The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Penninehillbilly on February 08, 2017, 12:08:58 pm

Title: Haylage / laminitis
Post by: Penninehillbilly on February 08, 2017, 12:08:58 pm
Hi
Last year I had a freshly kidded goat with laminitis.
Reading various posts etc, it seems haylage can cause this.
I have them on haylage again this winter, the girl who had laminitis last year is due to kid in 3 weeks.
We have plenty of hay in,  what are people's thoughts on putting her back on hay till after she's kidded, and the others ? And when should I switch , obviously easier when they are all on the same fodder. TIA.
Title: Re: Haylage / laminitis
Post by: Talana on February 08, 2017, 01:16:40 pm
If she was recently kidded then got laminitis more likely to had infection due to small bit of retained placenta etc. I had one like this, unlikely due to the haylage. Sometimes an infection goes straight to their feet. Vet gave pen & step course and loxicom course. He gave me a scientific explanation of why it caused laminitis but can't remember.
More probably risk with haylage is listeria which has different symptoms. Young goats change their teeth around kidding time of year so makes them a higher risk to listeria. Too much concentrates or too high protein also causes laminitis. Don't think it will make any difference feeding  hay or haylage execpt higher risk of listeria particularly with goats changing teeth with haylage.
Title: Re: Haylage / laminitis
Post by: Penninehillbilly on February 08, 2017, 05:15:25 pm
Thanks Talana, there seems to be an opinion that haylage is 'richer'(?) and that can cause problems. Last year I probably listened to others and fed her a bit more concentrates than I have previously, so I'll go back to my own way this year, hope for the best and be a bit quicker of the mark if she shows problems.