Last month, we spoke about a basic physical exam of our animal with the overall goal of keeping our animals healthy. There are many reasons for keeping our animals healthy, not the least of which is that we love them. But there is also good-old-fashioned self-interest for our pursuit of this lofty goal. Many diseases can be spread from goats to man through the milk. A few of the more serious diseases are tuberculosis, leptospirosis, brucellosis, listeriosis, and staphylococcus food poisoning. The following list discusses these maladies.

Diseases Affecting Man through Milk


• Tuberculosis - a chronic infectious disease of mammals rarely found in goats. It can be carried to man, but may be prevented by pasturization of the milk. Refer the problem of diagnosis to the local or state veterinarian.
• Brucellosis - a contageous disease of cattle and swine, rarely found in goats. It can be transmitted to man and causes undulant fever or Malta fever. The disease can be carried through contaminated food, milk, and water or from vaginal discharge. It gains entrance through skin wounds, mucous membranes, and mammary glands. The disease can be prevented by proper sanitation and good management. Take precautions when introducing a new goat to the herd. A blood test by a veterinarian will show whether the disease is present. This test should be given to all animals which are producing milk.
• Leptospirosis - a contageous disease that can be passed from goat to goat or from goat to man through the milk. This disease causes a high fever in man from 3-8 days. Other signs are headaches, vomiting, and pains in muscles and joints, followed by jaundice and kidney complications. It is very serious to both goat and man.
• Listeriosis - causes abortions and circling disease in goats. This disease can be transmitted from goats to humans as meningitis and glandular fever.

Clearly, it is in our best interests to pay strict attention to the good health and well-being of our animals. Buy animals from well-respected herdsmen. Have them tested when you bring them into your herd. Quarantine any suspect animals, and have them checked immediately by your veterinarian. Keep your animals in as sanitary a facility as you can practicably manage. As we've noted many times before - "Cleanliness is not only next to Godliness, but also is next to Healthfulness".

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