Older goats shed coccidia in the manure and infect the pens. As coccidia build up in the pens, infection in kids is increased. Acute cases sometimes result in death with no noticeable signs. For some producers, the first indication of coccidiosis will be death of kids. To help prevent coccidiosis in dairy goats, the kids should be grouped by size in clean, well-ventilated inside pens or outside portable pens that are moved to clean ground periodically.
Eradication is difficult once the facilities are infected.
Coccidiostats added to the water or feed are necessary. A management control program also includes strict sanitation to minimize the contamination of kids with coccidia from the manure of adults or infected kids. Chronic coccidiosis is one of the main causes of poor growth in kids. Enterotoxemia, also called overeating disease, is common in both kids and adults. Clostridium perfringens type C or D, primarily type D, can be fatal.