What if adding a little algae to your goats’ diet could make their milk healthier? This week on Hoofnotes, we’re digging into new research that shows how microalgae can improve the fatty acid profile of goat milk, without changing how much your goats eat or produce. Scientists looked at results from 17 different studies and found that goats fed microalgae made milk richer in “good fats” like omega-3s and DHA, the same nutrients that make fish oil so healthy. We’ll break down what that means for your herd, how much algae makes a difference, and whether this natural supplement is worth adding to your feeding plan.

Article for this episode:

Boukrouh, Soumaya et al. “Microalgae supplementation improves goat milk composition and fatty acid profile: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.” Archives Animal Breeding (2025): n. pag.A NotebookLM deep dive human written to help you make goat science make sense.

Let’s talk poop. Specifically, that runny, stinky kind that shows up in your kids right around weaning time and makes you panic. Yep, we’re diving very deep this week into coccidiosis, one of the most common, and frustrating, issues in young goats.

Coccidiosis is caused by tiny parasites called Eimeria, which basically set up camp in the lining of the gut and start causing damage. It’s not just about scours, these little guys can wreck a kid’s digestive system, cause stunted growth, and in serious cases, even lead to death. Most adult goats carry coccidia without showing symptoms, but kids, especially stressed or weaning ones, are way more vulnerable.

This episode breaks down how coccidia mess with a goat’s gut bacteria and immune system, opening the door for other infections to pile on. We also talk about what makes outbreaks worse (dirty pens and overcrowding are biggies), and how to get ahead of it with good management.

We’ll cover things like:

• Why probiotics and good nutrition matter when you're dealing with coccidia

• When and how to use medications like Amprolium or Sulfa drugs

• Why prevention starts with clean barns and smart weaning practices

• And why you should always loop your vet in before reaching for meds, especially since drug resistance and off-label use are a real concern in goats

Coccidiosis might be common, but with the right tools and timing, you can keep your herd healthier and avoid a whole lot of messy drama.

Companion Blog: https://goathousefarm.com/hoof-notes-goat-science

Articles for this episode:

• Ali, Endris A., et al. "Global prevalence of Eimeria species in goats: a systematic review and meta-analysis." Frontiers in Veterinary Science, vol. 11, 23 Jan. 2025.

• Andrews, Anthony, and Anthony H. Andrews. "Coccidiosis of Goats." MSD Veterinary Manual, Merck & Co., Inc., 24 Sept. 2024.

• Barba, Emilio, et al. "Immunoprotection against mixed Eimeria spp. infections in goat kids induced by X-irradiated oocysts." Parasitology Research, vol. 121, no. 5, 3 Mar. 2022,

• Edwards, Erin. "Pathologic diagnosis of coccidiosis in goats." Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, 12 Aug. 2024.• Guedes, Aránzazu C., et al. "Metaphylactic strategies using toltrazuril against coccidiosis in goat kids." Veterinary Parasitology, vol. 327, Apr. 2024

• Kommuru, D. S., et al. "Use of pelleted sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) for natural control of coccidia and gastrointestinal nematodes in weaned goats." Veterinary Parasitology, vol. 204, no. 3-4, 29 Aug. 2014

• Lu, Chenyang, et al. "Coccidia-Microbiota Interactions and Their Effects on the Host." Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, vol. 11, 1 Oct. 2021, p. 751481,

• Metzger, Mike. "Coccidiosis can kill young goats and sheep." MSU Extension, 28 Feb. 2014, https://extension.msu.edu.

• Mohammed, R. A., et al. "The effect of coccidian infection on the gut microflora of Nubian goat kids." Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift, vol. 107, no. 10, Oct. 2000, pp. 414-16.

• Pradhan, Shashi, et al. "Morphometric identification of Eimeria species in goats at Jabalpur." The Pharma Innovation Journal, vol. SP-11, no. 9, 2022, pp. 1751-52.

• Premaalatha, B., et al. "EFFICACY OF NEEM LEAF POWDER FOR TREATMENT OF COCCIDIOSIS IN YOUNG GOATS." Malaysian Journal of Veterinary Research, vol. 7, no. 1, Jan. 2016, pp. 1-8.

• Schafer, K. A., et al. "Hepatic coccidiosis associated with hepatic necrosis in a goat." Veterinary Pathology, vol. 32, no. 6, Nov. 1995, pp. 723-27, doi:10.1177/030098589503200618.

• Sontakke, Tejswini, et al. "The role of genetics in determining resistance to coccidiosis in goats a review of current research and future directions." Molecular Biology Reports, vol. 50, no. 7, July 2023, pp. 6171-75, doi:10.1007/s11033-023-08520-3.
A NotebookLM deep dive human written to help you make goat science make sense.

In this episode, we explore the surprisingly complex inner world of goat behavior, where bleats carry meaning, body language sets the tone, and who gets the feed bowl might come down to subtle social cues. Did you know goats have eight distinct emotional vocalizations? Even more fascinating, they can interpret the expressions on our human faces, picking up on whether we’re smiling or frowning, and responding accordingly.

We dig into current research on how goats interact with humans and each other, including a deep dive into the VOCAPRA project, which uses neural networks to classify goat vocalizations and deliver real-time emotional feedback to farmers. We also examine how selective breeding may influence a goat's behavior, with evidence that dwarf goats tend to be more adaptable than high-production dairy lines.

Whether you’re raising goats on a farm or just curious about what’s going on behind those sideways eyes, this episode is full of insights into how goats think, feel, and relate to the world around them.

It’s goat science with a social twist!

Articles for this episode:

• Celozzi, S., Battini, M., Prato-Previde, E., & Mattiello, S. (2022). Humans and Goats: Improving Knowledge for a Better Relationship. Animals, 12(6), 774. doi: 10.3390/ani12060774
• Minnig, A., Zufferey, R., Thomann, B., Zwygart, S., Keil, N., Schüpbach-Regula, G., Miserez, R., Stucki, D., & Zanolari, P. (2021). Animal-Based Indicators for On-Farm Welfare Assessment in Goats. Animals, 11(11), 3138. doi: 10.3390/ani11113138• Nawroth, C. (2017).
• Invited review: Socio-cognitive capacities of goats and their impact on human-animal interactions. Small Ruminant Research, 150, 70–75. doi: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2017.03.005
• Nawroth, C., Rosenberger, K., Keil, N. M., & Langbein, J. (2022). Goats (Capra hircus) From Different Selection Lines Differ in Their Behavioural Flexibility. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 796464. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.796464
• Ntalampiras, S., & Gamacchio, G. P. (2025). Explainable classification of goat vocalizations using convolutional neural networks. PLoS One, 20(4), e0318543. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318543•
• Shackleton, D. M., & Shank, C. C. (1984). A Review of the Social Behavior of Feral and Wild Sheep and Goats. Journal of Animal Science, 58(2), 500–509. doi: 10.2527/jas1984.582500x
• Barroso, F. G., Alados, C. L., & Boza, J. (2000). Social hierarchy in the domestic goat: effect on food habits and production. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 69(1), 35–53. doi: 10.1016/s0168-1591(00)00113-1

A NotebookLM deep dive human written to help you make goat science make sense.