Friday, August 4, 2006

Second Report - Day 56

The warm weather and moisture at the end of June created ideal conditions for the barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortis). As such 20 of the 31 goats on test required deworming. Goats with FAMACHA© scores of 3, 4, or 5 were dewormed with Cydectin® .

Goats with eye scores of 1 or 2 were not treated. The average FAMACHA© score was 3.03 compared to 2.26 on July 21. The range of FAMACHA© scores covered the entire scale, 1 to 5. A third and final fecal sample was collected from the goats today.

Pale eyelids are indicative of barber pole worm infection and the need for deworming individual goats.

Body condition scores declined slightly from 2.66 to 2.58. Some of the goats with poor FAMACHA© scores (4, 5) lost a half condition score. Average daily gain decreased from 0.278 lbs. per day to 0.202 lbs. per day. For individual goats, ADG ranged from 0.036 to 0.536 lbs. per day. No goats lost weight. The lower average daily gains can likely be attributed to increased worm loads and the extreme hot weather. Average daily gain for the entire test period is 0.238 lbs. per day.

The weather broke today, just in time for us to work the goats. Temperatures and humidity are not expected to be as high as they have been. The goats will be checked again for FAMACHA© eye scores and body condition scores on August 18. The next weigh day is September 1 (84 days on test).

Download 56-day report in Excel format
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