goat update - and more questions

Sher · #21 03/28/07, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishhead

I wonder if different soils might influence what minerals work best in some areas but not others. If a soil in one area is deficient for one mineral then it would be necessary to provide it in the form of mineral supplements. Another area might be deficient in another mineral and require a different brand.

I absolutely think you are on the right track here. That's why when a particular feed, mineral or wormer works great for me..and others say no..that doesn't work..I take into consideration that what I am doing is what is right for this little chunk of land..not for anyone elses.

The minerals have an absolute affect on how much you have to worm. ie. If your goats are high in their copper (not toxic..just high) worms will not be a problem. Worms do not want to be in an environment of copper. Now this doesn't mean everybody run out and od your goats on copper. It just means..according to your place...get your goats high in copper to repel their goat load.

I couldn't agree more fishhead.

Jim S. · #22 03/28/07, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

Yep, I use the cheapest that works too....and the FAMACHA method. Thats why I use Cydectin here. Its just the implication that we used it before we needed too thats bugging me.

How often I have to worm concerns me much more than what I'm worming with at this point. Giving your goats enough room and browse is a huge step toward good worming practices. And rotating pastures *if possible*.

Just for the record, I am not making this up all by myself, it's the vets that are saying Cydectin is being way overused before it ought to be. Oh, and the extension folks, too. They are unified in saying it is a LAST RESORT. (Of course, the manufacturer wants you to use it immediately.) The animal pros are chanting like a mantra, don't use Cydectin unless it is warranted!

I am not making personal implications on any producer. I just want it kept away from my area, because I know some folks must have the latest and greatest, I know the companies push their stuff, and that is how we lose the use of good drugs. It is exactly how we lost efficacious use of the paste wormers in 90% of this country.

The only way to know if Cydectin is needed is to try ivermectin and take fecals to determine if worms are resistant to control with that. (BTW, they do not have to be entirely absent to be under control.) If a producer has done that and found that worm populations are still high after ivermectin use, then graduation to Cydectin is warranted.

What irks me is seeing all the threads here saying, "Oh, just use Cydectin" right off the bat. Some of these Cydectin advocates used to say stuff quite different 5 years ago. They would NEVER use it. Google is an amazing thing, when it comes to digging up old threads!

THAT'S how we get resistant worms. Cydectin was originally marketed and approved as a graduation wormer only, when ivermectin proved ineffective due to resistance. This time, there's nowhere to graduate to after Cydectin, though. It's a serious issue. There is now resistance to Cydectin in GA and FL.

See:

http://www.scsrpc.org/Files/Files/Mi...e04%20comp.pdf

All I'm doing is trying to educate on this, among those who are open about the issue.