling after the first set, our vet recommends twice a year in our area (Pacific Northwest). If you are selenium deficient you may want to also give a BO-SE shot, or add a supplement. We give all are normal vaccines ourself, as well as take care of simple sickness. I do take my goats to the vet if needed, had to take one today as she had a slight cloud in one eye. They stained it and confirmed she must have gotten a little something in it such as a branch etc. so we are treating it with an ointment. I could have done that without the vet, but wanted to confirm that it wasn't something that might be spread to other goats such as pink eye, since we are new to goats. Because I occasionally pay for their services, they are usually more than happy to answer my questions over the phone. It is nice to have a working relationship with a good vet, but for simple vaccines much cheaper to do yourself.

-- Leslie in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), September 14, 2001.

Erika, whenever I move, I interview the vets who have been recommended. I ask questions I know the answers to, and then make my choices. I've rarely used a vet all these years, but at least I know who to call in an emergency. I have several vets for my different species.

When I moved to Texas from Arizona, I interviewed the vets and told them about my innoculation and deworming schedule/products for all the critters. (I do this myself and purchase the products out of state; the vets don't make a dime.) The months for one of the deworming products was changed since that particular parasite is more active at a different time in Texas.

There is no charge for these interviews and advice. Play it safe and call a vet to find out what innoculations you need. He'll give you the info on the phone. If one doesn't give the info, call another. (I've never had a vet refuse the info.) He doesn't know you give your own shots! :^) You can also ask about the cost so they'll think you're gonna use them! -sneaky, aren't I!-

BTW, when giving innoculations for the first time, 2 shots are needed a few weeks apart. Then just one shot yearly as a booster.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), September 16, 2001.