International Kiko Goat

COPPER BOLUS STUDY IN GOATS

By: Ray Kruse
Little Brush Creek Farm
rkruse@johngalt.biz

Having had problems on my farm with chemical resistance in stomach and intestinal worms, I began searching for ways to handle the worms without the use of chemicals. Discussions with the goat experts at the University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky University, the local Extension Agents, my veterinarian, and my local parasitologist gave me several avenues to investigate and pursue.

In the end, I made two changes to my herd management. The first was to rotate the goats from pasture to pasture in a very strict regimen. Two to three weeks on a field and then 8 weeks minimum off that field. The idea was to prevent the goats from being infected with large numbers of worms.

However, knowing that 8 weeks is not enough time for the worm larvae to die off completely, I was interested in some method that might allow me to treat the goats while not allowing the worms to become resistant.

Methods that I plan to investigate include diatomaceous earth, a multi-compound herbal wormer, high tannin forage and copper boluses.

This study is the first to be done, and is centered around the use of copper boluses as a treatment in the prevention and/or reduction of high wormloads.

My investigation relied heavily on the information provided at www.saanendoah.com and their copper study, which led me to believe that at best I might improve my goats and at worst I would not kill them but have no positive effect.

Some basic information on the study:

As can be seen, there was a significant drop in the number of worm eggs counted, both for the Highest Value found as well as for the Average. Pasture rotation continued every 2-3 weeks, and fecal samples were taken every two weeks through 1 July 2004.

At the beginning of November, while some of the does were in a breeding pasture, there was a break in the outside distractions and a round of fecals of the main herd was taken.

Again, an increase (expected) in the total number of worm eggs per gram seen after a 4 month lack of sampling and 4 month lack of treatment, and another drop in egg counts occurred after the administration of the copper bolus on 4 November 2004.

One unusual aspect of the sampling program and the data collected concerns the breeding does. Samples for them were not taken until the end of the breeding segregation period, on 15 November 2004. This group was sampled, given a copper bolus and returned to the main herd. They were sampled again on 17 November 2004 with the main herd.

In this study, the second set of samples was taken only two days after the initial sample and the administration of the copper bolus. As with all medications, there is a certain amount of time required for any beneficial reaction. The two day time period may well explain the higher egg counts and lower reductions than were seen in the main herd as reported above for 4 November 2004 and 17 November 2004. However, it is interesting to note that even after a two day period, there is a reduction in egg counts.

The study was terminated with the samples taken on 17 November 2004.

Worm egg counts are always higher at the end of a grazing season that at the start. In addition, 2004 was the wettest on record in Kentucky. The summer warmth along with the wet conditions favored worm development and transmission of worm larvae to grazing goats.

My conclusion is that the copper bolus reduced worm egg counts in goats. Goats sampled 2 days after treatment still had high egg counts, but counts were reduced from the initial samples. Goats sampled 14 days after treatment with a copper bolus had much lower egg counts.

Additional material that may be of interest can be found at:
http://www.saanendoah.com/copper1.html
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/Publications.htm?seq_no_115=159628 (lambs)
http://www.animalrangeextension.montana.edu/Articles/Beef/Q&A2003/tracemin.htm

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