When I first started raising goats I decided I would just use a chemical wormer because it was just easiest as thats what most people do. But latley I have beem thinking a lot about useing herbal wormers because it is so much healthier for the goat, from what I understand. Even more so when you are consumeing the milk. I would like to hear from othrts that also use herbal instead of chemical wormerrs for their goats. How do you like them? Do you think they work better than chemical wormers? How abiut the price difference? Cheaper.. Maybe more? And have you had problems with worms becomeing risistent to them? I hope I can hear from you all and what you think! Thanks!
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Any suggestions on the best rates for DE? I know a lot of times prices for things seem twice as much from one place as another for the exact same thing!
I've tried herbal dewormers from Molly's, Hoeggers, and Fir Meadow, and none of them worked with goats that had heavy parasite loads. I even had a buck die when I was using Molly's, and I did before/after fecals, which showed no difference in the number of worm eggs. Molly's website even says to use ivermectin if you have a goat with a load of parasites. There was a study done by Joan Burke, Ph.D. and colleagues using Molly's and there was no difference between the control group and the Molly's group. Burke is a researcher who is very interested in finding alternatives to chemical dewormers because of the resistance issues associated with them. Last time I spoke with her, she was talking about studying tobacco, but I'm not sure where she is with that one yet.
As someone who has lost goats to worms, I have learned the hard way that you cannot control them with either chemical or herbal dewormers. You have to approach parasites with smart management, which means pasture rotation, NOT overstocking pastures, NOT deworming on a schedule, NOT worming every goat in the herd, and getting over the idea that you can kill every worm in your herd. I actually wrote 28 pages in my upcoming book on parasite control, so this is an issue that can't be covered thoroughly in this particular forum.
Between pasture rotation and NOT kidding during "worm season," we have quite a few goats that haven't needed deworming in years and some that have never had herbal or chemical dewormers. One very promising natural dewormer is copper oxide wire particles (COWP), which I need to use anyway for copper deficiency in my herd. And copper is very important for a goat's immune system to be able to live with worms. There is tons of info on www.wormcontrol.org if you have a few hours! :)
I am really interested in doing things the more natural way as well. I already use DE for body lice and it works very well, and so much better for the animal. I even use it on my dog. I don't like that a the worms are becoming resistant to a lot of the commercial wormers, so have been thinking about herbal wormers. Another thing that drives me in that direction is that w/ chemical wormers there is a withdrawl time for the milk.
We have been using Molly's herbals for nearly 2 years and have to say it is fab. Very easy to do, we learnt early on to mix it with a small amount of grain and a little water for the goats to eat. Drenching did not work for us.
We have found it takes a couple of goes for them to get use to it, you will find they actually eat a little slower with the wormer on the grain. We had fecal tests done last year and all come back clear.
We also use DE for everything as well, cleaning the house out cover the goats with it and rubbing into their coats.
We are very happy taking a more natural route with our guys and so far so good!
I use commercial wormers, but there are a few gals here that use molly's herbals and really like them! Hopefully they will comment and give better insight!
Replies
Any suggestions on the best rates for DE? I know a lot of times prices for things seem twice as much from one place as another for the exact same thing!
I've tried herbal dewormers from Molly's, Hoeggers, and Fir Meadow, and none of them worked with goats that had heavy parasite loads. I even had a buck die when I was using Molly's, and I did before/after fecals, which showed no difference in the number of worm eggs. Molly's website even says to use ivermectin if you have a goat with a load of parasites. There was a study done by Joan Burke, Ph.D. and colleagues using Molly's and there was no difference between the control group and the Molly's group. Burke is a researcher who is very interested in finding alternatives to chemical dewormers because of the resistance issues associated with them. Last time I spoke with her, she was talking about studying tobacco, but I'm not sure where she is with that one yet.
As someone who has lost goats to worms, I have learned the hard way that you cannot control them with either chemical or herbal dewormers. You have to approach parasites with smart management, which means pasture rotation, NOT overstocking pastures, NOT deworming on a schedule, NOT worming every goat in the herd, and getting over the idea that you can kill every worm in your herd. I actually wrote 28 pages in my upcoming book on parasite control, so this is an issue that can't be covered thoroughly in this particular forum.
Between pasture rotation and NOT kidding during "worm season," we have quite a few goats that haven't needed deworming in years and some that have never had herbal or chemical dewormers. One very promising natural dewormer is copper oxide wire particles (COWP), which I need to use anyway for copper deficiency in my herd. And copper is very important for a goat's immune system to be able to live with worms. There is tons of info on www.wormcontrol.org if you have a few hours! :)
I am really interested in doing things the more natural way as well. I already use DE for body lice and it works very well, and so much better for the animal. I even use it on my dog. I don't like that a the worms are becoming resistant to a lot of the commercial wormers, so have been thinking about herbal wormers. Another thing that drives me in that direction is that w/ chemical wormers there is a withdrawl time for the milk.
We have been using Molly's herbals for nearly 2 years and have to say it is fab. Very easy to do, we learnt early on to mix it with a small amount of grain and a little water for the goats to eat. Drenching did not work for us.
We have found it takes a couple of goes for them to get use to it, you will find they actually eat a little slower with the wormer on the grain. We had fecal tests done last year and all come back clear.
We also use DE for everything as well, cleaning the house out cover the goats with it and rubbing into their coats.
We are very happy taking a more natural route with our guys and so far so good!
I use commercial wormers, but there are a few gals here that use molly's herbals and really like them! Hopefully they will comment and give better insight!
I too, am very interested in this and would like to know what to use and where to get it also!