The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Caz2015 on May 01, 2015, 09:28:57 pm
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:goat:
Was just wondering if anyone keeps Goats and Sheep together? Have heard there is an issue with keeping them together relating to worming?? Thanks
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Goats and sheep share the same kind if worms, and whereas adult sheep can usually tolerate a significant worm burden without any signs of illness/ill-thrift etc, goats (being browsers rather than grazers) have not built up that tolerance.
So unless your sheep are squeaky-clean and all your pasture is, you need to seriously work on worm control in your sheep (completely closed flock would be the only safe way) in order to keep them together with goats. Also need to worm your goats on arrival etc, and again not buying in additional stock...
Easier to keep apart...
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I had a pygmy goat in with our sheep while we sorted a friend for her. Only short term but had a couple of issues 1) goat tried to be bossy, most sheep not happy with that and could be rough (one Ronnie was terrified of goaty though!) 2) issues with feeding goaty separately, however they will be on the same food eventually and they only have a tiny bit to keep them tame as we are at school. BUT they can't share mineral licks either which would have been a problem for us in the long term.
Goaty still looks longingly at the sheep through the fence but I was pleased to be able to put another pygmy with her in a separate paddock last week!
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I have goats and sheep in the same fields.
They mostly stay in their own groups except one welsh mountain hogg who realized the goats get brought in at night and get extra food so tries to hide amongst them and sometimes succeeds.
Have to keep on top of worming but not really a problem.
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I have kept both and they have grazed the same fields but rarely at the same time for several reasons, mainly the sheep come running in when I called the goats because they recognised my voice !!! The worms can be a problem but you just have to keep an eye on the situation. Regular FEC fro the goats as they are the most at risk. ????
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My pygmys graze with sheep and horses, I do regular Fec and not had any problems.
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Our goats were in with our sheep for quite a while a couple of years back (separate now only because we have put up a shed in a new area for them). We took on 3 orphan Shetland sheep lambs last year and they have now joined the goats in their quarry and the goats get on very well with them (probably because they were wee lambs when they came so have grown up here).
They all got along very well. You need to feed goats though and the sheep will get the regular picnic unless you separate and breakfast and teatimes. Goats need fed, sheep don't.
Goats won't wander too far, they like their house and they won't want the sheep in it.
Maybe you could fence off an area inside the sheep field (not with electric fencing if goats have horns) - goats would be happy with that, they like their own bit. They need more herbage variety than sheep - not just grass. If the sheep jump in they can jump out again when the goats get shirty with them. Your sheep are likely to become more handle-able as you will be in with the goats there regularly.
We've never had any problems.
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How often do you have to worm the sheep to be able to keep them with goats?
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Hi there, just spotted this thread so I'm a bit late to the party.
The main problem with goats and worms is, as Anke said, that adult goats do not develop immunity to worms while adult sheep do.
However, another problem is that you CANNOT use the same dose of wormer for goats as you do for sheep. This is not printed on the label because the wormers are licensed for sheep and not goats, so the manufacturers do not print "goat doses" on the label as they are not technically licensed for goats (although you can use them for goats, and indeed there is nothing else you can use, so you have to use them for goats!)
So it is not about how often you need to worm goats to keep them with sheep - it is about making sure that you are not underworming your goats when you do. Different types of wormer need different doses for goats, so I would really advise you to speak to your vet about the correct dose for a goat, or, if your vet is not aware of the differences needed, you can direct them to the Goat Veterinary Society, who will give your vet all the information they need.
So, in summary, don't use the same dose for goats as you do for sheep - this is proven not to work, and will help the worms on your farm to become resistant to the wormer medication in both goats and sheep, leaving you with no effective medication to use to help your lambs etc. Goats will need more wormer, but the amount needed varies with the type of wormer. And doing worm egg counts on poo, as suggested by another contributor above, is a very sensible idea and probably one of the healthiest ways to help control the situation as you will then know if you need to treat at all!
Hope this helps. We do free goat talks on worming etc if you are in Scotland (I'm a vet with the rural college).
Caroline
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Thanks for the help, that really helps explain it. I use noromectin, but I will speak to my vet and get advice from them on the dosage.
Thanks
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Goats and sheep share the same kind if worms, and whereas adult sheep can usually tolerate a significant worm burden without any signs of illness/ill-thrift etc, goats (being browsers rather than grazers) have not built up that tolerance.
Anke- given that Boer goats are better grazers, would they develop a degree of tolerance?
Regards
Mike
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Goats and sheep share the same kind if worms, and whereas adult sheep can usually tolerate a significant worm burden without any signs of illness/ill-thrift etc, goats (being browsers rather than grazers) have not built up that tolerance.
Anke- given that Boer goats are better grazers, would they develop a degree of tolerance?
Regards
Mike
Honestly - I have no idea. Possibly with long-term evolution they may, but also remember they were developed in South Africa and have been fairly recent imports to Northern Europe. However given that people often keep larger herds than dairy goats there may be some more anecdotal evidence soon.
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We do free goat talks on worming etc if you are in Scotland (I'm a vet with the rural college).
Caroline
where do you do these? Would be interested in finding out more