The Goat Keeper’s Animal Health Care Manual

The Agricultural Research Council, specifically the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, has published a comprehensive workbook: "The Goatkeepers' Animal Health Care Manual" (2006). The Editors are A.F. Vatta, M.A. Abbott, J.F. de Villiers, S.A. Gumede, L.J.S. Harrison, R.C. Krecek, B.A. Letty, N. Mapeyi, and R.A. Pearson.

The ISBN is 1-86849-313-X.

The Manual was funded by the Animal Health Programme of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) Project R8151, the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Programme of the Agricultural Research Council, and the DFID Higher Education Link Project, managed by the British Council.

This Manual is intended for use by resource-poor goatkeepers living in South Africa. It is designed for on-farm use by farmers as a guide to maintain herd health, to detect early signs of ill-health, for immediate reference when the more common diseases or conditions occur in their stock, and also as a useful tool for extension workers as they interact and meet with farmers.

The text is clear, direct and practical, and there are many pictures illustrating each aspect. This Manual will be informative and helpful to anyone working with goats. It is an excellent publication, and will have application for many years to come. At this stage, there is only a limited number of copies available in English. It is planned also to publish the Manual in Zulu and Xhosa, although funds are limited.

Contents:
Section 1: Basic requirements and routine procedures
How do I house my goat?
How do I water and feed my goat?
How do I transport my goat?
How do I handle and restrain my goat?
How old is my goat?
How do I check the condition of my goat?
How do I look after the feet of my goat?
Why and how do I castrate a goat?
What should be in the equipment box for goats?

Section 2: Is my goat healthy?
Is my goat healthy?
Why and when should I wear gloves?
How do I take the temperature of a goat?
Post mortem examination.

Section 3: Using medicines correctly
How do I use medicines correctly?
How do I treat a wound?
How do I drench a goat?
How do I treat for ticks?
How do I give my goat injections?

Section 4: Common diseases and conditions
Abortion
Abscesses
Foot abscesses
Orf
Mastitis
Pneumonia
Pulpy kidney
Tetanus
Bluetongue
Heartwater
Coccidiosis
Roundworms
Tapeworms
Liver fluke
Vaccination

Copies may be ordered from:

The Public Relations Officer
Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute
Private Bag X 05,
Onderstepoort 0110
South Africa.
Telephone: National:(012) 529-9111
Telephone: International: +27-12-529-9111
Fax: National: (012) 565-6573
Fax: International: +27-12-565-6573
E-mail: BenjaminS@arc.agric.za
Website: www.arc.agric.za