Understanding and managing respiratory disease in goats — a leading cause of morbidity and welfare impairment.
Respiratory disease in goats causes significant welfare impairment across all ages. Acute pneumonia in kids and young animals causes rapid deterioration — fever, laboured breathing, nasal discharge, and prostration. Without prompt treatment, mortality is high. The acute distress of respiratory failure is significant.
Chronic respiratory conditions (CAEV-associated interstitial pneumonia, maedi-like disease) cause progressive welfare decline over months to years. Affected animals gradually lose exercise tolerance, lose body condition, and eventually die of respiratory failure. The prolonged nature of chronic disease means sustained welfare impairment that may go unrecognised in large flocks.
Prevention requires careful biosecurity (particularly for CAEV — colostrum pasteurisation and removal of kids from infected dams), good ventilation, appropriate stocking density, and vaccination against major bacterial pathogens. Prompt treatment of acute cases with appropriate antibiotics reduces suffering duration and mortality.