Parasites in Goats

How to Identify, Solve, and Prevent Parasite Problems

Parasites have been cited as the #1 cause of death in goats.

If you've had goats for any length of time, you've probably had to deal with parasites at some point. Unfortunately, the Internet is filled with tons of old information! Practices from 10 or 20 years ago are still being promoted today, even though the latest research has shown that those practices lead to dewormer resistance.

When it comes to managing parasites in goats, details matter!

* The location of your farm matters

* The genetics of your goats matter

* What's growing in your pasture matters

* The size of your paddocks matter

* The minerals you provide matter

* The weather matters

* It ALL matters -- and it's why you can't just copy what someone else does!

Are you giving dewormers to more than 10% of your goats annually?

There is a better way that's also less expensive!

The answer to winning the war on parasites is in management, not drugs, herbs, or any other product. Giving a dewormer to prevent worm problems does NOT work.

Current research has told us that we should NOT deworm on a schedule, rotate dewormers, or inject dewormers because those outdated practices lead to dewormer resistance -- and if the dewormers stop working, that leads to goats dying!


So, where do you get the most up-to-date information?

You can't subscribe to all of the scientific journals. You may not be able to get a farm sitter, which means you can't travel to attend conferences. That's why I created this online course -- and no, this is NOT about what I do. This course is about the latest research on parasites in small ruminants.

Like all my books and courses, this will NOT be a one-size-fits-all recipe for dealing with parasites. I believe in educating people so that you can become the expert on your goats on your farm.

Because I teach college, I have access to scholarly journals, using the database at the university. I've also contacted researchers personally to get more information about their studies. And I've attended multiple conferences to hear them talk about their research firsthand.

Then I traveled around the country, interviewing researchers and creating videos with the scientists on the front lines of parasite research. I'm bringing the conference to you! Who have I talked to?

  • Joan Burke, Ph.D. -- Dr. Burke is at the USDA research center in Booneville, AR, and if you asked me who authored more studies than any other that I've read, I'd say it was Dr. Burke. She is especially interested in alternative dewormers, and she authored a lot of the studies that used copper oxide wire particles as a dewormer.
  • Steve Hart, Ph.D. -- Dr. Hart recently retired from Langston University, which has its own goat research center. He was kind enough to read and review the parasite chapter of my book, Raising Goats Naturally, and provide technical feedback so that I could be sure it contained the latest research-based information. A couple of years ago, when we were both speaking at a conference, I asked him during a break if he knew how many fecals he'd done in his life, and he said that he had done 3,000 in the previous summer alone!
  • James Miller, DVM, Ph.D. -- Dr. Miller is one of the leading parasitologists in the world. He is a professor emeritus in the School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University, and he is active in parasite research and working with student researchers.
  • Alison Martin, Ph.D. -- Alison is the director of the Livestock Conservancy, and she did her doctoral research on how genetics affect a sheep or goat's resistance to parasites.

Here are just a few of the things you'll learn ...

  • Symptoms of different internal parasites
  • How worms and coccidia are different
  • Conventional and natural remedies for parasites
  • Why you should NOT rotate dewormers
  • How to prevent parasite problems
  • Why you should NOT give your goats a dewormer before moving to new pasture
  • Symptoms of barber pole and other worms
  • How to check body condition scores
  • How to use the 5-point check
  • Why you should NEVER deworm all the goats in the herd at one time
  • What's the difference between a fecal exam and a fecal culture
  • Why we do fecal exams (or not)
  • Where to find the most up-to-date information on milk and meat withdrawal when using drugs
  • How to "drench" a goat
  • Why you should NOT inject dewormers in goats
  • Why some goats have no problem with parasites
  • How you can manage parasites without routine herb or drug use
  • Why the answer does NOT lie in a new drug


 

What do students say about this course?

Best money I have ever spent on my goats! This course has answered countless questions and cleared up so many misconceptions that I'd read online. HIGHLY recommend to anyone thinking of getting goats. It will save you so many future headaches and money.
~ Sandra Currie in Nova Scotia, Canada

When I retired my first order of business was to purchase goats to raise as pets. I knew absolutely nothing about goats and the internet offered 10,000 different answers to the same query. I stumbled upon thriftyhomesteader.com and began listening to Deborah’s podcasts and signed up for her various informative emails. The parasites course she offers, which includes FAMACHA training, is a brilliant and succinct way to understand the damage parasites can cause and how to look for, and if necessary treat these wonderful friends when in need. Thank you Deborah for this course!! ~ John at Jelly Bean Ranch

Your "Parasites in Goats" course is invaluable! Being new to goat ownership and care, I feel that I could have made some VERY major errors with long-lasting effects had I not had the well-researched and well-prepared information that you provided.
~ Kim A. in Montana

Been following advice of my local vet and goat group friends since getting goats 5 years ago. I lost an expensive buckling to parasites and most of my herd was sick and anemic and in horrible body condition. I started this course along with a Goat 365 year membership and have turned my herd around. Both my bucks gained over 50 pounds this past year and my girls have successfully kidded beautiful babies and been able to maintain health and body condition and milk. I seriously would have given up and sold all my goats before this course. Thanks Deborah!
~ Abbey in Nebraska

I really appreciated the course, I started it over the winter and we created some new pens this spring so we could do a better job with pen rotation for our herd of 6. Despite a VERY wet summer here in New England we seem to do doing okay with parasites. The course also gave me the knowledge to make me feel more confident in being a goat owner. Thank you!
~~ Callie-Jean in New England

Your Instructor


Deborah Niemann
Deborah Niemann

In 2002, Deborah and her family moved to 32 acres on a creek in the middle of nowhere to grow their own food organically. With the help of goats, sheep, pigs, and poultry, they produce 100% of their meat, eggs, and dairy products, as well as a large percentage of their vegetables, fruit, and herbs. They sold chickens and turkeys for more than 10 years, and are currently a licensed egg producer in Illinois and sell eggs to a grocery store and through a CSA.

Deborah is the author of six books, including Homegrown and Handmade, Ecothrifty, and Raising Goats Naturally, as well as her latest book, Goats Giving Birth. She also teaches sustainable agriculture courses online for the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. She has been teaching Raising Dairy Goats Sustainably since 2013 and Pastured Poultry since 2015.

In 2022, Deborah got certified as a FAMACHA instructor so that she and her students could feel confident that she was providing the most up-to-date information on parasite research and management.


How many hours have you spent googling for answers, only to be more confused than when you started?

Course Curriculum


  Steve Hart, Ph.D., Langston University
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Joan Burke, Ph.D., USDA Research Facility, Booneville, AR
Available in days
days after you enroll
  James Miller, DVM, Ph.D., Louisiana State University
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Alison Martin, Ph.D., The Livestock Conservancy
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Zoom Q&A meeting recordings
Available in days
days after you enroll
  What's next?
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


Who is this course for?
Anyone who is new to goats, as well as those who have ongoing parasite problems. If you use dewormers on more than 10 percent of your goats every year, there are things you can do to reduce your reliance on dewormers. With only three classes of dewormers in North America, it's easy to wind up with dewormer resistance to all of them, which is why it's important to have a multi-pronged approach to dealing with parasites. This course is also for those who simply want to hear about the latest research on parasites to keep themselves up to date.
When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! All of the videos listed in the curriculum above are already uploaded and waiting for you. It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own, including all future updates.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
If something isn't working right, we hope you'll let us know. But if you decide the course is not for you, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.

When I got started with goats, parasites almost spelled the end of my goat-raising adventure within the first few years. This problem was made worse by bad information. When we started having problems with parasites, I was initially told to start giving a dewormer to my goats every month and to rotate dewormers, which are two old ideas from the 90s that ultimately led to dewormer resistance.

Before I had the right information, I was watching goats die from parasites, helpless to do anything because the parasites on my farm had become resistant to every drug on the market. I tried everything that anyone told me would help ... a variety of herbs, essential oils, apple cider vinegar, Basic H, garlic tincture, and more!

Finally I looked at the research, and I was able to overcome the problem with proper management. It still makes me feel sick when I think of how many thousands of dollars I wasted on various products and how many valuable goats died because nothing worked.

Even though it's been 15 years since that happened to me, a lot of that same old misinformation is still being passed around because nothing on the web ever dies. No one should have to learn everything the hard way like I did. It's not about finding the right drug or herb. It's about proper management.

In 2022, I got certified as a FAMCHA instructor so that I could feel confident that I was providing the most up-to-date information for my students.


Prefer to rent rather than buy?

This course is one of the six courses available to members of Goats 365.


We have a 100% money-back guarantee!

If you are unhappy with the course, just let us know within 30 days, and we'll refund your money lickety-split!


Need a payment plan?

There are interest-free options on the checkout page!

Get started now!