Table of Contents
Advertisement
44 4-H Market Goat Project
Do not combine drugs. Some drugs will mix
well, but others will change color and consistency
and become ineffective. Don't take the chance.
Use a transfer needle. Put a clean "filler"
needle into the bottle and use that only to draw
medicine into the syringe. Never give a shot and
use the same needle to draw up the next dose.
Choose the best injection site. Remember,
market goats are just that. Never give an injection
in the high-priced cuts of meat like the leg or loin.
The preferred site for intramuscular (in the
muscle) shots is in the neck. Subcutaneous (under
the skin) shots should be given in the neck,
behind the shoulder, over the ribs, or in the
tailhead. If you have a question about these
injection locations, ask your extension agent or
goat leader.
Make sure you keep accurate records. Keep
a record of what goat was treated, when, what
medicine or vaccine was used, how much, and
for how long. The animal that was treated must
be identified somehow, either by ear tag, tattoo,
or a mark on the body that is semi-permanent
(livestock grease marker). If a slaughter animal is
found to have drug residue, you must provide
records for one year on treatment of animals.
Keep a barn treatment record sheet close to
your animals. You may need to refer to this sheet
when treating animals.
Words You Should Know
Antibiotic: Substance fed or injected to improve
growth rate or treat disease.
Quality assurance: Assurance to the consumer
that chevon is a safe and wholesome food.
Withdrawal time: The minimum time that must
pass between when an antibiotic or vaccination is
given to a goat and the goat's slaughter.
Suggested Activities
• Discuss the most important aspects of chevon
quality.
• Ask local goat producers what steps they take
to ensure chevon quality.
• Try making a dish for your family using
chevon. Compare the taste and texture with beef.
Ideas for Presentations and Talks
• Factors affecting chevon quality
• Ensuring safe, wholesome chevon
• How to properly give shots and record them to
assure high-quality chevon
• Subcutaneous and intramuscular injection
methods
Things to Talk About
• How do you assure the chevon from your goats
will be high quality?
• What are some different definitions of meat
quality?
• How is the quality of chevon different from the
quality of beef or pork?
• Does the lack of marbling in chevon cause
cooking methods to differ? Why or why not?
Advertisement
Table of Contents
