MY PARASITE EXPERIMENT
Anything that weakens the immune system reduces milk production and I have observed that parasite control was key in keeping continuous lactations going for years in my goats.
So this led me to trying to eliminate parasites completely. I am fairly excited with the progress but remain guarded. It will take time also to do this. Having goats prone to parasites due to overcrowding on pasture and possibly not great immunity to worms, I feel, is ideal to experiment with this elimination of worms. I also don't rotate areas for worm control.
I have 9 goats on one acre and I did not quarantine and deworm the original ones intensively when I introduced them on this property so this allowed worm eggs to be dropped all over. The old FAMACHA system deworming protocol was to keep a goat in a confined area and de worm with 3 different dewormers several times to break the life cycle of the worms which will drastically reduce worm egg laying and contamination on the rest of the property. I did this with Moonbeam when she came back. IvomecPlus, then give Quest horse de wormer 5 days later, then repeat 5 days later with IPlus doing this 4 times (I added the extra IPlus, a 4th dose since I needed it here) with IPlus and 3 times with Quest. This took 5 weeks to accomplish. This was a few years ago. Now the FAMACHA protocol is updated.
I haven't seen any worm resistance to the dewormers I use since 2008, so far.
Since spring 2014 I have been doing an experiment to totally eliminate the worms off the property and out of the goats. Of course this is a goal but may not completely happen. This has really kept my goats in beautiful condition and health. My wether Jasper gets a gimpy left front leg and shoulder when he has Liverflukes. Their vitality/energy is very weakened when even a low number are present. Milk production goes down. I am using the Muscle Testing to determine this. This is mentioned on pages 817-818 in the book 'Goat Medicine' 2nd edition. There are also Youtube videos. It took a lot of practice to learn it and I've been doing it since 1990. With Barberpole worm in the gut the weakness goes right to the udder and production goes down. Between blood sucking and toxins the worms produce this really weakens my goats vitality.
I see that skin mites also weaken their body. The skin Is the largest organ in the body and if it is weak, that weakens everything else. Even if there is small visual evidence of them they can be present in large numbers.
I am seeing progress with Liverfluke. Having to only deworm 3 goats out of the 8 goats as of November 1, 2015. Not having to deworm all goats at the same time is huge.
I had the experience to help an outside goat that I could see didn't have any tolerance to worms. Her 3 siblings had no problem staying in good flesh but she would go down hill fast with any load. Goats like this are usually culled or die from worm overload.
Example- On May 13, 2015 all 8 goats needed IvomecPlus for Liverfluke. A few made it to their bile ducts, I detected inflammation there, so weak energy is detected. When IvomecPlus is tested, holding the bottle at the right point over the liver, energy is strong. June 22nd Sadie and Moonbeam needed IvomecPlus again. They are in a separate area. The other 5 didn't need Liverfluke treatment until a week later when we had some rain around June 27th. So as soon as I detect inflammation in the bile ducts I de worm. As soon as I detect inflammation in the gut area I deworm for Barberpole. The plan is to deworm as soon as they mature to the blood sucking stage which will cause inflammation and before they lay eggs. I have found that I don't have to deworm the intensive 3 times 10 days apart doing this. With Liverfluke I wait a few days for them to arrive at the bile ducts in case there are some still in the traveling stage.
I am also careful about dosages, not under dosing dewormers.
So I deworm with the muscle testing even when their FAMACHA has great color. So they aren't getting to the point of anemia. This can be accomplished with regular fecal microscope exams also. Probably once a week would be good.
Missy's eyelid. Nice red color. It looks good with push, pull, pop also but doing that while holding a camera is not going to happen.
12/08/2015- 60- 62f weather. I had to give all goats Quest for Barberpole worm. Too warm for December.
Here in the wet side of the PNW a winter deworm is a good protocol to eliminate adult overwintering/hibernating/non egg laying Liverfluke, Lungworm and barberpole before egg laying season in the spring. January 15th is a good time. When warmer spring weather arrives a sediment fecal test for Liverfluke and flotation for Barberpole is necessary and should be done regularly. Here in Oregon, Oregon State University is a good place to send fecals to. They do a thorough test. I have seen regular veterinarians not do a sediment test, only a flotation, and call it good. You have to have a sediment fecal done and they need to know what they're looking at. The goal is to keep eye membrane color good before anemia becomes visible. In the real world though most don't fecal so the FAMACHA chart becomes the next best thing. So that's why I promote it.
Liverflukes can cause anemia, depending on numbers, and not even be laying eggs to show they are even there. It's a conundrum since they lay eggs intermittently. That's why a clean fecal can give a false sense of security in this regard. So regular fecal analysis during worm season is necessary to see if Liverfluke eggs show up along with other types. In southern states, with high humidity, some have seen high egg count along with good eye membrane color. This shows how quickly Barberpole worms can mature into the adult blood sucking and egg laying stage before anemia manifests. So some do fecals on a weekly basis. This would be prudent under saturated conditions.
Here in the wet side of the PNW a winter deworm is a good protocol to eliminate adult overwintering/hibernating/non egg laying Liverfluke, Lungworm and barberpole before egg laying season in the spring. January 15th is a good time. When warmer spring weather arrives a sediment fecal test for Liverfluke and flotation for Barberpole is necessary and should be done regularly. Here in Oregon, Oregon State University is a good place to send fecals to. They do a thorough test. I have seen regular veterinarians not do a sediment test, only a flotation, and call it good. You have to have a sediment fecal done and they need to know what they're looking at. The goal is to keep eye membrane color good before anemia becomes visible. In the real world though most don't fecal so the FAMACHA chart becomes the next best thing. So that's why I promote it.
Liverflukes can cause anemia, depending on numbers, and not even be laying eggs to show they are even there. It's a conundrum since they lay eggs intermittently. That's why a clean fecal can give a false sense of security in this regard. So regular fecal analysis during worm season is necessary to see if Liverfluke eggs show up along with other types. In southern states, with high humidity, some have seen high egg count along with good eye membrane color. This shows how quickly Barberpole worms can mature into the adult blood sucking and egg laying stage before anemia manifests. So some do fecals on a weekly basis. This would be prudent under saturated conditions.
Sept. 5, 2015 Moonbeam started grinding her teeth but I didn't figure it out till Oct 1st. It is some type of worms in her neck, a huge inflammation in and around her vertebrae clear up around her atlas, C1 area, the base of her skull. This is not meningeal worm (See Update). I just went with the muscle testing and gave her 1cc per 50 lbs. of plain Ivermectin horse paste every 7 days till I muscle test they are gone. She would do hard grinding and after the Ivermectin she would have soft grinding for a couple days then start harder grinding again. She would progressively grind less as her treatment progressed. The worms were walled off with inflammation so it took awhile to get them all out but now she hasn't had symptoms for a few days which is a good sign.
UPDATE- 7-30-2018. I am thinking there are Meningeal Worms involved. Details below.
1/4/2016 Moonbeam hasn't had a hint of teeth grinding for awhile.
All of the goats had some of these unidentified worms so I treated them, a few doses of Ivermectin 5-7 times or more, 1cc per 70 lbs. which does work but takes longer than 1cc per 50 which is an UPDATE I am doing now. None of the others had teeth grinding.
1/4/2016 I am still treating Pepper weekly. She has more than anticipated.
UPDATE- 7-30-2018. I am thinking there are Meningeal Worms involved. Details below.
1/4/2016 Moonbeam hasn't had a hint of teeth grinding for awhile.
All of the goats had some of these unidentified worms so I treated them, a few doses of Ivermectin 5-7 times or more, 1cc per 70 lbs. which does work but takes longer than 1cc per 50 which is an UPDATE I am doing now. None of the others had teeth grinding.
1/4/2016 I am still treating Pepper weekly. She has more than anticipated.
UPDATE 3-39-2016 Moonbeam is doing great with no teeth grinding but she needed more dewormings to get every last worm/inflammation out of her neck.
UPDATE 2/4/2018 These worms do keep building up so I keep on top of them when detected. I think it is from mosquitoes or midges. They do cause inflammation so I can see it wouldn't be good if a health issue came up like polio or listeria which causes inflammation also.
I have guarded optimism that de worming upon inflammation using muscle testing will eliminate the worms completely. I have been doing this for two years now. Now at the two year mark we have had weather plenty warm enough (according to all past years of when I had to de worm) to trigger worm blood sucking with Barberpole and Liverfluke. Out of 8 goats, only Moonbeam needed a deworm for Liverfluke on March 11 2016. She had good eye membrane color so blood sucking wasn't allowed to progress to anemia. I knocked them out with Ivomec+. Liverfluke can cause anemia also not just Barberpole. This would depend on how many Liverfluke made it to the liver of course.
March 28, 2016 Bergie needed Ivomec + for Liverfluke. He is also in my garden area where I dump used bedding. I need to look up how long eggs can survive dried out. I think it can be around two years for some.
So far only Moonbeam and Bergie needed deworming since the warm weather. Not seeing anyone else having Liverfluke or any Barberpole, so far. They all got a Quest for Barberpole December 8, 2015. I stay cautious but past years there would have been a need for deworming by now, april 5 2016 with this abnormally warm weather and lush wet growth on the pasture. I hope this will work, only time will tell. Also there are no other goats in the neighborhood for eggs to travel in the air as dust to contaminate my property. There has been up to 8 other neighbors over the years that had goats from time to time. So if I have success with this deworming method then this will help.
UPDATE 2/4/2018 These worms do keep building up so I keep on top of them when detected. I think it is from mosquitoes or midges. They do cause inflammation so I can see it wouldn't be good if a health issue came up like polio or listeria which causes inflammation also.
I have guarded optimism that de worming upon inflammation using muscle testing will eliminate the worms completely. I have been doing this for two years now. Now at the two year mark we have had weather plenty warm enough (according to all past years of when I had to de worm) to trigger worm blood sucking with Barberpole and Liverfluke. Out of 8 goats, only Moonbeam needed a deworm for Liverfluke on March 11 2016. She had good eye membrane color so blood sucking wasn't allowed to progress to anemia. I knocked them out with Ivomec+. Liverfluke can cause anemia also not just Barberpole. This would depend on how many Liverfluke made it to the liver of course.
March 28, 2016 Bergie needed Ivomec + for Liverfluke. He is also in my garden area where I dump used bedding. I need to look up how long eggs can survive dried out. I think it can be around two years for some.
So far only Moonbeam and Bergie needed deworming since the warm weather. Not seeing anyone else having Liverfluke or any Barberpole, so far. They all got a Quest for Barberpole December 8, 2015. I stay cautious but past years there would have been a need for deworming by now, april 5 2016 with this abnormally warm weather and lush wet growth on the pasture. I hope this will work, only time will tell. Also there are no other goats in the neighborhood for eggs to travel in the air as dust to contaminate my property. There has been up to 8 other neighbors over the years that had goats from time to time. So if I have success with this deworming method then this will help.
Yup, worm larvae moved into the blood sucking stage. We've had some 82 F weather. April 9, 2016 I needed to deworm for barberpole with Quest. Then April 11, I gave them all IvomecPlus for Liverfluke. 10 days later Bergie and Sadie and Moonbeam needed another de worm. I'm watching the others, ready to deworm if needed which will happen soon no doubt.
I will let everything dry up, as in pasture vegetation, this summer and feed hay to control slugs from multiplying again, hopefully reducing their numbers further.
One positive thing is I am seeing excellent eye membrane color unlike the past when I just used the FAMACHA chart to worm by. I saw anemia despite seeing clean fecal exams since Liverfluke lay eggs intermittently and I think Barberpole can also lay eggs intermittently, so that was why I just went with the muscle testing to try that out. Yes, Liverfluke can cause anemia, not just Barberpole, according to my research.
I will let everything dry up, as in pasture vegetation, this summer and feed hay to control slugs from multiplying again, hopefully reducing their numbers further.
One positive thing is I am seeing excellent eye membrane color unlike the past when I just used the FAMACHA chart to worm by. I saw anemia despite seeing clean fecal exams since Liverfluke lay eggs intermittently and I think Barberpole can also lay eggs intermittently, so that was why I just went with the muscle testing to try that out. Yes, Liverfluke can cause anemia, not just Barberpole, according to my research.
5/17/2016. We've had wet weather and lush growth on the pasture and I'm seeing significantly less of a need to deworm. since the second deworm of IvomecPlus April 11, 2016 for every goat, only Bergie, Moonbeam and Sadie needed a second dose the 10 days later as mentioned above and Ebony needed a dose the 26th of april. This means 50% of the goats needed another deworm. In the past it was 100%. So I will keep this up and maybe next year it will be even better.
On 6/10/2016 Moonbeam needed IvomecPlus for Liverfukes. Non of the others did. Moonbeam does seem like a worm magnet, but she is an aggressive forager. She will be out on pasture chowing down by herself and even stripped bark off a tree with fresh Repel bitter spray to prevent deer from eating trees. So I feel that she could be picking up worms more readily.
Concerning Barberpole worm. All were dewormed with Quest horse wormer December 8, 2015. Missy needed it again January 11, 2016. April 9, 2016 all needed it again. May 14, 2016 Ebony needed Quest. May 20,2016 Sadie needed Quest. Sadie is in a separate area by herself, next to the others. They would eat all her expensive alfalfa pellets. These are single deworms not the 3 x's 10 days apart protocol. Comparing past years, Barberpole has really been knocked down even with all of the wet warm weather we have had. So I'll see how it continues. I am loving not seeing pale eye membranes.
1-3-2017-a little repeat. It was 9th of April 2016 all goats were given Quest for Barberpole/H. Contortus worm, then May 14, 2016 Ebony needed Quest again then Sadie May 20th as mentioned above. I haven't dewormed for Barberpole since, which is over 7 mos. ago. Barberpole has really been knocked down by deworming with muscle testing technique. Worming at the first sign of inflammation as they move into the blood sucking stage. Actually Sadie didn't have to have pre breeding deworming since I didn't detect any worms and eye membranes look amazing.
2/20/2017 Update- Sadie is progressing well with her pregnancy. Sadie hasn't been dewormed for Liverfluke in 8 mos. and Barberpole worm in 9 mos. She has nice red eye membranes. I don't detect any worms with muscle testing. I may not even have to deworm after kidding, I'll see. This baby will have a mama clean of dewormers so far.
Repeat-All goats were dewormed for Barberpole April 9, 2016 (one time) then Sadie and Ebony needed Quest mid May 2016 (one time). That was the last deworming for Barberpole any goat needed as of 3/5/2017. So I will see if they show up this spring somehow. This is pretty amazing for me to have consistent excellent eyelid color without deworming with Quest brand moxidectin for months. I don't dare bring in another goat to contaminate with worms. It's been almost 10 months since last Barberpole deworming for any goat as of 3/5/2017. You should see my goat calendar for the last few years. I write down everything and dewormed each goat individually according to it's needs so lots of notes. It's interesting that at times according to weather conditions and time of year the worms do their thing in unison, so all goats needed dewormed at once but then they will show up out of the blue in one or two.
Around April 15, 2017 they needed Quest for Barberpole. It was a very wet spring and some Liverfluke showed up at times (despite inflammation at first with Liverfluke I wait for a few days so all will mature to blood sucking stage after drilling through the body from the intestinal tract). Eye membranes were great and I dewormed since they had some inflammation with worms present. I check stomachs, intestinal lining, liver, gallbladder, and the whole spine. Then treat with the appropriate dewormer if needed.
11/27/2017- All goats are doing great and I am continuing to muscle test for worms then treat if present. Also test each goat to see if the liver and body in general is ok with it. So far the worms test weak for the goats and the dewormers restore the strength of energy. The worms are worse than the dewormers. I also think that my goats are kept in such good vitality that they can handle dewormers much better than a weakend goat. It is working out great and I am sticking with it. I don't sell goats, they are permanent pets so not sending out any worm problems if any would come up, like resistance. I will see how long the same dewormers last. So far over 9 1/2 years using Ivomec+ for Liverfluke, plain ivermectin, and moxidectin/Quest horse wormer. Used singularly when needed.
UPDATE 8-1-2018- I am beginning to see that I may be dealing with Meningeal Worm because symptoms are showing it. There is a pond a couple hundred feet away, could the wild ducks eat slugs somewhere else, the slugs having munched on contaminated deer feces and then in their feces pass M. Worm larvae in the slugs they ate, in my area, then the local slugs here eat the infected duck poop? I have been using the Ivermectin for this "spine worm". Ivermectin can be used as a preventive to kill this worm before it enters the spine itself. I could tell it is "around" the spine. Well, I wasn't keeping up on Bergie my buck and he became all gimpy walking in a C shape on his back legs and lame in his shoulders, mainly the left. This started fall 2017, I thought it was some arthritis since he is 10 yrs. I think some worms got in his spine. So I gave him the Safeguard meningeal worm protocol. I gave him 25cc for 7 days and gave more doses at times. I may write down his doses and when given if he really improves. So now I'll see how he progresses. Also I can tell with muscle testing that Moonbeam and Ebony need Safeguard. Ebony has had some back foot dragging so I am treating her asap and also just plain weak in her hind end with her legs actually spreading apart at the knee when walking because of weakness. She also started to walk stiff last fall 2017 but no too bad.
Otherwise 2018 so far is very low for deworming Liverfluke and Barberpole. Josie is 15 months and has never needed a Liverfluke deworming. Also only needed 3 Barberpole dewormings so far in her lifespan.
9/22/2018- Bergie needed more doses and seems better today... a little. He is getting really good food and has a huge appetite as usual. More time and observation is need for him. I gave Bergie some Ibuprophen at times and CBD cream orally.
The really interesting thing is Ebony is totally sound now. After the first 7 doses she seemed to get better then had a little relapse so got dosed more.
I did not give any B vitamin shots to either goat for polio since the Safeguard tested strong for the spine weakness. Bergie and Ebony did get a oral vitamin yogurt concoction I mix together with B vitamins, minerals, yogurt and some other things, about 3 times in the beginning but that didn't seem to make any difference.
Finally an update 6/30/19. Had a problem editing the site and finally figured it out.
I have been doing the deworming experiment for about 5 years now and finally it's getting close to goal zero, for Barberpole and Liverfluke. This year 2019 only Moonbeam and Josie needed a single Barberpole deworming and no one needed a Liverfluke deworming.
So out of 9 goats only the two needed a single barberpole deworming this year. Before there would have been anemia and multiple doses of dewormer for everyone. My area is very wet and this would have been a very challenging season otherwise. All FAMACHA's are excellent.
Bergie is a little better 2019, still gimpy but gets around fine. His respiration is normal now, last year he had a heavy breathing problem but we did have a lot of smoke in the air from wildfires in the region, I hope it isn't as bad this year. If he doesn't have a problem this year with the smoke (the others had no problem) I am going to think it was all of the inflammation he had in his spine from M worm. Hope it stays away. He is 11 yrs. now so getting old for a buck.
Jasper has remained totally sound also.
January /22/2020- All is well. Bergie is doing really well. He'll soon be 12 yrs. old. Jasper is doing great and no sign of unsoundness. Everyone is aging. This year all of my 8 original goats will be between 10-14 yrs. old. Josie will be 3 yrs. I had previous goats before internet and I was successful but they were dry lot managed. I really don't think I would have been successful with this concentrated pasture with the parasites, without modern parasite medications.
I am still seeing Barberpole worm. It is staying minor with consistent eye membrane color looking excellent. The weather has been very mild in the last 3 winters so I have to be diligent to observe worm activity.
August 22, 2020- Everyone is doing great and there is very minor worm issues.
On 6/10/2016 Moonbeam needed IvomecPlus for Liverfukes. Non of the others did. Moonbeam does seem like a worm magnet, but she is an aggressive forager. She will be out on pasture chowing down by herself and even stripped bark off a tree with fresh Repel bitter spray to prevent deer from eating trees. So I feel that she could be picking up worms more readily.
Concerning Barberpole worm. All were dewormed with Quest horse wormer December 8, 2015. Missy needed it again January 11, 2016. April 9, 2016 all needed it again. May 14, 2016 Ebony needed Quest. May 20,2016 Sadie needed Quest. Sadie is in a separate area by herself, next to the others. They would eat all her expensive alfalfa pellets. These are single deworms not the 3 x's 10 days apart protocol. Comparing past years, Barberpole has really been knocked down even with all of the wet warm weather we have had. So I'll see how it continues. I am loving not seeing pale eye membranes.
1-3-2017-a little repeat. It was 9th of April 2016 all goats were given Quest for Barberpole/H. Contortus worm, then May 14, 2016 Ebony needed Quest again then Sadie May 20th as mentioned above. I haven't dewormed for Barberpole since, which is over 7 mos. ago. Barberpole has really been knocked down by deworming with muscle testing technique. Worming at the first sign of inflammation as they move into the blood sucking stage. Actually Sadie didn't have to have pre breeding deworming since I didn't detect any worms and eye membranes look amazing.
2/20/2017 Update- Sadie is progressing well with her pregnancy. Sadie hasn't been dewormed for Liverfluke in 8 mos. and Barberpole worm in 9 mos. She has nice red eye membranes. I don't detect any worms with muscle testing. I may not even have to deworm after kidding, I'll see. This baby will have a mama clean of dewormers so far.
Repeat-All goats were dewormed for Barberpole April 9, 2016 (one time) then Sadie and Ebony needed Quest mid May 2016 (one time). That was the last deworming for Barberpole any goat needed as of 3/5/2017. So I will see if they show up this spring somehow. This is pretty amazing for me to have consistent excellent eyelid color without deworming with Quest brand moxidectin for months. I don't dare bring in another goat to contaminate with worms. It's been almost 10 months since last Barberpole deworming for any goat as of 3/5/2017. You should see my goat calendar for the last few years. I write down everything and dewormed each goat individually according to it's needs so lots of notes. It's interesting that at times according to weather conditions and time of year the worms do their thing in unison, so all goats needed dewormed at once but then they will show up out of the blue in one or two.
Around April 15, 2017 they needed Quest for Barberpole. It was a very wet spring and some Liverfluke showed up at times (despite inflammation at first with Liverfluke I wait for a few days so all will mature to blood sucking stage after drilling through the body from the intestinal tract). Eye membranes were great and I dewormed since they had some inflammation with worms present. I check stomachs, intestinal lining, liver, gallbladder, and the whole spine. Then treat with the appropriate dewormer if needed.
11/27/2017- All goats are doing great and I am continuing to muscle test for worms then treat if present. Also test each goat to see if the liver and body in general is ok with it. So far the worms test weak for the goats and the dewormers restore the strength of energy. The worms are worse than the dewormers. I also think that my goats are kept in such good vitality that they can handle dewormers much better than a weakend goat. It is working out great and I am sticking with it. I don't sell goats, they are permanent pets so not sending out any worm problems if any would come up, like resistance. I will see how long the same dewormers last. So far over 9 1/2 years using Ivomec+ for Liverfluke, plain ivermectin, and moxidectin/Quest horse wormer. Used singularly when needed.
UPDATE 8-1-2018- I am beginning to see that I may be dealing with Meningeal Worm because symptoms are showing it. There is a pond a couple hundred feet away, could the wild ducks eat slugs somewhere else, the slugs having munched on contaminated deer feces and then in their feces pass M. Worm larvae in the slugs they ate, in my area, then the local slugs here eat the infected duck poop? I have been using the Ivermectin for this "spine worm". Ivermectin can be used as a preventive to kill this worm before it enters the spine itself. I could tell it is "around" the spine. Well, I wasn't keeping up on Bergie my buck and he became all gimpy walking in a C shape on his back legs and lame in his shoulders, mainly the left. This started fall 2017, I thought it was some arthritis since he is 10 yrs. I think some worms got in his spine. So I gave him the Safeguard meningeal worm protocol. I gave him 25cc for 7 days and gave more doses at times. I may write down his doses and when given if he really improves. So now I'll see how he progresses. Also I can tell with muscle testing that Moonbeam and Ebony need Safeguard. Ebony has had some back foot dragging so I am treating her asap and also just plain weak in her hind end with her legs actually spreading apart at the knee when walking because of weakness. She also started to walk stiff last fall 2017 but no too bad.
Otherwise 2018 so far is very low for deworming Liverfluke and Barberpole. Josie is 15 months and has never needed a Liverfluke deworming. Also only needed 3 Barberpole dewormings so far in her lifespan.
9/22/2018- Bergie needed more doses and seems better today... a little. He is getting really good food and has a huge appetite as usual. More time and observation is need for him. I gave Bergie some Ibuprophen at times and CBD cream orally.
The really interesting thing is Ebony is totally sound now. After the first 7 doses she seemed to get better then had a little relapse so got dosed more.
I did not give any B vitamin shots to either goat for polio since the Safeguard tested strong for the spine weakness. Bergie and Ebony did get a oral vitamin yogurt concoction I mix together with B vitamins, minerals, yogurt and some other things, about 3 times in the beginning but that didn't seem to make any difference.
Finally an update 6/30/19. Had a problem editing the site and finally figured it out.
I have been doing the deworming experiment for about 5 years now and finally it's getting close to goal zero, for Barberpole and Liverfluke. This year 2019 only Moonbeam and Josie needed a single Barberpole deworming and no one needed a Liverfluke deworming.
So out of 9 goats only the two needed a single barberpole deworming this year. Before there would have been anemia and multiple doses of dewormer for everyone. My area is very wet and this would have been a very challenging season otherwise. All FAMACHA's are excellent.
Bergie is a little better 2019, still gimpy but gets around fine. His respiration is normal now, last year he had a heavy breathing problem but we did have a lot of smoke in the air from wildfires in the region, I hope it isn't as bad this year. If he doesn't have a problem this year with the smoke (the others had no problem) I am going to think it was all of the inflammation he had in his spine from M worm. Hope it stays away. He is 11 yrs. now so getting old for a buck.
Jasper has remained totally sound also.
January /22/2020- All is well. Bergie is doing really well. He'll soon be 12 yrs. old. Jasper is doing great and no sign of unsoundness. Everyone is aging. This year all of my 8 original goats will be between 10-14 yrs. old. Josie will be 3 yrs. I had previous goats before internet and I was successful but they were dry lot managed. I really don't think I would have been successful with this concentrated pasture with the parasites, without modern parasite medications.
I am still seeing Barberpole worm. It is staying minor with consistent eye membrane color looking excellent. The weather has been very mild in the last 3 winters so I have to be diligent to observe worm activity.
August 22, 2020- Everyone is doing great and there is very minor worm issues.