Cold Weather: Be Prepared

By Deb Haines

Winter can be stressful to goats and other livestock, Wind chills and prolonged cold increases their need for shelter, food and water. Now is the time to prepare your farm and livestock for the cold, winter temperatures ahead. A thought out plan for your farm will prepare you for unexpected emergencies and will keep your goats and other livestock safe and sound throughout the cold winter months.

Winter can be difficult for goats and sheep. Kidding/lambing complications and ill goats and sheep. Body temperature is one of the most meaningful symptoms of sudden illness. Everyone should have a rectal thermometer and know how to use it.Normal body temperature varies from goat to goat, usually temperature of 101.2 to 103.5 degrees Fahrenheit and goat kid temperatures are about one degree higher than adults. Taking a animals temperature shows the onset of infection, high fevers can lead to dehydration etc. Goat Kids… Very cold and/or wet weather when kidding – Kids lose body energy very rapidly when in cold or wet environments. As a result, they may become cold weak and die. Being able to take a temp you can quickly warm them as needed and attempt to save their lives. One of the first questions your veterinarian is going to ask you is “what is the animals temp ?” We ask the same here on Goat Vet Corner . Be prepared knowing a animals temperature, many times can help save a that animals life.

Hypothermia Which literally means ‘temperature below normal’, occurs when too much body heat is lost or too little body heat is produced, and the result is a drop in body temperature. can be a problem in newborn or sick animals, and is typically a life-threatening issue. Any animal with a rectal temperature below 99 degrees is critical and needs immediate attention in order to survive

A goat’s body temperature lower than 100° is dangerously low. It needs to be above 100° for their body to function correctly. The normal temperature of a goat is 101 to 104 depending on the individual goat. If a goat’s temperature is below 100°, the first thing you need to do is get the goat temperature up to at least 100°.

Before chasing zebra’s on a lifeless kid or adult goat get a temp !

Make sure you always have a digital rectal thermometer. These can even be bought at any drug store or dollar store. Put small amount of lube on tip of thermometer and gently insert into goats rectum… If you do not get a reading check thermometer by running tip under hot water..many times the goats temp is so low it does not read on the thermometer.If you cannot get the thermometer into the rectum place under the arm pit area of the goat and add a degree..please attempt rectal first.

Signs of hypothermia

A) Shivering

B) shallow breathing in order to reduce the rate of respiration (that is, rapid respiration or panting causes heat loss)

C) Lifeless

D) unable to stand, hold own head up,head tilted back at times.

E) shaking/seizures.

Time to move quickly !

Lesson one: Heat goes from high heat *TO* low heat – so the heat has to be higher than the goat temp and it will equalize.

For example, if the kid is 96 degrees and the heat source is 104, the eventual kid temp will be 100 as the kid absorbs heat. Some heat is also lost to the air (or the kid never would have gotten cold), so it is not exact. Do *not* put the kid against you to warm up – your temp is 98.6 and that is too cold for a kid, so they lose heat when you hold them to warm them up – wrap them and get them to a heat source ASAP.

Slowly warming is the key – too rapid of a warming when body is very cold can disrupt cells (break them) and create more problems. An even warming is desired.

Warming methods

1) A few methods to use include hot water bottles..Take empty milk jugs, coke bottles and fill with hot water. wrap with towel and place around cold kid, liter bottles warmed in microwave, hair dryer heat, hot towels from the dryer., covered heating pads BUT – beware the heat is not too hot or will burn, and that a layer of a towel is there to insulate a bit. … keeping their body covered holds in the heat.

2) An acceptable method is a warm water bath – place the kid in a plastic bag up to its neck and with the head sticking out – any bag will do so long as no water can get inside. A wet kid loses heat very rapidly. Place the bag and kid into a warm water bath – no more than 105 or 106 degrees (use your thermometer to check tap water temp, then fill the sink, etc.). Keep an eye on bath water – if drops below 100, refill it with the warm water again – stop when temp stabilizes at 102 as this means baby is at 102 as well (verify by checking kid temp).

When to feed goat kids

Commence feeding when kid temp hits 99 to 100 degrees – they need colostrum/milk and they can then generate their own internal heat, but do keep them warmed. Can go from a warm water bath to towels and a heating pad – keep them sitting sternally – upright.

Neonates are very poor at maintaining their temps, so check often. Karo syrup may be rubbed on the gums of baby goats for a quick energy boost. Adult goats once warmed get them eating right away to provide energy.

Make sure to put towel on heating pad and monitor not to burn babies skin, hot water bottles wrap also in towels and rotate around body not to burn skin.

Reminder…Please if able try and establish a relationship with a veterinarian. Don’t wait until you have an emergency.