Late detection, particularly with some viral diseases, can lay waste to entire pastures for the life of the farm, he said. Good nutrition is the best barrier to infection a farmer has, Laughlin said. While not a total barrier against disease, a well-fed goat stands a much better chance of blocking out infection with its own immune system than an underfed animal does. Although monitoring what a goat ingests can be difficult because they are known to eat almost anything, a producer should try to supplement its diet with foods high in protein, fiber and carbohydrates, Laughlin said. The rest, he said, is a simple matter of observation.
External problems are the simplest to detect.
Ticks, lice and other such parasites, though not terribly common in this area, can be easily detected and eliminated early. The extension service has several proven remedies for parasites, he said. Other problems, such as mouth and skin sores, can be treated with vaccines, though Laughlin warned that the best defense against recurrence is culling the infected animals. While many of the external ailments are more unsightly than problematic, it's best to get them out of the herd when they are detected, he said. Internal infections are a bit harder to detect, but can likewise be treated if caught early.