goats, it is a hazard that should be avoided, especially in wet conditions. Living by the “5-inch rule” of no grazing in a pasture that is less than 5 inches is im- portant. Parasites will travel up the grass blades to about 5 inches, so eating below this point is a sure way to have to nurse a sick herd. Foot rot is also always a concern. The wet ground causes hooves to soften and can cause bacterial infections that are very painful for the goats. It is im- portant to make sure that the goats have dry bedding and hay available in the shelters and that they can ac- cess food and water.
Goats are notorious for disliking the rain, so on days when there is no end to the rain in sight, goats may not get the nutrition that they need because they will avoid going out in the rain to get food. This can cause more stress and make their immune systems weaken, which will open them up for pneumonia and a variety of respiratory problems.
It is very important to keep an eye out for signs that your goats are not acting normal. They may be more quiet than normal or louder. Watch their feces! While it is not as glorious as bird watching, it is a very important insight as to how your goats are doing. Goats do not usually show signs of sickness until it is too late, so knowing what to look for is a must.
While the rain is wonderful and makes our pastures green and helps our farms thrive, it can also be a hindrance to our animals. So, make sure you always keep an eye on our finicky animal friends!! While April showers bring May flowers, I like to remember April showers bring May scours … or in this case June scours! Stay
dry in July! (Tess Fetterly and her family raise 100% New Zealand and
purebred Kikos on Twisted Horns Farm in Jefferson, Ga., with a focus on sustainable agriculture. Tess can be contacted at twisted-
hornsfarm@gmail.com and find them on Facebook. Website:
www.twistedhornsfarm.com.)
12 Goat Rancher | July 2025
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