FAMACHA Scoring Protocol
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Anemia detection via eyelid color assessment to evaluate parasite load, primarily for Haemonchus contortus (barber pole worm) infection. This system enables targeted selective treatment, reducing dewormer use and slowing resistance development.
1.Properly restrain the goat. Position yourself at the side of the animal. For small goats, straddle them facing the same direction. For larger goats, secure against a fence or in a stanchion.
Calm, quiet handling reduces stress and prevents eye injury. Have an assistant help if needed.
2.Stand on the same side as the eye you will examine. Cup your hand under the jaw to stabilize the head. Do not apply excessive pressure to the throat.
Work quickly but gently to minimize animal stress. Avoid examining in direct bright sunlight which can affect color perception.
3.Using your thumb, gently pull down the lower eyelid to expose the conjunctival membrane (the pink/red tissue inside the lower lid).
⚠️ Be gentle to avoid injuring the eye. Do not touch the eyeball itself. If the animal blinks excessively, wait a moment and try again.
4.Compare the color of the lower eyelid conjunctiva to the official FAMACHA card. Hold the card next to the eye in natural, indirect light.
Examine both eyes and use the paler one for scoring. Color assessment should be done within 2-3 seconds of eyelid eversion.
5.Score 1 (Red): Healthy, optimal red color. No treatment needed. Recheck in 2-4 weeks.
Packed cell volume (PCV) typically >28%. Animal is not anemic and has low parasite burden.
6.Score 2 (Red-Pink): Acceptable, slightly lighter red-pink color. Recheck in 2-4 weeks, or sooner if other signs appear.
PCV typically 23-28%. Monitor more frequently during high-risk periods (wet weather, heavy grazing).
7.Score 3 (Pink): Borderline, definite pink color with no red tones. Recheck in 1-2 weeks, and call your vet if the animal has other signs too.
PCV typically 18-22%. Note body condition, production status, and recent deworming history; your vet will want them to decide on treatment.
8.Score 4 (Pink-White): Dangerous, pale pink to white color. Call your vet today about treatment. Recheck in 1 week.
⚠️ PCV typically 13-17%. Animal is significantly anemic. Ask your vet about supportive care, such as iron and extra nutrition.
9.Score 5 (White): Fatal if untreated, white to porcelain color. EMERGENCY - call your vet now.
⚠️ PCV typically <12%. The animal may need a blood transfusion. Keep it quiet to prevent cardiac stress until your vet arrives.
10.Record the score, date, and animal ID in your records. Track scores over time to identify animals that consistently require treatment (potential culling candidates).
Animals consistently scoring 4-5 may lack genetic resistance and should be considered for culling to improve flock genetics.
Sources: FAMACHA System; American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC)
Body Condition Scoring (BCS) Protocol
goat
A hands-on assessment of fat and muscle reserves using a 1-5 scale. BCS helps evaluate nutritional status, adjust feeding programs, and monitor herd health. Unlike weight, BCS accounts for frame size differences between animals.
1.Restrain the goat in a standing position. Approach calmly and position yourself alongside the animal. BCS requires hands-on palpation and cannot be accurately assessed visually alone in goats.
Hair coat can hide true body condition, especially in fiber breeds. Always palpate, do not just look.
2.Palpate the LUMBAR VERTEBRAE (loin area behind the ribs). Feel along the spinous processes (the bony ridge along the top of the spine). Assess how prominent or buried these bones feel.
This is the PRIMARY scoring area for goats. Run your fingers along the spine from ribs to hips.
3.Palpate the TRANSVERSE PROCESSES - the bony projections extending sideways from the spine. Assess whether they are sharp and prominent or rounded and padded with fat/muscle.
Press firmly enough to feel the bones through any fat covering. Use consistent pressure each time.
4.Feel the RIBS by running your hand along the side of the goat. Assess how easily you can feel individual ribs and the spaces between them.
You should be able to feel ribs with light pressure in a properly conditioned goat, but they should not be visually prominent.
5.Palpate the TAILHEAD (area around the base of the tail). Feel for fat deposits around the pin bones and tail setting.
This area accumulates fat in over-conditioned animals and becomes very bony in thin animals.
6.BCS 1 (Emaciated): Spinous processes extremely prominent, sharp to touch. Transverse processes sharp, can grip underneath. No fat cover, muscle wasting evident. Ribs highly visible and easily felt.
⚠️ CRITICAL CONDITION. Immediate nutritional intervention required. Rule out underlying disease (parasites, dental problems, chronic illness).
7.BCS 2 (Thin): Spinous processes prominent and easy to feel. Transverse processes still sharp but less prominent. Minimal fat cover over ribs. Some muscle definition visible.
Animal needs increased nutrition. Acceptable only for high-producing does in early lactation who cannot physically consume enough to maintain condition.
8.BCS 3 (Good/Average): Spinous processes felt with firm pressure but not prominent. Transverse processes smooth and rounded. Ribs felt with slight pressure. Loin has moderate fat cover.
TARGET CONDITION for most life stages. Animal is in proper nutritional balance.
9.BCS 4 (Fat): Spinous processes barely detectable, require firm pressure. Transverse processes cannot be felt. Thick fat cover over ribs and loin. Fat deposits visible over tailhead.
Reduce energy intake. Over-conditioning increases risk of pregnancy toxemia (ketosis) in late pregnancy.
10.BCS 5 (Obese): Spinous and transverse processes cannot be felt even with firm pressure. Ribs buried under fat. Extensive fat deposits over tailhead, brisket, and flanks.
⚠️ HEALTH RISK. Significantly reduce energy intake. High risk for pregnancy toxemia, dystocia, and metabolic disorders.
11.TARGET BCS BY LIFE STAGE: Dry doe (not pregnant): 2.5-3.0. Late pregnancy: 3.0-3.5 (build reserves before kidding). Early lactation: 2.5-3.0 (some loss acceptable). Bucks (breeding season): 3.0-3.5.
Plan nutrition 2-3 months ahead. It takes time to safely change body condition. Rapid weight loss or gain is dangerous.
12.Record BCS with animal ID and date. Monitor trends over time. Assess herd BCS monthly and adjust feeding program as needed.
Group animals by BCS for targeted feeding. Thin animals may need separate feeding from competitive herd mates.
Basic Physical Examination Checklist
goat
A systematic head-to-tail physical examination to assess overall health status. Regular physical exams help identify problems early when they are most treatable. Learn what is normal for your animals to quickly recognize abnormalities.
1.GENERAL OBSERVATION: Before handling, observe the animal from a distance. Note posture, alertness, interaction with herd mates, eating/drinking behavior, and gait.
Healthy goats are alert, curious, have bright eyes, and move freely with the herd. Separation from the herd is often the first sign of illness.
2.TEMPERATURE: Restrain the goat and take rectal temperature using a digital thermometer. Normal range for goats: 101.5-104°F (38.6-40°C).
Lubricate thermometer. Insert 2-3 inches and hold against rectal wall. Wait for beep. Temperature above 104°F indicates fever; below 101°F may indicate shock or hypothermia.
3.HEART RATE: Place stethoscope on left side of chest, just behind the elbow. Count beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. Normal: 70-90 beats per minute (bpm) for adults.
Kids have higher heart rates (100-120 bpm). Elevated rate may indicate pain, fever, stress, or circulatory problems. Decreased rate may indicate shock.
4.RESPIRATORY RATE: Watch flank movement or feel airflow at nostrils. Count breaths for 30 seconds and multiply by 2. Normal: 15-30 breaths per minute.
Increased rate with effort, open-mouth breathing, or abnormal sounds indicate respiratory distress. Hot weather and exercise will elevate rate temporarily.
5.MUCOUS MEMBRANES: Examine gums, inner eyelids, and vulva (does). Normal color is pink (salmon-pink). Note any abnormal colors.
⚠️ Pale/white = anemia or blood loss. Bright red = fever, toxemia. Muddy/brown = poor circulation. Blue/purple = oxygen deprivation (cyanosis). Yellow = liver problems (jaundice).
6.CAPILLARY REFILL TIME (CRT): Press firmly on the gum above the teeth until it blanches white. Release and count seconds until pink color returns. Normal: 1-2 seconds.
Prolonged CRT (>3 seconds) indicates poor circulation, dehydration, or shock. Test in area without dark pigmentation.
7.HYDRATION - SKIN TENT TEST: Pinch and lift a fold of skin on the side of the neck. Release and observe how quickly it returns to normal position. Normal: <2 seconds.
2-4 seconds = mild dehydration (5%). 4-6 seconds = moderate dehydration (8%). >6 seconds or skin stays tented = severe dehydration (10%+). Requires immediate fluid therapy.
8.RUMEN ASSESSMENT: Place stethoscope or ear on left flank (paralumbar fossa). Listen for rumen contractions - gurgling, mixing sounds. Normal: 2-4 contractions per minute.
Absent or reduced sounds may indicate rumen stasis (off feed, illness). Excessive high-pitched sounds may indicate bloat or grain overload. Healthy rumen sounds like a washing machine.
9.EYE EXAMINATION: Check for discharge, cloudiness, or injuries. Examine conjunctiva color (FAMACHA). Check for sunken eyes (dehydration) or swelling.
Clear, bright eyes with no discharge are normal. Excessive tearing may indicate pink eye, foreign body, or entropion.
10.NOSE AND MOUTH: Check nostrils for discharge (clear is normal; thick, colored discharge is abnormal). Examine teeth for wear, abscesses, or malocclusion.
Goats should have no nasal discharge or only slight clear moisture. Check dental pad and molars if animal has trouble eating.
11.LYMPH NODES: Palpate submandibular nodes (under jaw), prescapular nodes (in front of shoulder), and prefemoral nodes (flank area). Normal nodes are small, firm, and mobile.
Enlarged, hot, or fixed lymph nodes may indicate infection, abscess (CL), or cancer. Compare left and right sides.
12.BODY CONDITION AND COAT: Perform BCS (see BCS protocol). Examine coat for hair loss, parasites, wounds, or skin conditions.
Rough, dull coat often indicates poor nutrition or parasitism. Check for lice, mites, ringworm, or dermatophilosis.
13.LEGS AND FEET: Observe gait for lameness. Examine each foot for hoof rot, abscesses, overgrowth, or injuries. Check leg joints for swelling or heat.
Hoof care should be performed every 4-6 weeks. Lameness significantly impacts production and welfare.
14.UDDER (does) / SCROTUM (bucks): Examine for symmetry, heat, swelling, or lumps. In does, check each half of udder and teats. In bucks, palpate both testicles.
Hot, hard, or asymmetric udder may indicate mastitis. Testicles should be firm, cool, and equal size.
15.Record all findings with animal ID and date. Note any abnormalities and actions taken. Compare to previous exams to track trends.
Establish baseline vitals for each animal when healthy. Know your animals so you can quickly recognize when something is wrong.
When to Call the Veterinarian (Decision Tree)
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A guide to help determine the urgency of veterinary care. Knowing when to call can save lives by ensuring prompt treatment of emergencies while avoiding unnecessary costs for minor issues. When in doubt, call your vet - it is always better to ask.
1.EMERGENCY - CALL IMMEDIATELY (Life-threatening, needs immediate veterinary intervention)
⚠️ Do not wait. Call your vet or emergency clinic right away. Time is critical in these situations.
2.EMERGENCY: Unable to stand or down and cannot rise. Animal is recumbent and cannot get up despite encouragement.
⚠️ May indicate hypocalcemia (milk fever), severe toxemia, spinal injury, or advanced disease. Keep animal warm and comfortable while awaiting vet.
3.EMERGENCY: Severe bloat - distended left side, difficulty breathing, distressed. Rumen rapidly expanding with gas.
⚠️ Life-threatening within minutes to hours. May need emergency trocarization. Keep animal standing and moving if possible.
4.EMERGENCY: Prolapse - tissue protruding from vulva (uterine/vaginal) or rectum. Exposed tissue visible.
⚠️ Keep tissue clean, moist, and protected. Cover with clean damp towel. Do not push tissue back in without veterinary guidance.
5.EMERGENCY: Active labor >1 hour with no progress. Doe straining but no kid presenting, or malpresentation visible.
⚠️ Normal delivery occurs within 30-45 minutes of hard labor. Water sac visible for >1 hour without delivery is also an emergency.
6.EMERGENCY: Severe bleeding that will not stop. Bright red blood flowing or spurting from wound or orifice.
⚠️ Apply direct pressure with clean cloth. Do not remove cloth if blood soaks through - add more layers. Arterial bleeding requires immediate intervention.
7.EMERGENCY: White or very pale gums/eyelids (severe anemia). FAMACHA score 5.
⚠️ May indicate severe blood loss, acute parasite load, or blood cell destruction. Animal may need blood transfusion.
8.EMERGENCY: Seizures or severe neurological signs. Circling, head pressing, star gazing, extreme incoordination, blindness.
⚠️ May indicate polioencephalomalacia, listeriosis, meningitis, or toxicity. Keep animal safe from injury in padded area.
9.EMERGENCY: Signs of extreme pain - teeth grinding, vocalizing, repeated lying down and getting up, not moving.
⚠️ Severe pain may indicate urinary blockage (bucks), torsion, or acute abdomen. Pain management and diagnosis needed urgently.
10.URGENT - CALL SAME DAY (Serious but animal is stable. Needs attention within 24 hours)
Call during business hours. Animal needs evaluation but is not in immediate life-threatening danger.
11.URGENT: High fever >105°F (40.6°C). Significantly elevated temperature indicating infection or inflammation.
Provide shade, water, and reduce stress. Monitor for worsening. Fever is a symptom - underlying cause needs identification.
12.URGENT: Not eating for >24 hours. Complete anorexia (refusing all food including favorites) for a full day.
Goats that stop eating are sick. Rumen health depends on continuous intake. Check for other symptoms.
13.URGENT: Severe diarrhea - profuse watery stool, especially with blood or foul odor. Rapid dehydration risk.
Offer electrolytes. Isolate from herd if infectious cause suspected. Collect fresh fecal sample for vet.
14.URGENT: Difficulty breathing - open mouth breathing, extended neck, flared nostrils, blue gums.
Keep calm, reduce stress, provide fresh air. May indicate pneumonia, anaphylaxis, or obstruction.
15.URGENT: Significant lameness - non-weight bearing on limb, severe swelling, or obvious fracture.
Keep animal confined and quiet. Do not force to walk. Provide soft bedding.
16.URGENT: Eye injury or sudden blindness. Obvious trauma, corneal damage, or acute vision loss.
Protect eye from further injury. Do not apply medications without vet guidance.
17.URGENT: Signs of urinary blockage (bucks/wethers) - straining to urinate, vocalizing, dribbling, swollen belly.
⚠️ Can become emergency quickly. Bladder rupture is fatal. Males on high-grain diets at highest risk.
18.MONITOR - CAN WAIT 24-48 HOURS (Minor issues to watch. Schedule appointment if not improving)
Provide supportive care. Monitor closely for worsening. Escalate to urgent/emergency if condition deteriorates.
19.MONITOR: Mild lethargy - less active than normal but still eating and drinking, responds to stimulation.
Note any other symptoms. Check temperature. May just be hot weather or normal variation.
20.MONITOR: Slight appetite decrease - eating less than usual but still eating. Taking favorites.
Ensure fresh water and quality feed available. Check teeth in older animals. Watch for progression.
21.MONITOR: Minor wounds - small cuts or scrapes, not deep, no heavy bleeding, not near joints or eyes.
Clean wound with dilute chlorhexidine or iodine. Apply wound spray. Check tetanus vaccination status.
22.MONITOR: Mild cough or nasal discharge - occasional cough, small amount of clear discharge.
May be dust or minor irritation. Watch for fever, increased discharge, or breathing difficulty.
23.MONITOR: Soft stool (not diarrhea) - manure consistency slightly loose but formed, no blood.
May be dietary change or minor upset. Ensure access to clean water. Monitor for worsening.
24.GENERAL GUIDELINES: Trust your instincts. If something seems wrong, it probably is. Better to call and ask than wait too long.
Establish a relationship with a veterinarian BEFORE emergencies happen. Have emergency numbers posted in the barn.
Dewormer Rotation and Resistance Management
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A strategic approach to anthelmintic (dewormer) use to prevent drug resistance while maintaining effective parasite control. Resistance is a growing crisis - proper rotation and targeted treatment are essential to preserve drug effectiveness.
1.UNDERSTAND WHY ROTATION MATTERS: Parasites develop genetic resistance to dewormers when the same drug class is used repeatedly. Once resistant genes become dominant, that drug class becomes ineffective - permanently for your farm.
⚠️ Resistance cannot be reversed. It is inherited and spreads through the population. Improper deworming accelerates resistance development.
2.LEARN THE THREE DEWORMER DRUG CLASSES: There are only 3 classes available for small ruminants. Once resistance develops to all three, you have no effective chemical control options.
Rotating WITHIN a class (e.g., switching between fenbendazole and albendazole) does NOT prevent resistance - they are the same class.
3.CLASS 1 - BENZIMIDAZOLES (BZDs) "White Dewormers": Includes fenbendazole (SafeGuard, Panacur), albendazole (Valbazen), oxfendazole. These are typically white liquid or paste.
Wide safety margin. Albendazole is not for early pregnancy. Resistance is widespread in many areas. Goat doses differ from cattle doses: get the dose from your vet, and Ellie's dose calculator shows the reference dose to confirm with them.
4.CLASS 2 - MACROCYCLIC LACTONES (MLs) "Clear Dewormers": Includes ivermectin (Ivomec), doramectin (Dectomax), moxidectin (Cydectin). These are typically clear liquids.
Moxidectin (Cydectin) is the most potent; vets often keep it for worms that resist the other drugs. Goats clear these drugs quickly, which is why goat doses and routes differ from cattle; ask your vet.
5.CLASS 3 - IMIDAZOTHIAZOLES/TETRAHYDROPYRIMIDINES "Yellow Dewormers": Includes levamisole (Prohibit, Tramisol), morantel, pyrantel. Levamisole is most common.
⚠️ NARROW SAFETY MARGIN - an overdose can be fatal, so an accurate weight matters. Not suited to weak or debilitated animals. May cause short-lived side effects (salivation, excitement).
6.HOW ROTATION WORKS NOW: current guidance is to change drug CLASSES (not just products) when fecal egg count tests show a class is failing, not on a fixed schedule. Plan any change with your vet.
Old advice to rotate with each deworming is now discouraged. Slow rotation preserves susceptible parasite genes in the population.
7.FECAL EGG COUNT REDUCTION TEST (FECRT): Perform FEC before treatment and 10-14 days after. Compare egg counts. >95% reduction indicates effectiveness. <95% suggests resistance developing. <80% indicates established resistance.
FECRT is the only way to know if a dewormer is working on YOUR farm. Just because an animal looks better does not mean the drug worked.
8.SIGNS OF RESISTANCE: Animals requiring more frequent deworming. Poor response to treatment (still anemic, poor condition). FECRT showing <95% reduction. Deaths despite recent deworming.
⚠️ If you suspect resistance, talk to your vet before the next deworming. A FECRT confirms it.
9.TARGETED SELECTIVE TREATMENT (TST): current guidance is to deworm only the animals that need it, not the whole herd. FAMACHA, BCS and production records show which animals those are; your vet decides on treatment.
Treating the whole herd kills susceptible parasites and leaves only resistant ones to reproduce. TST maintains refugia - populations of susceptible parasites.
10.MAINTAIN REFUGIA: Refugia are parasites in the environment not exposed to drug. They dilute resistant genes. Leave some animals untreated. Do not move to clean pasture immediately after deworming.
Counter-intuitive but essential: some parasites surviving treatment (susceptible ones) helps prevent resistance from dominating.
11.WEIGH, DON'T GUESS: doses go by weight, so weigh each animal rather than estimate. Ask your vet how each dewormer is given, including whether to hold feed first.
Underdosing is a major cause of resistance. Goats clear drugs faster than sheep or cattle, so goat doses differ; follow your vet's guidance.
12.QUARANTINE NEW ANIMALS: new arrivals often carry resistant parasites. Keep them apart, ask your vet how to deworm them in quarantine (often with more than one class), and confirm it worked with a FECRT before they join the herd on pasture.
Buying animals is the fastest way to import resistant parasites onto your farm. Assume all new animals carry resistance.
13.NON-CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES: Implement pasture rotation, increase browse (parasites are ground-level), genetic selection for resistance, copper oxide wire particles (only on your vet's advice), good nutrition.
Reducing reliance on chemicals is the long-term solution. Work with your vet to develop an integrated parasite management plan.
14.RECORD KEEPING: Document every deworming including: date, animal ID, drug and dose, weight, reason for treatment (FAMACHA score, symptoms), and follow-up results.
Good records help identify animals that consistently need treatment (cull candidates) and track drug effectiveness over time.
Sources: American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC)
Ellie provides general educational information about small ruminant health. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment.