Goats continue to die on the Smith farm in Saskatchewan’s northwest, but at least there are some answers to the mystery.
Choiceland farmer Dave Smith has lost more than 700 animals. At first a chlamydia infection was blamed but later investigation showed a lack of copper in the goats’ diet may also be at fault.
After a major herd expansion in 2004, including the acquisition of two outside herds, the spring of 2005 was supposed to be the start of a prosperous year for Smith. Instead, it was marred by miscarriages and stillbirths, followed by more than 100 nanny deaths.
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Smith unsuccessfully sought help from local veterinarians who had little experience with goats. He also asked for assistance from provincial and federal agriculture officials.
Not until he turned himself in to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals did he get some action from authorities to help him solve his problem.
The animals, feed and facilities were examined with the assistance of a team led by Chris Clark from the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
Despite Smith’s use of mineral and protein supplements, autopsies indicated his animals had a shortage of copper in their diets that likely contributed to the deaths.
Smith said autopsies performed in May and June of 2005 failed to indicate the low copper diagnosis.
A custom feed ration is being prescribed for Smith’s remaining herd and the farmer hopes this will solve the problem.
“I’m still frustrated that the government can’t be bothered to support producers better when it comes to something like this,” he said.
Smith said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency should take a role in herd health issues outside the 32 internationally recognized reportable diseases.
“Especially when it comes to livestock that aren’t mainstream. If this were poultry or pigs or deer, I’d have had inspectors telling me what to do in days. Even cattle would receive better attention. Because it’s goats, it falls between the cracks,” he said.
“When somebody finally came to see me from the CFIA, all they did was walk around the farm telling me what they couldn’t do because it wasn’t part of their mandate. Tell me what I can do or who can help me. That is what I needed,” he said.
Clark said the college has been seeking funding from provincial officials to create a specialized veterinary team to resolve mysterious or sudden outbreaks of animal disease.
