Feed Problem Killed Saskatchewan Farm Goats
CBC Prince Edward Island
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Saskatchewan (Canada ):
The puzzle of why hundreds of goats have died since May on a farm in central Saskatchewan has been solved, veterinarians say.
Dave Smith, who owns the goat farm about 100 kilometres east of Prince Albert near Choiceland, said he's lost about 900 apparently healthy animals since May. He said he had gone to veterinarians, but they hadn't been able to pinpoint the problem.
On Wednesday, veterinarians from the University of Saskatchewan said autopsies on some of the goats showed they weren't getting enough nutrients in their feed. The veterinary team is testing for Johne's disease, a contagious and often fatal ailment caused by bacteria that primarily affects the small intestines of ruminants.
But Chris Clark, a veterinarian at the university's veterinary college said he has pretty much ruled it out as the cause because the chronic condition usually affects older animals. He said it wouldn't explain the deaths of all the young goats. Smith's problems started in the spring, when a large number of his goats spontaneously aborted.
Then, over the summer, hundreds of young goats started dying out on the pasture. The deaths continued into the fall.
Dec 21, 2005
Dec 21, 2005
CBC Prince Edward Island
____________________
Saskatchewan (Canada ):
The puzzle of why hundreds of goats have died since May on a farm in central Saskatchewan has been solved, veterinarians say.
Dave Smith, who owns the goat farm about 100 kilometres east of Prince Albert near Choiceland, said he's lost about 900 apparently healthy animals since May. He said he had gone to veterinarians, but they hadn't been able to pinpoint the problem.
On Wednesday, veterinarians from the University of Saskatchewan said autopsies on some of the goats showed they weren't getting enough nutrients in their feed. The veterinary team is testing for Johne's disease, a contagious and often fatal ailment caused by bacteria that primarily affects the small intestines of ruminants.
But Chris Clark, a veterinarian at the university's veterinary college said he has pretty much ruled it out as the cause because the chronic condition usually affects older animals. He said it wouldn't explain the deaths of all the young goats. Smith's problems started in the spring, when a large number of his goats spontaneously aborted.
Then, over the summer, hundreds of young goats started dying out on the pasture. The deaths continued into the fall.
Dec 21, 2005
Dec 21, 2005
