So it is vital to keep that rumen healthy and functioning at its optimum level. The term probiotics describes a class of nonprescription oral medications which works to boost the population of live bacteria in the gut of the goat. More producers are beginning to use these products as a form of preventative medicine. Probiotics are used with newborn goats because the bacterial count in their intestines is low to nil and begins to be populated as the rumen develops. Because a byproduct of both antibiotics and scour medications is the killing off of essential live bacteria, probiotics should be used when treatment is completed.
Some producers choose to use a probiotic daily during treatment.
Ohio State University's Veterinary Preventative Medicine department is researching this under-appreciated area of ruminant health. The effects of using probiotics on such pathogens as E. coli, camplyobacter, and salmonella are being studied. For example, lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the bacteria found in the intestines of goats that emits a substance that makes the intestines and stomachs more acidic, therefore less susceptible to pathogens. It is always better to prevent disease before it occurs, because with illness comes economic loss, reduced feed efficiency, and sometimes death of the animal. A major limiting factor in the use of probiotics has been resolved . . . finding the particular bacteria that are specific to goats so that they can be utilized.