At some time most goat breeders will need to treat their goats for lice. A few lice or an infestation – one goat or the whole herd; a thorough treatment will ensure a healthy herd.

However, a healthy herd will be lice free and prevention is much easier and cheaper than the cure.

What are Lice?

There are two types of lice:

1. Biting lice that irritate the goat’s skin
2. Sucking lice that puncture that puncture the skin and suck out the tissue fluid

Lice are only small, about 1 -2 cm in length, grey or cream in colour and they live only on goats.  If you visually inspect the goats you will generally find them among the hair and on the skin. Lice are prevalent in winter and the cooler months of autumn.

Do all goats get lice? 

Not necessarily, although the majority of goats will get a few lice on their bodies at some time in their lifetime.

Goats in poor condition or fed on poor quality feed are more susceptible and carry larger lice burdens. These are the animals that are more difficult to treat.
Animals receiving the correct amount of sulphur in their diet will generally not get lice. 

Thoroughly check all goats coming into your property including any goats returning from shows or servicing.

How do you treat for Lice?

You need to purchase an insecticide registered for use on goats. Do not use treatments labelled for cattle and sheep as there may be adverse side effects when used on goats.

Be aware of the withholding periods associated with the chemicals you use as these will impact on the use of the meat or milk for human consumption.

Insecticides come in various forms: sprays, dips, powders and pour-ons.

Are organic treatments useful?
 
Yes and no. Treating one or two goats with daily sulphur rations can be successful but doing the same with a large or commercial herd of goats is out of the question.

Goat licks contain sulphur and are an effective prevention strategy for large and small herds. Sulphur (at 1.5 teaspoons per head per day) put into the goat’s feed will certainly eradicate lice but is a longer term strategy and one that only a hobby or small dairy herd farmer would consider.

How do you know your goats have lice?

Look for the signs of a lice infestation:

• Pull the hair away to expose the skin. Visually look for the lice on both the hair and the skin.
• There may be irritation that causes the goat to bite at it’s hair and skin
• The goat will rub itself against the fences and trees, leaving hair / fleece on the fence wires.
• A rough appearance from fleece damage if they are fleeced goats.
• Loss of appetite resulting in poor condition.
• Anaemia from the sucking lice.

Treatment for lice.

Treat all goats at the same time. One treatment of pour-on or two spray treatments should be given at the beginning of the cooler weather.

A second treatment in about two weeks will be necessary to kill lice hatched from eggs present at the first treatment.  Goats should be treated before mating and at any time you notice signs of infestation.

Treat goats in dry weather: avoid treating in damp weather or if rain is forecast as the treatment will have reduced effectiveness.
 
Whichever treatment is used, always use the insecticide before the expiry date.

Note the withholding period of any chemicals used.