SPRING SUMMER BONUS MAGAZINE 2026

survival, reduced milk output, delayed breeding, higher veterinary costs and lower profitability are some of the consequences of ketosis. Prevention is thus key! It is much easier and cheaper than treatment. There are a few management practises that farmers can adopt to address this metabolic disease. Balanced nutrition and feedingmanagement Ensure you provide constant access to clean water and adequate nutrition through good- quality feed, such as high-quality forage to maintain rumen function, plus grain supplements. When rumen space is limited, offer smaller and more frequent feed to maximise intake. To reduce competition at the feeding troughs, ensure feed is accessible to all animals. Products like De Heus Caprilac BF are an excellent choice during the lactation period. It is typically fed with roughage as part of a controlled ration to ensure goats receive consistent nutrition during lactation. The De Heus Caprilac BF range helps keep milk production high by supplying quality protein and enough energy to maintain body condition during lactation. It also includes vitamins and minerals to support fertility and keep animals healthy. De Heus Kaliber Senior 22 is a supplement fed with good quality roughage during the does dry period to maintain an ideal body condition score. It contains 22% crude protein and provides high-quality bypass protein to promote skeletal growth rather than fat deposition. It is lower in energy content to compliment the roughage provided and consists of adequate vitamins and minerals, of which phosphorus is the most important for growth, reproduction, and metabolic function. Smooth dietary transitions are, however, important to prevent digestive disorders. Body conditionmonitoring Body condition score (BCS) is a key management tool before kidding. As mentioned, feeding De Heus Kaliber Senior 22 during the dry period helps to obtain an ideal BCS of around 3.0 on a 5-point scale. Both under- and over-conditioned does present significant risks during late gestation. Thin does lack sufficient energy reserves, increasing the likelihood of ketosis, poor milk production, and weak kids at birth. Conversely, over-conditioned does are prone to reduced feed intake due to limited rumen capacity, placing them at risk of ketosis, metabolic disorders, and dystocia at kidding. Assess the BCS of the does frequently during gestation and adjust the feed steadily during mid-pregnancy to maintain condition. Increase the energy intake slightly during the last six weeks to support foetal growth. Pregnancy detection Pregnancy scanning in dairy goats is not only about confirming conception, but also a valuable management tool to prevent metabolic disorders such as ketosis. Identifying whether does are carrying singles, twins, triplets or even quadruplets allows producers to adjust feeding levels during the last few weeks before kidding, when energy demands increase rapidly while rumen capacity decreases. Does carrying multiple foetuses have a significantly higher glucose requirement and are therefore at much greater risk of entering negative energy balance if nutrition is not adapted in time. By grouping and feeding animals according to expected litter size, farmers can more accurately meet energy requirements, support healthy foetal development, and greatly reduce the incidence of pregnancy toxaemia and ketosis around kidding. Stress reduction and parasite control Avoid stressful management practises by minimising handling and environmental stress during the late pregnancy and early lactation phase of dairy goats. Avoid unnecessary movement or transport and provide adequate shelter, comfortable housing, and sufficient, balanced feed. Where possible, try not to mix unfamiliar goats to reduce fighting and hierarchy stress. Limit noise and disturbances, especially during kidding time. Treat does before kidding (strategic deworming) to reduce parasite load passed to kids and minimise contamination of kidding areas. To reduce exposure to parasite larvae, clean kidding pens regularly by disinfecting and providing fresh bedding. Monitor faecal egg count to help identify goats needing targeted treatment. Herd alert: detection and treatment Ketosis is often diagnosed too late due to its subtle onset and the prevalence of subclinical forms. There are two forms of ketosis, clinical and subclinical. Clinical ketosis is known to have visible symptoms, while subclinical ketosis has no obvious signs, but is detectable via biochemical tests. Both cases are detrimental Figure 1: Dairy goat body conditioning scoring www.agribonus.co.za Spring/Summer 2026 BONUS 125