Prepared by:

DR. Ahmed Al Taher Ahmed

The Reasons of Infertility In Goats

Malnutrition Diseases

Good nutrition is an important factor to improve the ability for reproduction in goats. Vitamins and minerals play great role in this field and their lack often leads to reduce the potentiality of pregnancy, death of embryos or delivering ill newborn babies which may be infected by certain diseases like atrophy of muscles that hinders feeding of the newborns and causes their death. This disease is caused by deficiency in Vitamin E and Selenium in the provided fodders. Moreover, the decrement of Vitamin E in males causes reduction in the number of semen which may cause sterility and abortion cases. Therefore, it is necessary to provide green fodders and other additives which contain minerals and vitamins especially the pregnant females in the late months of pregnancy.

Diseases of the Reproductive System

Ovary diseases are the main reasons behind infertility and sterility. When the ovary are infected by atrophy or the existence of cysts which may restrict their ability to produce ovals. The disturbance of body to produce sexual hormones is often the main cause of infertility in the animal. The remaining of the yellow liquid in the oval after the end of the pregnancy period will prevent producing new ovals for reproduction.

The blockage of fallopian tube and womb infection are included within the diseases which cause sterility.

The Reasons of Infertility in the Males

Infection of testis, epididymis, penis or prostate will reduce the number of the semen or even vanish them. In addition, the bacterial infection of the prostate or the epididmis may form fibers that can hinder the semen to pass to the vagina.

Hereditary Reasons

Some animals have the problem of non drop off the testis in the scrotum which will cause the atrophy of the testis. However, the dropping of one testis will complete the impregnating successfully. Hermaphrodite animals or those animals which do not have coincide in blood between the male and the female as well to the males which have injuries in the back pelvis or legs that hinders jumping. Therefore, full checking and periodical treatment are necessary.

Diseases Which Cause Abortion of the Female Goats

Many contagious diseases such as Chlamydiasis, Salmmnellosis, Campylobacteriosis and other contagious diseases, poisonous plants and injuries in the abdomen are other reasons for abortion in the she goats.

In such cases diagnosis is very important to determine the real cause especially when the abortion cases are collectively repeated and it is advised to treat the herd with antibiotics and isolate the pregnant mother goats immediately. and provided water and meals shall be put in higher places to ensure nonpolluting with the wastes of the infected animals.

Chlamydiasis Disease

It causes goats abortion during the last months of pregnancy as well to the death of embryos and the retention of the placenta. The disease is transmitted through the polluted fodders by the wastes of animals after delivery. Diagnosis is shown through serological tests.

Salmonelloses Disease

Many serotypes of Salmonella may cause abortion in goats, however the main species of salmonella which lead to goats abortion is Abortus. It usually occurs during the middle or the late period of pregnancy and usually accompanies by another symptoms such as diarrhea and womb and vagina infections.

The disease can be diagnosed through isolating the germ taken from the stomach tissues of the aborted embryo and the womb secretions.

Campylobacteriosis Disease

It is usually transmitted through the polluted fodder with the secretions of the infected animal after delivery. Abortion is usually occurred during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy.

Diagnosis can be fulfilled through isolating the germ from the stomach of the aborted embryo and vagina secretions.

Toxoplasmosis Disease

This disease is resulting from Toxoplasmosis gondii which is mainly spread through cats. It transmits to goats through the wastes of the infected cats.

The significant remarks of the disease is the white spots in the tissues of the embryo as well as the microbe. No effective treatment is available against Toxoplasmosis disease, however it is necessary to keep away cats from animal fodder and pasturing places as a preventive method especially that it can be transmitted to man and cause abortion.

Brucella Disease( Contagious abortion)

It is a contagious disease and Brucella meletensis is the causative organism which cause abortion in the goats. Abortion is usually occurs during the last months of pregnancy. It may also causes sterility of the infected animal due to womb infections. Males are exposed to testicle and articulate infections. Contagion may be transferred to females by males through jumping. Man is also exposed to infection through un boiled milk or food.

Pregnancy and Delivery Diseases in Goats

Pregnancy Toxemia

It infects the pregnant goats during the late period of pregnancy. It is characterized by execreting Ketene bodies in the animal's urine. It usually infects the pregnant goats which conceive twins or more and which have an access weight. The symptoms of pregnancy tox- emia are shown in lost of appetite, weakness and lying low. The disease may cause the death of the infected animal if not treated in the early stages. Malnutrition of the pregnant goats is the principal cause of the disease since they consumes extra energy to feed the embryos especially during the last months of pregnancy which increases the consumption of fats of the pregnant goats and helps the appearance of ketene bodies in their blood. The infected goats are treated with liquids which contain glucose. Avoiding fatness is also necessary for the pregnant goats and they should be given one – two pounds of corn together with the daily fodder meal especially during the last months of pregnancy.

Milk Fever

It is characterized with decrease in Calcium and Magnesium in the infected animal blood where it find it difficult to stand up and prefers to lying down. Widening of eye pupil is shown clearly in the infected animal. The symptoms of this disease may appears in females few hours before or within the first three days of delivery or extend for one month after delivery. In case the animal is not treated, it might die. Treated is accomplished through subdermal or vein injection of Calcium or Magnesium solution soon after the symptoms were appeared. Late treatment will reduce recovery.

Goat Diseases

Coccidiosiss Disease

It is caused by tiny parasites in the digestive system of goats causing bloody diarrhea that leads to Anemia and weakness of the infected animal. The disease is more dangerous when affecting small animals and may cause their death in the severe cases. The disease is transmitted through drinking water and fodders if health conditions are not applied properly in the animal yards. It is preferable to give the infected goats regular treatment especially after four weeks from delivery. It is advisable to examine samples of goat dung regularly and definitely the goats bought from markets before being connected with the rest of herd.

Render Pest Ruminant Disease ( P. P. R. )

An infectious disease is caused by virus which is similar to the virus of Render Pest . The disease is transmitted to the healthy animal through sprinkle or saliva of the infected animal. The incubation period may extends from 2 – 6 days, before the symptoms of the disease had appeared . The disease is diagnosed by rising of temperature and ulcers in the mouth and intestinal which leads to severe diarrhea, pneumonitis, saliva secreting and eye and mouth pus. P. P. R. is classified among the most dangerous diseases and usually causes the death of the infected animal after 4- 6 days from the date of infection.

Foot and Mouth Disease

The virus of the disease is usually transmits through air, polluted food and water with the dung of the infected animal. The disease is diagnosed by fever, the appearance of pustules and ulcers in the mouth, the tongue the udder area and hooves of the infected animal. Crumbling, watering of Saliva and foamy liquid are distinguished diagnosis of (FMD) disease.

It causes a drop in milk yield and fatigue, however, the infected animal usually recovers after 7 days from the appearance of diagnosis.

Prevention can be realized through periodical Vaccination.

C.C.P.P. Disease

It is an infectious disease Caused by Micoplasma bacteria which affects the respiratory system especially lungs in goats. It usually transmits through sprinkle of the infected animal.

Goats are often exposed to CCPP disease during winter time as the resistance of the animals reduces due to cold weather.

The incubation period extends between 6 – 10 days then the infected animal suffers from high temperature, cough, nasal mucus and hard breath it ends by death of the infected animal in the severe cases however, in the chronic cases where the disease is endemic, the animal recovers but it becomes carrier. The disease can be treated by antibiotics and it can be prevented by using proper vaccines.

Para Tuberculosis (John's Disease)

It is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and it can infect cows, goats and sheep and other ruminants and no satisfactory treatment is known. It is introduced with polluted food and water with dung of the infected animals.

Clinical Findings

Initial signs are variable and often vague. Early signs include gradual loss of condition and in dairy cattle, a drop in milk yield or failure to reach expected levels. Diarrhea is initially intermittent but eventually becomes persistent. Temperature and appetite usually remain normal. Most cases occur in 2 – 6 years old cattle. The disease affects the digestive system of goats and often causes mortality of the infected animal. Sterilization of