Every fall and spring, our pasture gets inundated with deer, and of course they poop everywhere. Has anyone ever heard about any parasites or diseases that deer can infect goats with? I've even wondered if that might be the cause of the thread worm trouble I had last spring?
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It was a really wet year when we had problems with parasites. Snails were everywhere.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
Here's another site I found that talks about deer diseases and parasites of white tails in Oklahoma. It's just about deer, not about how they relate to livestock, but it's got a list of parasites that are common for deer.
Unfortunately, we have plenty of both snails and slugs. I do try to only put the goats out on dry pasture, however that doesn't always work either.
For instance, in their pen attached to the barn (small enough that it's fast becoming a dry lot area), in the fall, they run out as soon as I open the door in the morning to eat the leaves that have fallen overnight. I've seen them pick up leaves that have a slug on the bottom of it. However, I've also seen them drop the leaf and go for another, without a slug. It seems they don't want to eat the slugs. They seem to be picky about which leaves they eat.
I love watching their obvious delight at eating the leaves that have fallen, and don't see how I could prevent them ever eating slugs. After all, the underside of the leaves is a perfect place for a slug to stay after the dew has gone off the grass.
Maybe I need some ducks, too...but I don't really want any ducks.
Liver flukes also require snails as an intermediate host, according to Goat Science and Production.
Misfits Farm said:
It is my understanding that snails or slugs are needed as an intermediate host for goats to be infected with meningeal worms, which are carried by white tail deer. According to Goat Science and Production:
This is why some people don't let their goats graze around ponds and creeks. I had never thought about this until someone mentioned it to me -- at least a couple years after we had started letting our goats graze around our pond and creek. We have always had ducks, however, and I don't recall ever seeing a snail or slug on our property, so maybe the ducks help. I'm not sure. Based purely upon anecdotal evidence, in my experience, more people with llamas and alpacas have problems with meningeal worms than goats. According to Goat Science and Production, they "frequently infect llamas, alpacas, and sometimes goats," so that also sounds like it's more uncommon in goats.
Super good argument for my going ahead and ordering my starter flock of ducks, thanks to you Diane. I have decided on the Harlequin breed and I know where to order them from, so I will see when they expect a new hatching. Thanks for the link, I'll go check that out as well!
Liver Flukes can be another problem.
Here's a really good summary: http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/deerworm.html. My goats are on dry lot, so they don't get to graze in the areas that could host deer, but my llamas and sheep do graze (interestingly, I believe I have read that cattle and horses are not affected by meningeal worm). At last year's Northeast Organic Farming Assn. conference, I remember Tatiana from Cornell saying that they did some research that showed snails and slugs spread the larvae on blades of grass and weeds, so it's just as important to keep ruminants out of damp areas. I have a small flock of ducks that patrols the pastures, looking for slugs and snails, and although it's not exactly a scientifically proven method of meningeal worm prevention, they don't let many edible critters get past them, and they are cute as can be.
Thanks so much for that info Diane, now that you mention it I do remember about deer having that issue but don't recall if I had read it was a risk to the goats. I guess that means I have at least one thing to worry about and as long as there is one thing then I need to try to keep them away from my herd! Appreciate it girl!
Deer carry Meningeal Worm, sometimes called deer worm, and this could be a risk to your goats. Cornell University's sheep and goat program does a lot of research on this - the expert there is Dr. Tatiana Stanton. Infection causes neurological problems. I have a friend whose buck contracted it and, although he survived, he can no longer breed.
Yea, I know about the chromosomes and from what I understand if there is a conception the babies die at a certain stage of the pregnancy. I have not heard of any that were actually viable. That is why I was wondering about the deer because I know they are actually closer. I would guess that they don't as much as goats use to be raised loose years ago you would think we would have heard of it by now.
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