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Goats are ruminants, and many of the diseases and disease presentations encountered in practice, will be similar to those in sheep and cattle. There are some subtle differences however with Clostridium perfringens Type D as an example causing ‘pulpy kidney’ and ‘sudden death’ in lambs, presenting as acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea in goats. This article aims to address these differences.

Iceberg diseases are recognised across ruminant species, and their impact on individual animal health and welfare, and their economic impact at herd or flock level should not be underestimated. This group of diseases are characterised by the variety of stages of infection present when disease is established from clinically obvious cases (the ‘tip’ of the iceberg) through differing stages of early clinical disease to those infected yet clinically healthy. This article will explore iceberg diseases that can be identified in goats whether kept for profit, hobby, or pleasure.

The article from the APHA ‘Medium- to long-term endemic disease risks associated with flooding events’ ( VR , 7 March 2020, vol 186, pp 275-277) was very practical and timely. I would like to add one further risk factor not referred to in the article, namely the risk associated with water dropwort ( Oenanthe crocata ) and specifically …

Goats have evolved as browsing animals, and their faeces are voided as pellets and are often very dry. Any change in faecal consistency may be an early indication of ill health, particularly when that change leads to diarrhoea/dysentery. Enterotoxaemia and parasitic gastroenteritis are the most common causes of diarrhoea in adult goats in the UK. This paper covers the causes, diagnostic principles, treatment and management of diarrhoea across the goat age categories.

The UK goat population is small, numbering around 108,000 animals in total.1 However, even with such a small population, it is important to recognise the wide variation in goat-keeping practices. Many goats are kept as pets, and at public attractions and open farms – their playful and inquisitive behaviour makes them ideal for this. In addition, the UK has a small fibre sector with both Angora and Cashmere goats, a meat sector utilising predominantly the boer breed and male kids from the dairy sector, and pedigree breeding and show herds that keep pure breed populations. In the 1980s, the UK also began developing its commercial dairy goat sector due to supermarket demand for liquid goat milk – an item previously missing from the shelves. The dairy goat sector initially followed dairy cow husbandry and management principles, but it quickly became apparent that there were two important differences, as well as many subtle ones. The first major difference was that goats are seasonally breeding, yet supermarkets demanded fresh milk daily. To address this, planned out-of-season breeding techniques were developed, and these have gradually improved over the years. Together with the practice of managing extended lactations, these techniques mean the industry can now ensure year-round milk production. The second major difference was the poor immunity acquired against gastrointestinal nematodes when goats were outdoors at pasture. Even previously exposed adult goats can develop clinical parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE), resulting in the current situation wherein most commercial dairy goat herds in the UK are housed all year round to avoid the problems created by PGE. In a paper summarised on p 267 of this issue of Vet Record , Anzuino and colleagues present the results of a survey into the husbandry and health practices on UK commercial dairy goat farms.2 They state that …

We read the anonymous letter with more than a little surprise. As one of the smaller BVA specialist divisions we have been pleased by the leadership shown by the current BVA officer team during the coronavirus pandemic but also more widely with respect to its continued ability to handle and respond to the many other important issues which the profession currently faces. With only just over 200 veterinary members, we might have anticipated our interests and views would be overlooked in the face of a pandemic given the urgent need for the BVA to provide advice …

Post mortem examination can be an invaluable approach to investigating health and welfare issues in ruminant livestock species. This article gives an outline of the information required prior to embarking on such an examination, including carcase selection and suitability for examination. It then describes a suggested protocol to follow, to ensure that pathology is not overlooked. Sampling often creates problems and some best sampling practice techniques are described. The emphasis throughout (and the authors approach) is not to teach the reader to become a pathologist, but to suggest ways of adapting their clinical approach in the live animal to a post mortem approach in a dead animal! Private veterinary surgeons undertaking better post mortem examinations can provide the foundations for an improved veterinary surveillance system for the benefit of UK agriculture and its consumers.

The veterinary profession has been at the forefront of ensuring that health planning is now widely adopted in the farm animal sector; however, health planning is not widely undertaken in the goat sector. This may in part be due to the relatively small number of goats kept in the UK, but also to the wide variety of reasons for which goats are kept, from commercial dairy herds to hobby purposes. This article describes the areas that should be considered when constructing a health plan for goats.