SPRING SUMMER BONUS MAGAZINE 2026

Ketosis in dairy goats: the hidden threat to herd productivity Tiaan Gerber - Technical Advisor: Dairy & Extensive Ruminants Goat farming is practiced around the world, supporting livelihoods in both rural and urban communities. In South Africa, the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces are the largest producers, accounting for roughly 69% of the total number of live goats. While South Africa contributes roughly 1% to the global goat population, its dairy goat sector represents amuch smaller share. However, in the Western Cape, dairy goats are becoming increasingly important, offering economic resilience, nutritional benefits, and rural development opportunities. The growing demand for goat milk and cheese allows the Western Cape to expand its role in South Africa’s dairy goat industry with breeds like the Saanen and Alpine goats. These breeds adapt well to the region’s climate, can thrive onmarginal land and produce niche dairy products, due to their nutritional quality and lower allergenic potential compared to cow’s milk. Nevertheless, limited infrastructure, market access and the need for better farmer education on herd health and nutrition are some of the challenges that prevent the dairy goat industry fromflourishing. The profitability and success of goat farming rely mainly on good herd management, particularly nutrition and health. The three main pillars of productivity are nutrition, reproduction and disease management. The metabolic health of the animal directly influences the milk production, yield and quality thereof. These parameters drive the success and overall herd performance of the enterprise! The importance of metabolic health, which directly influences these parameters, is thus of cardinal importance. High-yielding dairy goats face unique metabolic challenges; one of the most critical is ketosis (also called pregnancy toxaemia). This condition occurs especially in the late pregnancy (mainly with twins/triplets) and the early lactation phase of high-producing does, leading to serious health and productivity losses. In late pregnancy, this condition occurs because the growing kids occupy abdominal space, reducing rumen capacity and leading to decreased feed intake. An increase in high milk production and yield during the early lactation phase poses a risk for the occurrence of metabolic stress, because the energy needed therefore often exceeds the nutritional intake through feed. If the energy demand is not met through feed intake, the body breaks down fat reserves to compensate, which leads to the production and accumulation of ketone bodies in the bloodstream. Ketones can serve as an alternative energy source, but extreme levels become toxic, impairing normal physiological function. This results in a decrease in milk yield, poor reproductive performance and in severe cases, even death of the doe or kids or even both. The impact of ketosis is not only on the does, but can also influence the offspring. The occurrence of stillbirths, weak kids, slower growth, reduced Spring/Summer 2026 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 124