Noah’s Ark

[HDRider]

What are the risks (disease, pest, fighting, etc) associated with comingling cattle, goats, sheep and hogs?

[BarbadosSheep]

One I know of for sure is hogs will eat the lambs and kids as soon as they hit the ground. I lost all of my kids one night when a hog broke out of his pen and into theirs. Sheep, cattle and goats are not a problem except that sheep can't have copper and goats need copper. That can present problems with the mineral supplements. It can be worked around though. just leave hogs out of the picture. They can get really nasty.

[April]

I agree - I don't trust the pigs with anything.

The only other issue we have is that the cow likes to run directly into the middle of any group of grazing goats and play goat bowling. She just stands there and snickers after they scatter, so no real harm done - except to goat dignity.

[saanengirl]

I wouldn't keep hogs with sheep or goats. Cattle are ok provided the goats have a place to escape the cows (I use a gate tied partially shut that opens into a small feeding pen for the goats. The goats can go in an out but horses and cows cannot get in).

The only things I can think of that would be transmissable from cows to goats would be BSE and Johnes. Goats and sheep share several diseases including: Scrapie, CAE/OPP, Soremouth/Orf, and parasites. Cows and goats/sheep do not share parasites so co-grazing can be helpful in reducing overall parasite load.

[Bearfootfarm]

The only other issue we have is that the cow likes to run directly into the middle of any group of grazing goats and play goat bowling. She just stands there and snickers after they scatter, so no real harm done - except to goat dignity.

LOL

I like that!

[Shoupie]

Not to mention that you would go broke hog fencing a pasture big enough to keep all those critters together. Hogs DESTROY fences. Also don't trust them with chickens. Had one eat a hen feathers and all and then die from impaction, serves him right the little *bleep*. There are diseases that are transmissible but you really don't need to worry about that unless you will be taking your animals off the property several times a year, or bringing in new stock.