Welcome to Florida Cracker Boer Goats - GENERAL VITAMINS REQUIREMENTS FOR GOATS

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General Vitamin Requirements
& deficiency symptoms

Vitamin

Source

Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin A - Essential for normal growth and for the formation of strong bones, teeth, for normal vision and cell structure, for protecting the linings of the respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts and for healthy skin. Reserves can be stored in the liver for a few months. Kids with coccidiosis have an increased vitamin A requirement because of impaired absorption. Naturally taken in by grazing animals in the form of protovitamin and converted into vitamin A by the intestinal wall. Good pasture and fresh hay contains adequate quantities while old or weathered hay is a poor source. After 6 months of storage, all beta-carotene in hay has been destroyed. Colostrum is a very rich source of vitamin A if the doe is healthy at birthing time.

Poor appetite

Weight loss

Unthrifty appearance with a poor hair coat

Night blindness

Thick nasal discharge

Deficiency predisposes to diarrhea and respiratory disease

Adult goats may have a decreased fertility rate

Susceptibility to parasites

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - This vitamin plays a vital role in the activities of various enzymes involved in the breakdown and utilization of carbohydrates and in the functioning of the nerves, muscles and the heart. Kids that do not yet have a fully developed rumen need a dietary source of B complex vitamins. B vitamins also should be added to the diet or administered by injection to sick animals and those with poor rumen function or marked change in diet. Normally synthesized in adequate amounts by rumen microbes.

The most common deficiency of B vitamins occurs when a goat contracts polio encelphalomalacia (goat polio

Deficiency can occur in kids or adults due to the presence of thiamine-destructive enzymes from eating oak bark, bracken, moldy feed or over-feeding on cereal grains, prolonged diarrhea

Blindness

Rigid, bent neck that won’t straighten out and loss of eye focus. Usually results from eating moldy hay, feed or silage

Some symptoms result from necrosis or death of some of the cells in the cortex of the brain

Vitamin B12 – Also known as Cyanocobalamine, a vitamin that plays a vital role in the activities of several enzymes. It is important in the production of the genetic material of cells (and thus in the growth and development), in the production of red blood cells in bone marrow, in the utilization of folic acid and carbohydrates in the diet, and in the functioning of the nervous system.

Cobalt is essential for the production of vitamin B12 by micro-organisms in the rumen

Loss of appetite

Do not eat and they waste away.

Condition may be compounded by worms because the deficiency makes goats more susceptible to roundworm parasites.

Vitamin D – There are two main forms of vitamin D. D2 ( ergocalciferol) and D3 ( cholecalciferol). They play several vital roles in the body. The vitamin helps regulate the balance of calcium and phosphate, aids in the absorption of calcium and is essential for strong bones and teeth. Excess of vitamin D can cause problems. D2 is made in the skin, induced by ultra-violet rays. It takes part in the absorption, deposition and excretion of calcium and phosphorus. D3 is found in liver oil from marine fishes. Colostrum is rich in vitamin D. If adults are on pasture or fed much sun-cured hay, their needs should be easily met.

Rickets

Bowed limbs

Enlarged joints

Stiffness

Growth rate and body conditions are poor

Excess vitamin D activity from certain toxic plants causes calcinosis or tendons and other soft tissues. The same effect can be had by large overdoses of oral or injectable vitamin D supplements.

Vitamin E - It is essential for normal cell structure, for maintaining the activities of certain enzymes and for the formation of red blood cells. It also protects the lungs and other tissues from damage by pollutants and help prevent red blood cells from being destroyed by poisons in the blood. Its main action is as an antioxidant; it stabilizes polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin A, and various hormones and enzymes. Vitamin E and selenium are closely interrelated Present in colostrum, milk, hay and grasses. Older hay is very low in vitamin E.

Nutritional muscular dystrophy (white muscle disease). Most likely to occur with feeding of silage or old hay. Kids may have muscle disease at birth and be too weak to suckle.




Paralytic Problems:
Problems:	Possible nutritional answers:
Milk Fever	Ca/Phos. Ratio; Vit. D; inorganic sulfate
Downer milk fever	Ca/Phos. Ratio; Vit. D; inorganic sulfate + magnesium
Grass tetany	Magnesium
Knuckling fetlocks, weak hind legs	Vitamin E, Selenium, Copper
Nerve loss	*Copper*
Ataxia	*Copper, copper - molybdenum*
Breeding Problems:
Problems:	Possible nutritional answers:
Retained placentas, metritis	Copper, zinc, selenium, vitamin E
Lack of estrus	Copper, zinc, selenium, vitamin E
Tailless sperm in semen	Selenium
Lack of libido	Copper - molybdenum
Hoof Problems:
Problems:	Possible nutritional answers:
Hoof Rot	Copper, iodine
Abnormal hoof growth	*Copper*
Soft hoof growth	*Copper*
Swollen fetlocks	*Copper*
Laminitis	*High rumen acid upsets copper* absorption**
Hairy wart resistance	Copper (nutrition), formaldehyde (foot bath)
Intestinal Problems:
Problems:	Possible nutritional answers:
Acidosis (pH balance)	Sodium bicarbonate
Low butterfat test	Sodium bicarbonate
Undigested feed in manure	Copper, cobalt
Scouring	Copper, molybdenum
Worm resistance	Copper, molybdenum
Low production	Copper, zinc, manganeses, inorganic sulfate
Abnormal appetite	Copper, cobalt
Metabolic Problems:
Problems:	Possible nutritional answers:
High somatic cell count	Copper, zinc, selenium, Vitamin E
Ketosis	Copper, inorganic sulfate
White muscle disease	Selenium
Pneumonia	Copper, zinc, selenium, Vitamin E
Heart abnormalities	Copper, selenium, magnesium
Anemia	*Iron, copper, cobalt*
Tongue lolling	*Copper*
Retarded growth	Copper, molybdenum
Sudden death	Copper, selenium, grease & nitrate
Off-flavor milk	High iron (feed or water; Vitamin E
High culling rate	Poor mineral nutrition program
Fat cow syndrome	Copper, inorganic sulfate
Hair off color, no bloom	Copper, selenium
Deficiencies of various items can also cause abortions. For these we will list only the symptoms and suggest that you look at these topics in other sections where available. CALORIC DEFICIENCY APPETITE, NORMAL BABIES WEAK CONDITION, LOSS OF GROWTH RETARDED INFERTILITY MILK PRODUCTION FALLS PUBERTY DELAYED STILLBIRTH WEIGHT LOSS GENERAL NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES: ANOREXIA, LIGHT INFERTILITY HYPOPROGESTERONISM ABORTION ESTRUS CYCLES SHORT AND IRREGULAR IODINE DEFICIENCY ABORTION ALOPECIA BABIES, WEAK GOITER (In mother and/or baby) INFERTILITY STILLBIRTH THROAT SWELLING THYROID ENLARGED MANGANESE DEFICIENCY: ABORTION ANESTRUS BABIES, BLIND BABIES, DEFORMED ESTRUS CYCLES - LONG AND IRREGULAR GROWTH RETARDED HEAL, FAIL TO HEAT, SILENT INFERTILTIY JOINT, ENLARGED LAMENESS OBESITY PROTEIN DEFICIENCY: ANEMIA ANOREXIA, LIGHT BABIES - WEAK CACHEXIA (WEAKNESS) CONDITION - LOSS OF ESTRUS CYCLES - LONG AND IRREGULAR GROWTH RETARDED INFERTILITY MILK PRODUCTION FALLS PLACENTA RETAINED STILLBIRTH WEIGHT LOSS VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY: ABORTION ATAXIA BABIES - WEAK BLINDNESS, NIGHT BRISKET EDEMA CATARACT CONVULSIONS WITHOUT PADDLING CORNEAL ULCER COUGH DIARRHEA HEAD HELD TO ONE SIDE INFERTILITY LABORED BREATHING LACRIMATION NOSTRILS - WATERY BILATRAL DISCHARGE OPACITY PLACENTA _ RETAINED SKIN - BROWN, GREASY EXUDATE STAGGERING STILLBIRTH WEIGHT LOSS WHITE MUSCLE DISEASE: ARCHED BACK BABIES WEAK DIARRHEA DYSPNEA FEET - TOES SPLAYING GROWTH RETARDED NURSING STOPS, WON'T SUCKLE PROSTRATION STIFF STILLBIRTH SUDDEN DEATH Poisoning as a result of ingestion of chemicals. The exact signs as they relate to abortion or damage to the fetus are highly dependant on the specific time in the gestation process when the event takes place. NITRATE / NITRITE POISONING: ABORTION ATAXIA BLOOD - BROWN (CHOCOLATE) BREATH SMELLS OF KETONES BREATHS THROUGH MOUTH CACHEXIA (WEAKNESS) CONVULSIONS WITHOUT PADDLING CYANOSIS (BLUE SKIN AND LIPS) DYSPNEA HYPERESTHESIA LABORED BREATHING LUNG SOUNDS - CRACKLING, SPLASHING NERVOUS PULSE - RAPID TEMPERATURE - SUBNORMAL SELENIUM POISONING ALOPECIA (HAIR LOSS) ANOREXIA ATAXIA (IN COORDINATION) BABIES - BLIND BABIES - DEFORMED BABIES - WEAK BLINDNESS CACHEXIA (WEAKNESS) CORONA - HOOFS CRACK AT DEPRESSED FORE LIMBS WEAK HOOFS - ABNORMAL GROWTH, DISTORTED HOOFS - CRACKED LABORED BREATHING LAMENESS NOSTRILS - FROTHY DISCHARGE PUPILS DILATED RUN INTO OBJECTS STAGGERING STIFF STILLBIRTH TEMPERATURE - NORMAL, THEN SUBNORMAL TONGUE PARALYSIS WEIGHT LOSS


Home Breeding Bucks & Services Boer Goats For Sale Goat Health & Management Information Doe Showcase Directions to Our Farm Florida Cracker History Website Designs Golden Bend Feeds Breeders Website Listings Cooking with Goat Related Goat Websites Links Site Map *Contact Us*
General Vitamin Requirements & deficiency symptoms
Vitamin	Source	Deficiency Symptoms
Vitamin A - Essential for normal growth and for the formation of strong bones, teeth, for normal vision and cell structure, for protecting the linings of the respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts and for healthy skin. Reserves can be stored in the liver for a few months. Kids with coccidiosis have an increased vitamin A requirement because of impaired absorption.	Naturally taken in by grazing animals in the form of protovitamin and converted into vitamin A by the intestinal wall. Good pasture and fresh hay contains adequate quantities while old or weathered hay is a poor source. After 6 months of storage, all beta-carotene in hay has been destroyed. Colostrum is a very rich source of vitamin A if the doe is healthy at birthing time.	Poor appetite Weight loss Unthrifty appearance with a poor hair coat Night blindness Thick nasal discharge Deficiency predisposes to diarrhea and respiratory disease Adult goats may have a decreased fertility rate Susceptibility to parasites
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - This vitamin plays a vital role in the activities of various enzymes involved in the breakdown and utilization of carbohydrates and in the functioning of the nerves, muscles and the heart. Kids that do not yet have a fully developed rumen need a dietary source of B complex vitamins. B vitamins also should be added to the diet or administered by injection to sick animals and those with poor rumen function or marked change in diet.	Normally synthesized in adequate amounts by rumen microbes.	The most common deficiency of B vitamins occurs when a goat contracts polio encelphalomalacia (goat polio Deficiency can occur in kids or adults due to the presence of thiamine-destructive enzymes from eating oak bark, bracken, moldy feed or over-feeding on cereal grains, prolonged diarrhea Blindness Rigid, bent neck that won’t straighten out and loss of eye focus. Usually results from eating moldy hay, feed or silage Some symptoms result from necrosis or death of some of the cells in the cortex of the brain
Vitamin B12 – Also known as Cyanocobalamine, a vitamin that plays a vital role in the activities of several enzymes. It is important in the production of the genetic material of cells (and thus in the growth and development), in the production of red blood cells in bone marrow, in the utilization of folic acid and carbohydrates in the diet, and in the functioning of the nervous system.	Cobalt is essential for the production of vitamin B12 by micro-organisms in the rumen	Loss of appetite Do not eat and they waste away. Condition may be compounded by worms because the deficiency makes goats more susceptible to roundworm parasites.
Vitamin D – There are two main forms of vitamin D. D2 ( ergocalciferol) and D3 ( cholecalciferol). They play several vital roles in the body. The vitamin helps regulate the balance of calcium and phosphate, aids in the absorption of calcium and is essential for strong bones and teeth. Excess of vitamin D can cause problems.	D2 is made in the skin, induced by ultra-violet rays. It takes part in the absorption, deposition and excretion of calcium and phosphorus. D3 is found in liver oil from marine fishes. Colostrum is rich in vitamin D. If adults are on pasture or fed much sun-cured hay, their needs should be easily met.	Rickets Bowed limbs Enlarged joints Stiffness Growth rate and body conditions are poor Excess vitamin D activity from certain toxic plants causes calcinosis or tendons and other soft tissues. The same effect can be had by large overdoses of oral or injectable vitamin D supplements.
Vitamin E - It is essential for normal cell structure, for maintaining the activities of certain enzymes and for the formation of red blood cells. It also protects the lungs and other tissues from damage by pollutants and help prevent red blood cells from being destroyed by poisons in the blood. Its main action is as an antioxidant; it stabilizes polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin A, and various hormones and enzymes. Vitamin E and selenium are closely interrelated	Present in colostrum, milk, hay and grasses. Older hay is very low in vitamin E.	Nutritional muscular dystrophy (white muscle disease). Most likely to occur with feeding of silage or old hay. Kids may have muscle disease at birth and be too weak to suckle.