Stillborn Kid with Goiter

[Tam319]

Hi everyone!

We purchased a herd of 25 bred Savanna x does and a buck about 2 weeks ago. The previous owner had them eating some pretty poor quality feed (mouldy straw and alfalfa hay...quite the combo) and only a solid mineral block (not loose). We got them home, put them on some better hay, starting to introduce grain slowly and offering free choice loose mineral. They started kidding about a week ago. So far they are great mothers and the kids are hardy. Despite the poor feed at the last place these does are in good body condition and have nice coats.

We had a stillborn kid today. He was a decent size and well formed aside from a lump in his throat about the size of an orange. I am 98% sure this is a goiter. His twin is doing fine.

I looked it up in my Goat Medicine book and it list several causes:
-iodine deficiency in pregnant does
-feeds, such as the brassica family, which can induce goiters
-congenital goiter - autosomal recessive trait found in some populations of inbred goats

If I have a necropsy done on this little guy can they determine in any way what the possible cause of the goiter is?? Or should I save my money?

Does this sound like a nutritional problem, or is it likely to be congenital? Savannas are very rare in our province so there isn't a huge gene pool to work with. Would you cull the dam?? Anything I can do to prevent more of this (aside from what I am already doing with loose mineral?) Should I expect to see this cropping up again this kidding season?? We have 8 healthy kids so far, and this little guy with the goiter.

Anyway, thanks for letting me pick your brains!

[Patty0315]

I think I would take a wait and see. If you have any more kids with this problem then spend the money or at least run a blood test on Mom. I would not cull her either.


Patty

[susanne]

ditto what patty said.
my first guess would be iodine sufficiency because this is the most comon cause in goiter. you also said they where raised on poor quality hay/feed and mineral block. this would be the explanation for me.
good luck with the rest of the kidding

[Jcran]

Howdy from hypothyroid central here! You've got a baby who probably didn't get enough iodine. IF, and I pray you don't, you get more goiter babies, pop em in the freezer, take pictures, etc and contact your local ag extension. My neighbor had an infestation of FALSE TANSY (flixweed) in her hay three years ago and lost half her kid crop. Flixweed is a thyrogen. It blocks the thyroid's ability to absorb/metabolize iodine. The does are often small/hairless/weak/goiters. The bucks, for whatever reason, tend to be oversized, goiters, can be hairless, etc. Chances are you just have past poor nutrition to blame. BE SURE to mark which dam had the goiter baby. My neighbor has had some of her does continue to drop hypothyroid babies, which to me anyway, points to ongoing disease of the dam's thyroid. You may think about culling if it recurs with this doe's offspring. If you go back a few threads, you will find a picture of one of her kids this year that was the ABSOLUTE worst hypothyroid baby I've ever seen (and this is three years out). DocM was kind enough to post it for me. If you want to talk to my neighbor, PM me and I'll get you her number and email.

[fishhead]

I would think that a blood test would be available to check the output of the does thyroid just like for humans.

[Tam319]

Thanks for the info. The second twin developed goiters yesterday and died last night. At least they were from the same doe. Knock wood that it doesn't happen with any others! I found out that it is not uncommon around here, and got the name of a good loose goat mineral. I don't think we'll cull the doe. Hopefully it was just a fluke thing due to poor nutrition.

Any idea if its safe to feed her milk to other kids?? We milked her colostrum to freeze. Is there any danger in causing another kid to develop goiters if her colostrum or milk is low in iodine??

Best be off to bed...I'm running on no sleep. 10 does done kidding, 15 to go.

Thanks!!