Boer goat management: A vaccination schedule

Every Boer goat breeder should establish a comprehensive animal health programme tailored to their farm and environment. Ilse Lombard, owner of the well-known Ilse Lombard Boer Goat Stud near Vrede, explains that she vaccinates her flock during the autumn months, with a booster in spring. This helps protect her goats against Pasteurella and diseases such as pulpy kidney, lamb dysentery, clostridial uterine infections, tetanus, blackleg, and redgut.

- By Koos du Pisanie

Ewe and lamb vaccinations

Pregnant ewes should be vaccinated six to four weeks before lambing to ensure that lambs develop sufficient immunity. It is advised to vaccinate ewes a month before lambing if foot-and-mouth disease occurs in your area.

Ewes put with a ram for the first time should receive a live vaccine against enzootic abortion. Lombard does this at least six weeks before the breeding season starts. This onetime vaccination provides up to five years of protection.

When purchasing pregnant ewes, use the inactivated vaccine against enzootic abortion, followed by a booster dose four weeks later, since inactive vaccines are less potent. “Never vaccinate pregnant ewes with the live vaccine,” Lombard warns. “It can lead to abortions, and no producer can afford to lose lambs.”

Lombard vaccinates her lambs against Pasteurella at two weeks of age, particularly during the cold winter months when they are most vulnerable to pneumonia.