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Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis: Welfare and Control

CAE is a lentiviral infection causing arthritis, encephalitis, and other problems in goats. This guide covers welfare impacts and control strategies.

Key Facts

CAE is caused by a lentivirus in the same family as Maedi Visna in sheep
Transmission occurs primarily via colostrum and milk from infected does to kids
Joint disease (arthritis) causes progressive lameness and welfare compromise
Encephalitic form affects young kids causing progressive hindlimb weakness
There is no treatment — control relies on prevention of kid infection
Clean colostrum protocols and testing can achieve CAE-free status

Welfare Considerations and Management

Welfare-centred CAE management requires either achieving CAE-free status or managing clinical disease in positive flocks. Clean colostrum protocols (heat-treating colostrum or using bovine colostrum) prevent kid infection. Testing programmes identify infected animals. Clinical arthritis requires pain management (NSAIDs), appropriate housing, and welfare-based culling decisions for severely affected animals. CAE-free accreditation schemes support market access and welfare standards.

What You Can Do

Implement clean colostrum protocols to prevent transmission to newborn kids
Test goats for CAE status before purchase and on a regular basis
Provide pain management for goats with clinical arthritis from CAE
Work toward CAE-free accreditation to support herd and market welfare